Alastair Shephard

Content Writer

Joseph Law

Bumper Content Writer

Every year we have to pay for insurance to legally drive our cars on the road, but what do we actually get for our money? Insurance pays out if we have a crash, but does it also cover repairs caused by wear and tear? We explain it all.

Comprehensive car insurance covers damage to your car through an accident (regardless of fault or how many parties are involved), theft, vandalism, fire, and natural disasters (such as floods or hail). It does not cover any part that failed due to age or normal usage.

If you only have third-party fire & theft, then your car repairs will not be covered in the event of a crash, it only covers damage or loss due to fire or theft, and any other cars involved (third parties).

How Do Car Insurance Companies Decide on Repairs?

After a road traffic collision, the insurer will either send an investigator or take your car away to be evaluated. The insurer will consider the level of damage, the age of the car and the mileage on the car, as to whether they consider it a write-off or not. 

Does it Matter Who's at Fault in an Insurance Claim?

Regardless of who’s at fault, if you have comprehensive cover, you will be compensated for your car and the costs of personal injuries. The fault only determines who's insurer ultimately pays for the repairs.

Not all insurance policies are equal, when buying you can select the level of coverage you need, there are three types of policies to pick from:

This is the minimum level of cover required by law to drive on the road in the UK. It covers any third parties in the event of a crash. This is used to cover costs for someone else’s vehicle or property, it also covers injuries to other people; both in other cars or your passengers. 

Third-party insurance does not cover your vehicle, or injury to yourself in any way. 

Third-party insurance is not commonly available, most insurers offer one of the other two cover levels explained below.

Third-Party Fire and Theft Insurance Cover

In addition to everything on a third-party-only policy; other people’s cars, property or personal injury, TPFT insurance, as it is commonly known covers your car in the event of theft or fire damage. 

This level of cover does not include damage to your car from an accident, nor personal injury sustained to you (the driver).

The highest level of cover, comprehensive cover includes everything from both third party and TPFT, plus damage to your own car, too. Regardless of fault, comprehensive cover will replace or reimburse you for damage to your vehicle, from a small scratch to a complete write-off. 

Comprehensive cover also includes accidental damage, such as scratches obtained whilst parking, or dinging your door on a wall.

Insurers will not cover any damage or injury, regardless of the level of cover, for a number of reasons, these can include:

 You caused an accident - this could be through moving from your lane on a roundabout, pulling out on a car at a junction, or colliding with a slower car in front whilst in traffic.

 If you are deemed to be at fault, your comprehensive insurance will cover the repairs to both vehicles and any personal injuries caused. 

 Any third parties will claim through your insurance to recoup the costs of the incident, including car repair, hire of a car in the interim, and any personal injury claims.

Example 2: An accident where both parties are at fault - 50/50 split liability claim

 Another car is reversing out of a parking space, and you collide with them. Both parties could have prevented the accident. It is decided between the insurers that liability is to be split 50/50.

 Your car and any injuries to persons in it (including you) will be covered fully, with 50% coming from your insurer and 50% from the third party.

50% of the costs of the accident to your car and persons will be covered from the other party’s insurance, and your insurance will cover 50% of the third party’s costs, but none of yours.

If your insurance isn’t covering the cost of repairs, or your car needs maintenance or mechanical work, using Bumper’s zero-interest repair finance is a great way to spread the cost over many months. Find your nearest Bumper 

Does Car Insurance Cover Repairs?

Tyre Tread depth is one of the most important things to check on your car, it can be the difference between having a safe car that can brake and steer in wet weather, and a dangerous one.

This blog will focus on what the term “tread depth” means, how it’s measured and how it can affect the safety of your car.

Tyre tread is the grooved surface that runs around the perimeter of the tyre, its purpose is to disperse water as the wheel rolls along the road. 

Not having tread would mean the tyres would struggle to get traction, and braking and steering would be extremely difficult, especially in wet conditions. The risk of understeer and aquaplaning would be significantly increased.

As the tyres do their job, the forces from accelerating, steering and braking wear away the outer layer of rubber. As the grooves that create the tread are only around 1 cm deep, at some point the tread will be worn away completely, leaving a smooth surface. 

The remaining depth of these grooves is referred to as the Tyre Tread Depth, and there is a legal limit at which the tyres must be changed.

Keeping track of the wear level of your tyres is something every driver should know how to do. Not only is it dangerous to drive on worn out tyres, but it can land you with some pretty hefty fines too. There are a few ways to check tyre tread depth:

If your tyre tread is deeper than the border, you don’t need to replace your tyres yet. If the edge of the border is visible, your tread depth is below 3mm and should be replaced soon.

Tread depth gauges are readily available from car accessory retailers and even most petrol stations or supermarkets. They are basically a small sliding ruler, with an arrow that allows an accurate measurement to be taken. 

Follow the instructions for your particular depth gauge, again measuring each tyre in at least two places, and all tyres on the car - even the spare if you have one.

As well as the two methods above, a quick and simple method is to check the tyre’s wear indicators or wear bars.

Look for a bar inside the tread grooves, that runs across the width of the tyre. If this bar is level or flush with the outermost tread surface, your tyres need to be replaced. 

 Many tyre brands have a small mark on the sidewall showing where the wear bars are, Michelin has a little Michelin Man symbol, and other brands such as Continental have the letters TWI in line with the bars. 

Tyres with less than 1.6mm of tread are illegal and should be replaced. The general guidance is to replace tyres when they have less than 3mm of tread - this is where the 20p coin trick comes in handy.

Driving with tyres worn below the legal limit can result in a fine of up to £2,500, and 3 penalty points, per tyre! That along with the reduced control and braking distance, means keeping on track of your tyre wear is by far the most cost-effective solution.

Why Do You Have To Check Tyre Tread Depth?

We’ve discussed what tyre tread is, and how to check it, but why should you regularly check your tyres?

As we’ve touched upon, the link between tyre tread depth and vehicle safety is significant. Tyres need to be able to disperse standing water from puddles, rain or poor road conditions. If they can't, the grip is easily lost.

This can be catastrophic if you need to brake or turn whilst driving on wet roads, worn tyres also make aquaplaning much more likely - this is when your car rides over the surface of standing water rather than pushing it aside, resulting in a total loss of control.

Cost Implications of Not Monitoring Your Tyre Tread Depth

Aside from reducing the likelihood of having an accident, there are other areas where checking your tyres can save you money.

Like any maintenance on your car, being able to plan it in advance can allow you to shop around, finding deals or better places to buy from. Needing tyres urgently is a good way to end up paying a premium for them.

, we’ve partnered with hundreds of tyre garages across the UK, allowing you to spread out the cost.

Further to that, If you’re caught driving on the road on tyres below the legal limit you may well face a significant penalty of up to £2,500 per tyre, as well as an increase to your insurance premiums in future years.

What Is The UK's Legal Tread Depth?

With modern cars being safer than ever, some buyers tend to overlook the safety ratings, but you may be surprised to know that not all cars meet the highest safety standards as assessed by the Euro NCAP organisation. 

In fact, there are some cars released very recently that have fallen short, with some very poor ratings. In this blog, then we’ll take a look at which cars on sale today are the safest, ranging from family hatchbacks to SUVs.

BYD Seal - £42,985 - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*

A new player in the market, BYD are making some of the most innovative, and safe, electric vehicles. The new SUV; the Seal is no exception. It received a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, with great accident ratings.

 comes with emergency braking assist that registers not only pedestrians and other cars, but motorbikes and vulnerable road users. It also comes equipped with side, chest and pelvis airbags for front passengers. 

Volkswagen Golf - £27,035 - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*

 has been a common sight on UK roads for the 50 years it’s been in production, and for good reason. As well as being just the right amount of car for a small to medium-sized family, the Golf has great safety features and ratings.

Achieving 95% for adult safety and 89% for child safety in NCAP’s testing, the Golf is a safe bet in more ways than one. Additional features such as auto emergency braking, that’s sensitive to pedestrians, cyclists and cars, and driver drowsiness alerts contribute to your peace of mind whether on a long drive or the school run. 

Ford Focus - £28,500 - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*

 is very much VW's direct competitor. Whilst starting prices are slightly higher, standard specifications do tend to be higher with Ford vs Volkswagen, for instance, the basic Focus comes with keyless entry and cruise control.

In terms of safety features, the Ford is pipped slightly by the VW, with 84% and 87% in adult and child safety respectively. However, even the basic model comes with side, chest and pelvis airbags.

Volvo XC40 - £35,254 - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*

An article about car safety wouldn’t be complete without a Volvo, the brand has been focused on safety since before most others even considered seat belts a necessity. 

 is Volvo’s smallest SUV, with the XC60 and XC90 being its larger siblings. 

Despite its relatively small size, the XC40 packs in a lot of safety tech, which grants a 97% adult safety rating and 87% child safety, one of the best on this list. 

That’s probably due to it having every airbag available, including knee, side head and pelvis airbags for driver and passenger. 

Cupra Formentor - £34,190 - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*

, so it's a bonus that it also boasts a 5-star Euro NCAP rating too. It has a higher child occupancy rating than most at 89% and a very respectable adult rating of 93%. 

Auto emergency braking is standard, helping to prevent front-end impacts with other vehicles, pedestrians and motorbikes. 

Alongside this, the Formentor comes as standard with e-call, an SOS service that detects serious accidents and phones for help.

Volkswagen Tiguan - £34,075 - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*

Volkswagen’s answer to the small-medium SUV sector is the hugely popular 

. It combines a higher driving position with VW reliability and build quality. Available with a 1.5 petrol, 2.0 diesel or a plug-in hybrid, there should be one to fit your needs. 

The adult occupancy rating is not as impressive as some here, at 83%, but the child occupancy rating of 88% is up there with the best. 

The Tiguan comes with all but knee airbags and has forward collision control as standard. 

In our opinion, it has to be the Mercedes E-Class (£55,120) - Euro NCAP Rating: 5*.

 is ubiquitous with luxury and quality, it stands to reason then that it should also be the safest car currently on sale, receiving incredible ratings of 92% and 90% for adult and child occupancy respectively. 

It achieves this by being able to deploy one or multiple of its numerous airbags, the E-Class ticks every box on this front, from front and side head protection, and knee airbags for the driver and passenger.

All the expected safety equipment is present too, with emergency braking assistance as standard, alongside a very sophisticated lane guidance system and driver drowsiness detection.

Whilst all manufacturers do their best to improve their cars and make them as safe as possible, the more expertise, investment and time a company has, the more safe their vehicles will be. 

Some manufacturers have spent decades perfecting their systems. These are the brands to look for when buying the safest car possible:

The Euro NCAP, or New Car Assessment Programme, is a testing organisation paid for by various governments across Europe. Their mission is to thoroughly and strategically test as many new cars as possible, on metrics such as occupant safety, pedestrian safety and overall safety. 

They do this by crash-testing hundreds of cars every year and using sophisticated monitoring technology to assess the damage to the car, occupants and even third parties, such as pedestrians or cyclists. 

Alongside physical testing, NCAP delves into the electronic assistance technology of a car, such as emergency braking, stability control and ABS. Once a car has been tested in all aspects, it is given an overall star score out of 5, and ratings for specific categories. 

Most of the occupant safety of a vehicle is derived from the bodywork and structure of the car. In crash protection, slowing the car down as slowly as possible is key, this means absorbing the energy in whatever way is effective. Significant and well-designed crumple zones are the most common way of attenuating the force from a crash. 

However, crumple zones can only go so far, alongside making the body and structure of the car good at absorbing energy, the passenger compartment should remain as intact as possible, to avoid direct impact to the people inside. 

These physical technologies have been around for a few decades now, but in more recent years electronic aids also play a big part in helping to avoid collisions in the first place. Systems such as stability control and emergency braking assist can reduce the likelihood of a crash significantly. 

Hopefully, this has helped narrow down which car is the best bet to protect you and your family should the worst happen. From sophisticated electronics to numerous airbags, the modern safety systems can be bewildering. 

For more information on car safety, we’d recommend checking out the 

 for the latest news on testing and development.

Keep your vehicle safe, reliable and on the road with regular servicing. 

 allows you to split the cost of additional service and repair work into monthly payments at no extra cost to you.

Apply online in just a few clicks and choose from 1000s of dependable garages and dealerships across the country.

The Safest Cars To Buy In The UK

MOT tests are legal requirements for cars and vans over three years (or four in Northern Ireland). They ensure the vehicle is fit for the road and maintained to a safe standard. Regular maintenance is vital to passing.

 or not notice that the certificate has expired, leading you to ask, "Can you drive without your MOT?" 

Whether you want to avoid accidentally driving without an MOT or are worried about driving to your test, we’re here to help. This article covers whether you can drive your car without an MOT, what happens if you fail your test and other MOT-related FAQs. 

 However, it’s not always that simple. 

For example, you can drive to a pre-booked MOT test at an authorised centre. But you can’t pop down to the shops. 

Driving without a valid MOT - What you need to know

Here are a few common scenarios to help you understand when you can or can’t drive without an MOT. 

If you miss your MOT and have an expired certificate, you will be prosecuted if you’re caught driving. 

Book in for an MOT as soon as possible and keep your car serviced to ensure it’s road-safe. 

Bumper is here to help you split with 0% car repair or service finance. 

Sometimes, cars fail the MOT test even though the current certificate is still in date. 

In this situation, only ‘dangerous’ problems mean you can’t drive the car. You can drive the vehicle home and to repairs if it only has minor issues.

 at all times. Your mechanic will inform you if this isn’t the case.

Most cars only require an MOT certificate on their third registration anniversary (In Northern Ireland, four years). So, there’s no need to worry about MOTs for the first three years.

However, if you’ve bought a second-hand car, make sure to check its MOT status and plan ahead for the next test as soon as you take ownership. The next test might be sooner than you expect. 

Faults and vehicle recalls invalidate your current MOT certification. 

Recalls don’t happen without thorough research. If you’re unsure, contact your manufacturer. Otherwise, you should assume the problem is serious and affects the car’s safety.

Still unsure? Let’s take a closer look at the most common FAQs and when it’s fine for your car to have no MOT.

Can I drive my car without MOT if it’s booked in?

Yes, you can drive your car to a booked MOT test if your current certificate isn’t valid. 

However, you should check your insurance before you do so. Some insurers don’t cover driving the vehicle without an MOT, even if it’s just for the next test.

 on how far you can drive without a certificate. But you should always try to book an MOT nearby to minimise the distance. 

Can you drive your car after a failed MOT?

Driving after a failed MOT depends on whether your current MOT certificate is valid and if any major faults were found.

If your car has ‘dangerous’ or ‘major’ issues, you can't drive it until these problems are professionally fixed. 

In such cases, you’ll be given a ‘refusal of an MOT test certificate,’ but this won’t be recorded in the MOT database.

Don’t be tempted to drive after a failed MOT. You’ll get three points, a driving ban, and a hefty £2,500 fine.

Yes, your car can fail an MOT due to damage that wasn’t your fault. 

If you get into an accident, you should contact your insurance company. They will assess your damage and categorise the car into A, B, S or N. 

It depends. The DVLA uses a point system to determine whether your modifications will require a new registration number. 

If your car keeps the same number, you won’t need to apply for a new MOT. 

Is there a 14-day grace period after an MOT expires?

No, the 14-day grace period is a common misconception! There is no two-week MOT-free period. 

Once your MOT has expired, you are not legally allowed to drive your car from the very next day

Is there a penalty for driving without an MOT?

Yes, as mentioned above, driving without a valid MOT can lead to a fine and points on your licence. If your car is deemed to be dangerous, you could even face losing your licence.

What is the fine for driving without an MOT?

The fine for driving without an MOT is £1,000.

The cost goes up to £2,500 if your car has been deemed ‘dangerous’ by a failed MOT test. This fine will come with three points and a driving ban.

Yes, you can report vehicles being driven without an MOT. 

You should contact your local police and give them the following information:

If found, the police can investigate the certificate and charge the driver up to £1,000.

How do you get caught driving without an MOT?

There’s an MOT database with current information on passes, fails, and out-of-date tests. Anyone can access this information as long as they have 

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and police cars can also flag vehicles without a valid MOT test.

 can create a big dent in your budget, especially if they’re unexpected. 

If you find yourself with expensive repairs or high MOT costs, you might want to consider 

, you can spread the cost of any repairs at no extra cost. Get started today or 

Can You Drive Without an MOT in the UK?

Keeping your tyres and wheels clean is one of the easiest ways to keep your car looking good. It’s important from both an aesthetic and safety perspective, and doing it yourself is rewarding and not too time-consuming.

In this guide, we’ll explain all there is to know about cleaning your wheels and tyres, including best practices, benefits and pitfalls.

Equipment Needed To Clean Wheels and Tyres?

 If you have multi-spoke alloy wheels, move the car a few feet and check again before putting away the cleaning gear. It’s easy to miss a spot of dirt on a hidden face in between a spoke, and it’s very frustrating finding out once you’ve packed everything away!

Why You Should Be Cleaning Your Wheels Cleaning your wheels yourself has some clear benefits:

Whether cleaning your wheels, bodywork or interior, there is always something to learn, these are the common mistakes to avoid:

How to Keep Safe When Cleaning Wheels and Tyres

No, tyre shine is not essential, but it’s great for achieving that showroom fresh look, giving the rubber a gloss black finish as if they were brand new. 

Whilst it would probably work, WD-40 is not the best product to use to clean tyres or wheels, as it contains solvents that could harm the paint finish. I would recommend a dedicated tyre and wheel cleaner.

How often should you clean your wheels and tyres?

There’s no set time period you should follow, but it’s best to clean them every time you clean the rest of the car. Regular cleaning makes it easier to clean them in the future, preventing the build-up of brake dust and grime.

If your alloys are silver in colour, you may notice the wheels obtaining a black residue, this is brake dust from your brake pads wearing down and road grime.

If whilst cleaning your tyres, you’ve noticed cuts, abrasions or that the tread is too low, you will need to replace your tyres. 

Split the cost of new tyres into monthly payments

 at 1,000s of trusted repairers across the country.

has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his five cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.

Best Way To Clean Wheels and Tyres

La mejor manera de limpiar llantas y neumáticos

So reinigen Sie Ihre Reifen und Felgen richtig 

The allure of a Range Rover is hard to ignore; a plush, luxurious interior, effortless style and the best ride quality in the segment. I find myself constantly checking the used markets for luxury bargains, but my head always intervenes with thoughts of expensive parts bills.

If you have the same thought process, why not take a look at the competition with less reliability woes, in this blog I've outlined some of the best Range Rover alternatives.

As the baby in the lineup, the Evoque is the cheapest Range Rover you can buy new, but for those looking for reliability too, these are some good options.

Marketed as a “Sports Activity Coupe” the 

 has a sweeping roofline akin to the Evoque. Whilst not the best for rear headroom or boot space, the sleeker side profile does give the X4 a more sporty look. 

Starting at £54,035, the X4 is a good bit more expensive than the base model Evoque but is in keeping with the Dynamic HSE and Autobiography level Evoques. Interior build quality is similar to the Range Rover, just with subtle differences in styling.

For those looking for a more budget-friendly stylish SUV, the 

 might be a good choice. Whilst it might lack some of the styling cues the Evoque has, the Skodas of recent years are not without their charm.

For reliability, the Skoda is a solid choice, 

 named Skoda at the 16th most reliable brand, whereas Land Rover products reached the top 10 (placed no. 5) as the most unreliable.

As well as reliability, value for money is another plus point for the Skoda, the base model at £36,645 comes with a fairly limited list of features, but the mid-range SE-L model comes with cruise control, a large touchscreen navigation system and LED headlight as standard, and it’s still on par with the cost of the Evoque.

If luxury and comfort are a priority, then the 

 should be on the shortlist, available with a very dependable petrol-hybrid powertrain, it offers all of the style and elegance as the Range Rover, without any of the build quality concerns.

The base model, the UX 300H Urban, comes with radar cruise control, 17” alloy wheels, and an 8” touchscreen nav system. If all-electric power is of interest, the UX will be available soon, starting at just over £40,000.

The Range Rover Sport was introduced in 2005 as a more sporty and less lavish version of the “full-fat” Range Rover. It still fits this description, but other manufacturers have cottoned on to the formula, and there are some great alternatives.

 was the German marque's biggest SUV and vehicle to date, but it's of similar size and prowess to the Range Rover Sport. Available with a range of powertrains including petrol, diesel and hybrid. The base spec is just over £70,000 on the road, with 298hp and a 0-60 time of 6.2 seconds. This is slightly down on the Range Rover Sport, but at £20,000 cheaper I think it’s plenty of power!

Interior wise it’s typically BMW; high quality materials, precise German styling and loads of tech. Slightly less plush than the Range Rover, but just as well built, if not better.

As one of the hallmark luxury brands, the 

 is the perfect alternative to a Range Rover. The GLE is available brand new from £73,500, making it around £17,500 cheaper than the lowest-spec Range Rover Sport. 

For that you get a turbocharged 3-litre diesel engine, producing enough power to propel the GLE to 60mph in under 6 seconds. Power is delivered to all 4 wheels via a very sophisticated 9-speed automatic gearbox. The interior is suitably Mercedes, with stylish high-quality materials throughout. 

For something a little more left-field, the Maserati Levante offers a unique style that is certain to stand out amongst the crowd. Oozing Italian flair and style, the Levante is Maserati’s large SUV, the model I’d advise, coming in at just over £82,000, has a petrol hybrid powertrain offering 330 horsepower.

Not only does the Maserati look the part, it puts the driving feel at the heart of the experience, with supreme handling and road holding, thanks to the company's racing heritage. The model in question comes with 20” staggered wheels, heated seats and a flash nav system.

The biggest and most opulent Range Rover has been the flagship since the brand name was coined in the 70s. Significantly bigger than the Sport and the Evoque, with more power and more luxury, it also carries a larger price tag of over £100,000. Here are my alternatives.

Introduced in late 2018, the X7 is now the largest vehicle in the BMW lineup, at nearly 30 cm longer and 5cm higher than the X5, it is certainly on the same page as the full-size Range Rover in stature. 

Because the engines in the Range Rover were a joint development between BMW and JLR, the X7 and the Range Rover share most of the powertrain options. My pick would be the 3.0 turbo diesel for efficiency, or the 4.4 V8 petrol for sheer power. 

As the biggest SUV they make, the Merc GLS gives a Range Rover-like experience in a slightly different package. The GLS uses the same 3.0-litre diesel engine and 9-speed gearbox as in the GLE, somewhat surprisingly, still able to accelerate the much larger GLS to 60 mph in under 6 seconds.

A 7 seater as standard, the GLS is perfect for those with a larger family. When not needed the rearmost seats fold flat enabling a cavernous boot space. The levels of tech inside the cabin are where you would expect for a £105,000 car, with opulent lighting control and high-quality materials.

To round off the Range Rover alternative suggestions, another German full-size SUV, this time from Audi. The SQ7 is the sportier version of the Q7, fitted with a turbocharged petrol engine delivering over 500 horsepower and 770 Nm of torque, it certainly ticks the box for power. 

With a seamless touchscreen infotainment and climate control system in the dash, and sporty-looking carbon fibre accents on the dashboard, the interior is as purposeful and sleek as the exterior. At just over £94,000 on the road, the SQ7 sits a good bit below the Range Rover in cost, but not in style or performance. 

What Vehicle is comparable to a Range Rover?

Whilst many consider Range Rovers to be the peak luxury SUV, there are a few cars that can match the style and comfort:

The naming can be quite confusing, but ultimately there are currently 4 types of Range Rover:

As complex luxury cars, with many additional systems and features, Range Rovers can be on the expensive side to maintain and repair. Both parts and labour are also quite costly.

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