If you drive into a parked car in your Land Rover turbo, make sure you stop and leave your details or you could find you face criminal damages if you fail to do so and are later caught by the police.

Figures from Gocompare.com have just revealed that 1.7 million drivers have in fact driven into a stationery vehicle and then fled the scene of the accident without leaving their name, address, contact number and insurance details.

The worst culprits in this regard were found to be younger drivers and men. Of those aged between 25 and 34, 14 per cent admitted to driving away after hitting another car. In all, eight per cent of men had done this, compared with five per cent of women.

Matt Oliver, car insurance spokesman for Gocompare.com, said: “Accidents happen, especially in busy streets and car parks.  But, if you damage someone else’s vehicle – whether it’s a small scratch or major dent – you should always stop and leave your details.  While it may be tempting to just drive away, it’s illegal to do so, no matter how minor the damage.”

If you fail to leave your details at the scene of the accident for whatever reason, you need to report the incident to the police as soon as you can and within 24 hours of the accident.

Were you to have bumped your car into something that wasn’t another vehicle, supply your insurance details to any third party who may want to pursue a claim against you. You should also let the police know if you’ve damaged council property but don’t know who to tell.

Bad news for anyone with VW turbos who has been affected by Volkswagen’s attempts to fiddle the facts regarding diesel emissions by fitting nearly half a million cars with devices that fooled regulators into believing that the cars were less polluting.

It has now emerged that the company will not be paying out any compensation to drivers in the UK (some 1.2 million were affected by the rigging). Instead, they have been issued with an apology and a promise to have their vehicles fixed, the Financial Time reports.

In the US, however, a civil lawsuit was filed by the Department of Justice and at least $1,000 in compensation has now been promised to each motorist in the form of a gift card.

UK managing director of VW Paul Willis explained that in order to pay out compensation, there has to be a loss first. Engineers have since informed him that once the cars in question have been repaired, no negative effect would be seen on second-hand car values, driveability or fuel consumption.

“However, we do need to regain the trust of our customers, which is why we are going to fix the vehicles,” he remarked, going on to add that “unfortunately the US is a very different situation”.

This comes as US regulators rejected Volkswagen’s plans to recall the diesel cars that had been fitted with the devices, with the California Air Resources Board saying that the proposals did not address the impact on emissions, safety and vehicle performance adequately or in a timely enough fashion.

Demand for reconditioned turbos could be on the rise this year, given new research revealing that 32 per cent of people who can’t drive plan to learn in 2016.

A Direct Line Car Insurance study shows that the main reason that people not yet behind the wheel are keen to get on the road is that they’ve reached a certain age and realise they need to drive. Other reasons include only now being able to afford lessons and suddenly needing to drive to work, as well as having children, public transport being unreliable or too expensive, and being embarrassed about not having a licence.

Head of marketing with Direct Line Wendy Pearson welcomed the news that more people are keen to learn to drive, saying: “New Year resolutions are so often to do with diet and exercise and it’s impressive to see people trying to learn something new. Driving also opens up an array of new employment and leisure opportunities.”

If you’ve just passed your test and have had a new turbo added to your car, you’ll need to make sure you look after your vehicle as well as you can. Ensure you use high quality oil to help lubricate the moving parts of your turbo, warm your car up first before you drive off so the oil has time to warm up as well and always leave the engine running for a few minutes after you reach your destination to allow the oil to cool down.

To find out more about turbos, get in touch with us here at Essex Turbos.

Drivers looking into replacement turbos for their motors and potentially considering investing in a new second-hand car have been warned to check vehicles over to make sure they’re not flood damaged.

AA Insurance is now advising people that the used car market could well be inundated with vehicles that have been affected by the recent terrible weather and floods that have hit the UK.

Tips from the company for spotting a flood-damaged car include feeling the carpets to see if they’re damp, serious condensation on the windows, checking beneath the cap of the oil filler to see if there’s a whitish deposit beneath and seeing if there is any water trapped in the car light clusters. You can do this by rocking the car – if there is water there, you’ll see it moving in the red rear filter.

“Catalytic converter and exhaust system life can be seriously reduced, wheel bearings could seize, brakes can be affected and alternator and starter motors could fail. In addition, water can seriously affect electrical and electronic systems including the airbags, which might go off unexpectedly – or not deploy when they should,” director of AA Insurance Michael Lloyd said.

When buying any used car, make sure you budget carefully, check car tax rates and get insurance quotes before you sign anything. Always check price guides and look at similar cars so you’re familiar with the value of different vehicles to prevent yourself from being overcharged. In addition, always view the car during the day when the weather is fine so you can see dents, scratches and other issues.

Nearly one-quarter of all learner drivers will be able to take to the road once they pass their test, thanks to generous parents buying them vehicles – potentially including ones with new turbos fitted in.

A study by Confused.com found 24 per cent of drivers did not pay for their first motor as their parents funded it, while 15 per cent had their insurance paid for as well, the Western Daily Press reported.

The price comparison site revealed the cost to protect new drivers is £112 a month on average, while first cars typically set parents back £2,907.

Kate Rose, spokeswoman for Confused.com, said: “Learning to drive is seen as a rite of passage for many but it isn’t always a straight road.”

Indeed, the site found the cost of learning how to drive is £774 on average, which includes a provisional driving licence, 22 driving lessons, two theory tests and two practical tests.

However, parents might have some help when it comes to purchasing a car for their children, as the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) revealed more people are opting for car financing to pay for their motors, with 80.1 per cent of new car sales financed by FLA members through dealerships in the year to October. This is an increase from 79.6 per cent during the previous 12 months.

In addition to financial considerations, drivers have to face lessons either with their instructor or a relative, which can be stressful.

According to Confused.com, almost half of those learning how to drive took lessons with a parent or family member, with 15 per cent describing being taught by their folks as scary and more than two-thirds saying it was ‘too stressful’.

If you’re the designated driver this Christmas and have kindly offered to give friends and family a lift home in your Range Rover turbo, then make sure any inebriated people know they need to behave themselves.

Research from Confused.com has found that 43 per cent of people will be acting as a taxi service this festive season, yet one in 20 have had a drunk passenger almost cause them to crash their car.

In all, 26 per cent of designated drivers admit that drunk passengers are actually quite annoying, while 12 per cent find them stressful and ten per cent find them distracting. What’s more, eight per cent of motorists helping their friends or relatives home have even had drunk passengers throw up in the car.

“Drivers might find it difficult to focus when travelling with a drunken passenger in the car with them, and with the difficult weather conditions associated with this time of year to contend with as well, it’s important for them to take note and be aware of what they may encounter,” head of motor insurance with the comparison site Matt Lloyd said.

It would also be wise for learner drivers to be aware that if they are giving someone a lift home, there needs to be a sober person in the car who has passed their test, otherwise they could risk penalty points or even a fine.

Christmas time should be fun for all but a few simple precautions is all you need to take to make sure you have a great time and still get home in one piece, without any points on your licence.

Taking care when parking your Volkswagen turbos would perhaps be advisable given new research revealing that car parking leads to more car insurance claims than any other source. In fact, 47 per cent of motorists have had damage inflicted on their parked cars in the last year!

Conducted by the AA, the study found that 42 per cent of drivers have had a dent or a scratch caused by someone or something else, with insurance claims having to deal with small parking spaces, careless parking and door opening, and shopping trolleys hitting cars.

Advice from the AA to help protect your car when it’s parked includes choosing well-lit car parks, using indicators whenever you’re turning, going slowly and opening your car doors carefully when you’ve finished parking.

Director of AA Insurance Mike Lloyd said: “Patience is sorely tested in busy car parks at the best of times but in the run-up to Christmas when parking spaces are even more scarce, tempers can be frayed and parking mishaps are more likely than at any other time of year.”

If you want to help prevent people from breaking into your car at this time of year, make sure that you keep your Christmas shopping covered up or in the boot of your car and hide any expensive gadgets like satnavs or mobile phone in the glove box of the vehicle – or take them with you when you leave.

A few extra precautions for drivers could do an awful lot to help protect their cars and ensure they don’t have a hefty garage bill going into the new year.

Be careful with your Audi turbos and other cars this festive season – research has just revealed that 42 per cent of motorists will put their Christmas shopping at risk by leaving it in the car.

With the average person expected to spend £623 on Christmas this year (£387 on presents and the rest on food and drink), M&S Bank is now warning Brits that if their car is underinsured they could miss out and ruin the Christmas holidays for themselves.

Head of products with the organisation Paul Stokes said: “With shopping for the festive season well under way, it’s an exciting time of year for many. However, this also means that, unfortunately, the car can become a target for opportunistic thieves, so it’s important that shoppers make sure they’ve got adequate cover in place to insure their Christmas shopping, should the worst happen.”

Advice from the bank includes keeping bags covered and locked in the boot of the car, locking away mobiles and GPS devices, closing all windows and sunroofs, and always locking the car when you leave it.

You should get in touch with your insurer as well to see what you’re covered for as standard and what you’re not. It may be a bit more expensive changing your policy but it could be worth it in the long run if your car is broken into and all your Christmas presents stolen.

If possible, try not to leave gifts in your car at all. Once they’re purchased, head home rather than leaving them in the vehicle. Or shop online to avoid the problem entirely.

Are you preparing your new Mercedes turbo for the winter? According to the AA, it’s important that you consider how fog may affect your driving during the colder months.

The motoring organisation warned drivers to refresh their memory regarding the Highway Code to ensure they remain safe when fog strikes. For example, you are required to use headlights when visibility sinks, especially when you can’t see further than 100 metres ahead.

Fog lights are also recommended even though they are not a legal requirement. The AA said insurers may query your claim if you failed to have your fog lights illuminated and you get involved in an accident.

Recent statistics show Essex drivers can be particularly stung by the cost of car repairs. Figures from WhoCanFixMyCar.com showed East Anglia and the South East are the most expensive regions to visit a mechanic, with costs averaging £241 and £238 respectively.

“When there’s fog around visibility can seriously deteriorate in a matter of seconds. Be extra vigilant and drive only as fast as conditions allow,” the AA states.

Drivers were also encouraged to maintain a safe distance from vehicles in front to avoid collisions and to use dipped headlights at all times. People who switch on their fog lights must also remember to turn them off when visibility returns, as they can dazzle other motorists.

The AA-Popular Motoring Panel revealed nearly ten per cent of drivers rely entirely on automatic lights, but the organisation said this is not advisable on a foggy day.

Good news for drivers in their Skoda turbos – November saw the lowest average pump prices for diesel in six years, while filling up on a tank of petrol is now almost £8 cheaper than 12 months ago.

According to RAC Fuel Watch data for the month, the average price of petrol dropped for the fifth month in a row to settle at 106.98p, hitting a nine-month low on November 11^th at 106.92p. Diesel, meanwhile, reached its lowest average price since December 2009, falling to 109.48p on November 30^th.

Simon Williams, spokesman for RAC Fuel Watch, observed that drivers of both petrol and diesel cars are now benefitting from cheaper fill-ups in the lead-up to Christmas than compared with last year.

“The lower forecourt prices we’re enjoying at the moment are a product of the fall in world crude oil prices, which began in September 2014. After a six-year low of $45 a barrel in early February and two instances of going back up to the $60 level twice briefly since, the price has been consistently below $50 since mid-October, reaching a new six-year low in mid-November,” he said.

If you’re looking for other ways to save fuel, consider driving in the highest gear possible for the slowest speed, don’t use cruise control and try not to slow down and accelerate repeatedly as you’ll end up using more fuel… and therefore spending more money.

Those of you travelling over Christmas should try and make the car as light as possible, as this will have an impact on fuel consumption.