The Department for Transport (DfT) has published guidance on what constitutes a private hire vehicle (PHV). It confirms that "most informal courtesy lifts offered by, for example, rental car companies or garages would not fall within the PHV licensing regime." The guidance follows a review of legislation after the BVRLA highlighted the concerns of rental companies threatened with legal action by local authorities on the grounds that their vehicles had to be licensed to pick up or drop off customers. "We estimate that compliance with private hire regulations would have cost members £3m a year and restricted the level of service rental firms could have offered to their customers," said Jay Parmar, head of legal services at the BVRLA. "We welcome the extra clarification." The DfT's guidance note has been sent to interested stakeholders for comment by 25 March 2011 and will then be subject to ministerial approval before being published. Copies are available from BVRLA legal services executive Amanda Brandon. Contact: Amanda Brandon, e: amanda@bvrla.co.uk t: 01494 545701 source: BVRLA Labels: BVRLA, DFT, News
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced new advisory rates for drivers claiming reimbursement for fuel expenses incurred while driving on business. The rates apply to journeys undertaken by employees on or after 1 March 2011. Employers are not obliged to reimburse their employees at these rates, which indicate the maximum tax-free level. source: BVRLA Labels: BVRLA, Finance, HMRC
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is warning of an email scam that asks drivers to verify their licence details via a website link. The email, which purports to come from the DVLA, appears to be an attempt to trick drivers into providing personal details. David Evans, the DVLA's corporate affairs director, said: "We would strongly urge anyone in receipt of this or a similar email to treat it with extreme caution and not to follow the instructions given." source: BVRLA Labels: BVRLA, DVLA, Fraud, News
New laws that came into force last week have strengthened consumer protection. Under the new rules, introduced on 1 February to reflect the European Council's Consumer Credit Directive, customers have: • up to 14 days to cancel agreements • the option to make partial repayments ahead of schedule (at present, they are obliged to either pay off the full sum owed or stick to the agreed rate of repayment). Lenders also have greater responsibility towards their customers. They must now:
• give standardised pre-contractual information to improve comparability • ensure the customer understands their agreement • carry out a thorough check on the creditworthiness of the customer.
Information on the types of customer and agreement covered by consumer credit law is available from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The BVRLA will also have guidance available shortly. If you have any questions in the meantime, contact head of legal services Jay Parmar. source: BVRLA Labels: BVRLA, Credit Law
Most travel costs have risen over the past three years, except for car rental, which has fallen in most popular tourist destinations. According to a recent study in The Telegraph, most air fares, ferry crossings, Eurostar tickets and travel insurance premiums have risen in price since 2007. In comparison, car rental prices continued their downward trend from the early 1990s despite the increasing operating and regulatory costs. The Telegraph article can be read here... source: BVRLA Labels: BVRLA, Money, Rental
The BVRLA is advising car rental customers to take extra care when confronted with ridiculously cheap deals on the internet or in the press. Police and Trading Standards officials are currently investigating a number of companies that have lured consumers with low prices and offer to deliver vehicles to their door. In many cases, customers have handed over hundreds of pounds in advance only to find that their car never arrives and the company does not really exist. The BVRLA is taking the opportunity to remind people to rent from its members because they are quality assured and operate under a code of conduct. The association has produced the following advice for consumers, which members may wish to pass on: 1. Use a BVRLA member. Seeing our logo on the front desk or website is a sign that you are dealing with a reputable company that has been vetted and operates to a professional code of conduct. You will also be able to use our conciliation service in the event of any dispute. 2. Never hand over cash. Most rental companies will only want to accept credit/debit card payment. 3. Make sure the company is operating from bona fide commercial premises, not a PO Box or virtual office, no matter how prestigious the location sounds. 4. Make sure the company actually has the cars it is offering – BVRLA members operate their own rental fleet. 5. Remember, if the price or service being offered seems too good to be true, it probably is!
BVRLA members who are aware of companies offering vehicle rental or leasing services that they believe to be fradulent are welcome to pass on their concerns to the association's legal services team. source: BVRLA Labels: BVRLA, News
The new chair of the BVRLA Rental Committee, Alison Chadwick, will oversee her first meeting on 18 January 2011. It will address: Industry reputation, standards and vehicle information. RIVAL Insurance wishes Alison every success. source: BVRLA Labels: BVRLA, News
The BVRLA has called on the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) to re-examine its plans to bring all leased assets and liabilities onto the balance sheet. "Most people accept the need to make major leased assets and liabilities more transparent," said BVRLA chief executive John Lewis. "But whether you are talking to leasing companies, their customers or accounting firms, there is almost total consensus that the plans being put forward are over-complicated and will fail to achieve their objective." In its response to the IASB consultation on the proposals, which closed last week, the BVRLA highlights issues it believes the IASB needs to address:
Short-term leases. The BVRLA believes that low value transactions lasting less than 12 months should be treated as service contracts and therefore excluded from the proposals. Transition period. The association also believes that affected firms should be given a minimum of four years to make the necessary system and process changes required to meet the new accounting requirements. The BVRLA is confident that the proposed standards will not erode the key commercial benefits of leasing, but it is keen to ensure that they do not put an excessive accounting burden on businesses. The IASB is now expected to review the consultation responses before publishing a final standard in the first half of 2011. source: BVRLA Labels: BVRLA, Leasing
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has decided not to regulate 'ancillary' charges – those which, from a consumer's perspective, do not form part of the 'essential bargain' between trader and customer. The BVRLA welcomed the announcement, calling it both sensible and fair. The association's head of legal services, Jay Parmar, said: "There was no justifiable basis for charges for administration, fuel and excess mileage to be regulated, especially as these are intended to recoup losses or costs incurred by our members and are therefore driven by cost recovery." source: BVRLA Labels: BVRLA, Money, Regulation
Boris Johnson, has cut £13m from a scheme to install charging points for electric cars across London. The mayor had pledged to raise £20m for the £60m scheme which would see 22,500 charging points across London, with 7,500 being installed by 2013. But following the government's Spending Review he has cut his monetary contribution to the project to £7m. The mayor's office said its commitment to make London the electric car capital of Europe was "as strong as ever". Today it was announced that a city-wide electric vehicle charging network, 'Source London', will launch in spring 2011. Source London will consist of 1,300 public charging points across the capital by 2013. There will be an annual charge of £100 for participants, entitling them to use the public charging points. At present electric vehicle drivers have to register in each London borough to use its charging points. Further information on Source London can be found here... source: BVRLA Labels: BVRLA, Electic Cars
Rental companies are being urged to issue customers a new, easy-to-follow 'key facts' document setting out the main terms and conditions associated with hiring a car. Produced by the BVRLA in conjunction with its members, the guide tells customers where they stand on issues including fuel, mileage, insurance, damage, late returns and traffic fines. It also explains what they should expect from the rental company. Produced in response to a European Commission call for more user-friendly information summarising key contractual terms, the document is now available for BVRLA members to use as part of their pre-rental process. "Customers need to bear in mind that they are renting an expensive and often powerful piece of equipment and that there are terms and conditions involved," said BVRLA chief executive John Lewis. "If we, as an industry, can make these clear at a pre-booking stage or before taking possession of the vehicle, we should be able to reduce the number of misunderstandings or disputes that occur further down the line." source: BVRLA Labels: BVRLA, FAQs
Newly published Department for Transport (DfT) figures show that compared to previous figures, driving is becoming far safer. According to the DfT, in 2009 there were 222,146 reported casualties of all severities, 4% lower than in 2008. Of these, 2,222 people were killed, 12% lower than in 2008. The number of fatalities fell for almost all types of road user, most notably with a drop of 16% for car occupants. Figures on the number of people killed and injured on the roads in 2009 were published in June, but this report provides more detailed information about accident circumstances, vehicle involvement and casualties, as well as trends in accidents and casualties. source: BVRLA Labels: BVRLA, DFT, Road Safety
A £300-a-year workplace parking levy, lower speed limits and a national emission-based road pricing scheme are some of the proposals being looked at by the Scottish Government to help combat climate change. It is has been suggested that these proposals could help to cut vehicle CO2 emissions from the current level of 70 million tonnes to 40 million tonnes by 2020. However, the plans have been condemned by the CBI and the Institute of Advanced Motorists, who claim the charges will disadvantage Scottish businesses and drivers. The Scottish Government has already announced a £4.3m financial package to help encourage the use of low-carbon vehicles by Scotland’s public services, as well as the installation of publicly accessible charging points, of which there are at present only 14. source: BVRLA Labels: BVRLA, Climate change
The BVRLA has rejected suggestions that contingent and ancillary charges – such as those for administration, fuel and excess mileage – should be assessed for unfairness. In its response to a call for evidence from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the association called for the government to clarify what the objectives of changing existing legal principles would be and how this would improve consumer protection. BIS believes that a case may exist for it to regulate charges which, from the consumer's perspective, do not form part of the 'essential bargain' between trader and consumer. The department believes these charges are not actively considered by consumers when entering into a contract and are therefore not subject to normal competitive pressures. The BVRLA contends that charges for administration, fuel and excess mileage do not need to be regulated by the government as these are intended to recoup losses or costs incurred by members and are therefore driven by cost recovery. source: BVRLA
Labels: BVRLA, Money
The European Commission has announced a target of halving road deaths in the European Union by 2020. A total of 35,000 people died in 2009 as a result of accidents on European roads. The UK has the lowest annual road fatality rate in the EU – 38 per million inhabitants. Towards a European Road Safety Area: policy orientations on road safety 2011-2020, sets out seven strategic objectives: improved safety measures for trucks and cars; building safer roads; developing intelligent vehicles; strengthening licensing and training; better enforcement; targeting injuries; and a new focus on motorcyclists. The Commission has concerns over the 'vehicles of tomorrow', including electric vehicles, as some of these are radically different from traditional vehicles in ways that might affect safety. It has said that, amongst other things, it will encourage progress on the active and passive safety features of motorcycles and electric vehicles. The Commission previously set out an action plan to halve annual EU road deaths from 50,000 to 25,000 between 2001 and 2010. The Commission's latest figures show that although substantial progress has been made this goal is unlikely to be achieved. source: BVRLA Labels: BVRLA, News, Road Safety
According to the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB), an estimated 1.5 million motorists in the UK drove with no insurance in 2009, compared to 1.8 million in 2005 – a drop of approximately 20%. In a new report, the MIB also notes that drivers under the age of 21 were the least likely to be insured, with an estimated 243,000 breaking the law when they get behind the wheel – 20% of the drivers in that age group. source: BVRLA Labels: BVRLA, MIB, News, Stay Insured Campaign
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is to issue a restyled vehicle registration certificate (V5C). It will be sent to all newly registered vehicles from 15 August and all relicensed vehicles, or those subject to a statutory off-road notification (SORN), after July 2011. The DVLA says the move will help protect motorists from being sold vehicles with false documentation. The new V5Cs have a predominantly red cover, replacing the current blue, and carry a statement confirming that a V5C is not proof of ownership. According to the government's Directgov website: "The re-designed V5C now makes it clear that it is not proof of ownership and will provide details of where you can get advice on how to avoid becoming the victim of vehicle crime." In 2006 a large batch of blank V5Cs was stolen and the DVLA has admitted that the theft was a factor in its decision to revise the former design. Approximately 31 million genuine V5Cs are in circulation. With the production and distribution cost for each new certificate estimated to be around £10, the BVRLA believes the de facto recall of old V5Cs will cost the DVLA £310m. The association regards the move as ill-considered given the disruption and administrative costs this change will impose on fleet owners. It has called for an urgent meeting with the DVLA to discuss the steps the agency should take to minimise the impact for all parties. One proposal the BVRLA intends to table is to only issue a new V5C to recognised fleet vehicles when they are sold and registered to a new keeper.
source: BVRLA Labels: BVRLA, Fraud, Motor, News
Transport department whip Earl Attlee has said that the Government will review the need for annual MOT tests for cars and vans more than three years old. In a written reply he told Tory Lord Marlesford that the issue would be looked at later in the year. Under EU rules, cars and light goods vehicles must be tested no later than four years after first registration and then at least every two years. The BVRLA supports the idea of a review and is also lobbying for a change in legislation that would remove the need for one or two-year-old heavy commercial vehicles to have an annual test. source: BVRLA Labels: BVRLA, EU Law, Motor
A guide to help people hiring cars understand the rental contract was approved by the BVRLA's Rental Committee last week. It was produced in response to feedback from the European Consumer Summit hosted by the European Commission in May, which recommended such a guide to help rental customers understand their contractual obligations when hiring a vehicle. The guide is expected to become available to all BVRLA members next month via the association's website. It will be produced in several languages in order to help tourists. source: BVRLA Labels: BVRLA, Good Ideas, News
Charges for administration, fuel and excess mileage could be regulated by government, according to a discussion document published last week by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The government believes that an economic case may exist for it to regulate charges which, from the consumer's perspective, do not form part of the 'essential bargain' between trader and consumer. BIS believes that these charges are not subject to normal competitive pressures because they are not actively considered by consumers when entering into a contract. The government's interest in ancillary costs follows the Supreme Court decision in November 2009 that charges for an unauthorised overdraft are a legitimate part of the cost of banking services. The deadline for responses to the BIS discussion document is 23 August. For a copy contact BVRLA legal services executive Amanda Brandon. source: BVRLA Labels: BVRLA, Money, News
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