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Customers confused over charges for car hire

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ConfusedThe consumer association Which? Has said that car rental companies are often not declaring all charges clearly often leaving people with a bad taste for car rental companies and often being left stumped with “sneaky charges”.

Researchers from Which? Examined the websites of 10 companies which were offering a weeks car hire in Spain. The research found that some of the websites do not declare all of the additional costs like insurance or GPS until after the vehicle has been confirmed and your money has already been taken. Continue reading →

Fuel Price Wars

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It is always a pertinent situation and one that we should all be paying attention to as the price of fuel at the pumps affects us all in many different ways. From the cost to fill up our cars, to the cost to get our food and clothing to the supermarkets to the cost of our mail getting delivered, fuel affects many different walks of life so it is always worthwhile to keep your ear to the ground when it comes to the price changes of fuel.FUEL COST

Four of the leading supermarkets in the UK announced a cut in their petrol prices ahead of the bank holiday weekend. Morrisons Sainsbury’s Asda and Tesco have all made announcements informing us that they are dropping the cost per litre for their fuel. Continue reading →

Van Hire With A Debit Card

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Van Hire With A Debit Card
As Many people know hiring a car is hard with a debit card, let alone hiring a van with one but you will be surprised to hear that you can actually arrange van hire with a debit card with us, this is available and most UK locations. We make it quick, simple and easy with no catches to hire when ordering without a credit card. We essentially do all the leg work for you, you just click the buttons.

When hiring your van through Indigo car hire we advise two forms of identification are provided upon collection of the vehicle in addition to your credit or debit card you need to produce your full drivers licence, it’s important to note that if you hold a UK two part licence both the photo card and counterpart have to be produced for it to be considered a full license. A second form of identification may also be required; things like a bill or passport are adequate. Continue reading →

Fuel for Thought?

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Fuel for Thought

As everyone has seen in the news fuel prices just continue to rise with the latest rise being up to 6p a litre, coming with this logically car manufacturers are trying to increase their economic footprint as it’s good for the environment as well as business. The target set for fuel economy was to half the consumption in all cars by 2030.

Since the year 2005 the average fuel consumption, according to a study carried out by Global Fuel Economy Initiative or GFEI for short, has shown that there has been an increase of light duty vehicles by 1.8% which is approximately an increase of around 32 mpg. This is some way off the estimated figure of about 3% needed per year in order to meet the targets set. Despite this the GFEI still believes that the goal is still a realistic one. Continue reading →

New MyKey Feature On Cars Could Reduce Insurance Premiums for Younger Drivers

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MYKEY

United States Car Giant Ford is set to bring its’ new My Key Technology to the UK, much to the relief of many young drivers and their parents alike. The target market is aimed at those who have the tag of boy and girl racers.

My Key is designed to make Ford vehicles safer to drive and aims to help reduce the amount of fatal accidents involving young drivers under 25. The technology is aimed to give parents piece of mind as it allows parents to control the settings in the car via a master key.

So we ask what does this key do, what can I adjust and how will it keep our children safe?

Speed: Excessive speed caused more than 30% of all accidents in male drivers and 21% in female drivers under 25. The My Key system has a feature which allows the top speed of the vehicle to be limited to a set speed, depending on the setting warnings will sound at 70, 90 or 100kph.

Fuel: Parents will also be relieved to know that they will not have to be anxiously expecting a late night call from their stranded teenagers as the feature also provides early low-fuel warnings. Drivers are warned when they have 120km of fuel left in the vehicle.

Music: When teenagers play music they tend to play it quite loudly and this can often distract them from the job they should be concentrating on, driving. Unfortuantely for teenagers the MY Key function has the ability to limit the volume on the audio system, thus removing any unnecessary distractions, ensuring that the driver is being more concentrated on the job at hand.

Seatbelts: My Key also encourages the use of seat belts in vehicles. More often than not drivers will tend not to put their seatbelts on, or slip it over their shoulder, so it appears that they are wearing one to any passers-by. The system uses a reminder chime and mutes the audio system until all front seat passengers comply and stick their seatbelts on.

Personally Indigo believes that this is a very clever idea as in time this could reduce fatalities and bring down the insurance premiums for younger drivers, enabling them to driver safer, and in time they may also be able to go out and hire vehicles and not have to pay a fortune for young driver fees or extortionate insurance premiums.

Ford plans  to make the My Key system available to European drivers when it releases the brand new 13 plate ford fiesta and it aims to make the feature as standard on the vehicles. However all is not lost. 53% of parents who were surveyed by Ford said that they would give their teenagers more access to the family vehicle if these settings were applied.

We have no doubt that budding Michael and Michelle Schumacher’s out there will be rushing out to get the new Ford Fiesta!

Top Towing Vehicles Of The Year

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rangerover towbarVoted first choice by many caravan enthusiasts, the Land rover Discovery has recently come out on top for being the best towing vehicle around. With prices for the vehicle starting at around £38,000, this vehicle may not be an option for many, but could save you a lot of hassle if you want to get away with your caravan with the least stress possible. The survey was carried out by The Camping and Caravanning Club.

The popularity of the vehicle is largely due to the brand’s reputation of producing strong and solid vehicles since the manufacturer first started producing vehicles. With a four wheel drive the Land rover discovery can easily pull your caravan in all terrains.  Over the past three years Land Rover has been honoured with the title of ‘Best Towcar’ and an award in the category of ‘Over 1,900kg’.

The Discovery has a Trailer Stability Assist which means that the vehicle detects when a trailer is attached, and will slow once you hit 37mph to ensure the safety of both you, the trailer and the vehicle itself. Selective breaking is used by the vehicle to prevent trailers from swaying when travelling to ensure no problems are created when towing. There is also an optional extra with the vehicle called Towing assist which includes a Surround Camera System. This is optional and predicts the trajectory of the vehicle and trailer and predicting a path for when you need to reverse the vehicle. This new technology is seen as very beneficial for those who have difficulty when reversing a towing vehicle, and allows peace of mind for drivers.

Here at Indigo Car Hire we can now offer car hire with a tow bar at selected locations to make towing a vehicle that little bit easier. This service is available to those over the age of 30. To find out the options available to you, contact us directly to see if we can assist you or for more information click here.

Book Early For Your Half Term Car Hire

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HalfTermWell it is that time of year again. It is not that long ago when the kids were off from school over Christmas. But the half term holidays are nearly upon us. From the 15th February 2013 the kinds will be off school for around 10 days. That is 10 whole days to come up with ideas of how to keep the kids entertained.

Well book a car with Indigo Car Hire today and you can whisk the kids off to one of the many attractions that the UK has to offer. Whether you fancy a trip to somewhere busy to do a little shopping in a city centre, somewhere rural like the North York Moors, the Lake District or the Cotswolds, or you could even go somewhere fun like a theme park like Alton towers, Flamingo Land, Chester Zoo, Light water Valley, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, LEGOLAND, York Maze.

There is also no guarantee that you will be able to escape the bad weather but with so much to see and do in the UK this half term, it can sometimes be nice to get a change of scenery. We often overlook the delights which are sat right on our doorstep but there is so much choice and plenty of things to see and do. Get out there this half term and explore the pleasures of the UK.
VW caddy MaxiIf you are planning to get away this half term with the family then it may be worthwhile to collect a 7 seat people carrier. A typical example model is the Volkswagon Caddy Max Lite or the Ford Galaxy which is a sizeable car which has plenty of room for people and luggage. For more on half term people carrier hire please click here.

You can always be sure that there is plenty to do this half term, so arrange your half term car hire today to get the kids out and about, to go out with your friends or even to relax for this Febraury half term. Half term is always a busy time for car rental, so always make sure that you book early and arrange your car hire this half term.

Winter Driving, Coping with Cold Snow and Ice

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Winter Car HireYou should always take great care and attention when driving your vehicle but when it comes to the winter months, extra care and preparation is required in order for you to keep safe on the highway and avoid any breakdowns or accidents.
Breakdowns are much more common towards the end of the year especially with wintery weather conditions prevailing, many of the breakdown companies including the RAC, AA and Green flag operate many regular patrols as the number of call outs almost doubles during the winter months.
During cold weather you can often face many dangers including icy road conditions, snow drifts and other challenging conditions. Please find our general advice below for safe and trouble-free driving through the cold and dark months.  Continue reading →

Motorway Driving Tips

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UK Car Hire Motorway Driving Tips

Great news. The Institute of Advanced Motorists has revealed potentially life saving tips for driving on the motorway in the dark. This, I suspect, is for two reasons. Firstly, motorists tend to have no more than eight hours of daylight in the winter months.

As such millions travel huge distances in poor visibility. Secondly – according to the Department for Transport – 20.3% of motorised traffic was on motorways in 2011. That is remarkable considering the network accounts for only 0.9% of the UK’s 245,000 miles of road. Furthermore, it seems that motorway drivers frequently take liberties with the speed limit. As such, 49% of car traffic was speeding in 2011 with 13% at 80mph or above. And it was not just cars. 49% of motorcycle traffic sped rising to 50% of light goods vehicles. Dealing with speeders and other hazards can be particularly tricky in poor light, so let us consider the Institute of Advanced Motorists’ easy to follow tips:

- “Many stretches of motorway are not lit during hours of darkness. To improve your view as far as possible keep your lights, mirrors and windscreen clean. Make sure you can stop safely within the distance you can see to be clear.

- Watch for tell-tale brake lights up ahead to foresee any changes in traffic speed or queues which you may be joining.

- Driving in the dark can cause fatigue. Plan your journey, scheduling at least one stop every two hours.

- Don’t ignore warning signs of fatigue. In extreme cases, have a caffeine drink and sleep for 20 minutes while it takes effect. You can only do this once per journey – it won’t have the same effect if you do it more than once.

- Share the driving if possible.

- If you break down, pull over on to the hard shoulder and stop as far to the left as you can, pointing your wheels in towards the kerb.

- When stopped on the hard shoulder, leave your vehicle and get as far away from the road as possible, behind the crash barrier, and up the bank if there is one.”

Simon Elstow, from the Institute of Advanced Motorists, added: “Although motorways are our safest roads, darkness brings with it additional challenges which increase the risk of fatal accidents.” Mr Elstow concluded: “Plan your journey from beginning to end and take necessary precautions to keep yourself safe.”

The UK’s first motorway was the Preston Bypass which was opened by the Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Harold Macmillan, on December 5th 1958. This historic route ran past Preston from Bamber Bridge which is south of the city, to Broughton in the north. It was approximately 8 miles long, had two lanes in each direction, and a hedge in the central reservation to prevent motorists being dazzled by oncoming headlights. Two extra lanes – one in each direction – were added in the sixties and much later work increased its capacity to 8. These now form part of the M6, so the Preston Bypass has evolved beyond recognition since Harold Macmillan’s day. Is that great news?

 

A third of motorists use their mobile phone whilst behind the wheel!

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Car Hire with Driving ConvictionsThe use of a mobile phone whilst behind the wheel in the UK was banned in December in 2003. If caught by the police, you can be charged up to a £60 fine, and receive a CU80 conviction code, which equates to 3 points on your license. Although the consequences are somewhat serious, people still break the law as over 1 million people have been caught since the law was introduced.

A study by insurance company Liverpool Victoria highlighted that over 20% of drivers think that driving whilst using a phone is acceptable, with many admitting to using their phones to check Facebook and twitter whilst driving.

Research has shown that using a mobile phone whilst driving is as dangerous as driving whilst under the influence of alcohol. The study that was conducted showed that those who were on their mobile phones whilst driving were just as likely to crash the vehicle as those who were under the influence. Of the three drivers that took part in the study, all of them crashed into the back of the test car, whilst talking on a mobile.

Technology is slowly helping to combat the problem of using your mobile phone whilst driving, with Bluetooth and Hands-free communication tools a popular choice for those with newer vehicles. Those with older vehicles do not have this option, or choose not to use it.

Even though this technology is trying to help those who still need to use a mobile phone whilst driving, it is yet to assist the police in catching offenders. Currently there is a device that is used by selected police forces, that uses laser technology to catch those in the act from up to half a mile away.