The Accessor Winter 2025 Web - Flipbook - Page 7
DAMAGE
FROM
POTHOLES
UK NEW CAR
MARKET DOWN
-2.5% IN JANUARY;
BEVS UP 41.6% TO 21.3%
MARKET SHARE
The UK new car market fell by
-2.5% to 139,345 units in January,
according to data released by the
SMMT – the fourth consecutive
month of decline.
Registrations by both 昀氀eet and
private buyers were down in
the month, by -3.7% and -0.5%
respectively. Business registrations
rose by 2.4% although, as a very
small portion of the market, this
translated to just 55 additional units.
Re昀氀ecting a continuation of ongoing
trends, petrol car registrations
dropped by -15.3% to comprise just
over half (50.3%) the market, with
diesel down -7.7% to claim a 6.2%
share. Both hybrid electric vehicles
(HEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs)
recorded volume growth and saw
their market shares rise to 13.2%
and 9.0% respectively.
Battery electric vehicle (BEV)
registrations, meanwhile, continued
recent growth trends, with volumes
up by 41.6% year on year to take a
21.3% market share.
AVERAGE CAR
INSURANCE
PREMIUM DOWN
23% YEAR-ON-YEAR TO
19-MONTH: £729
The average cost of car insurance
has declined by £221 (23%)
year-on-year, according to new
Premium Drivers research from
Compare the Market.
The average premium fell to £729
in December 2024, compared to
£950 in December 2023. It is the
cheapest monthly average premium
since May 2023 when the average
was £718. The drop in average
premiums may in part be due to a
stabilisation in the cost of claims
for insurers as in昀氀ation has slowed
in recent months. However, the
average premium is still £105 (17%)
more expensive than December
2022 (£624).
AND OTHER
POOR ROAD
CONDITIONS
COST THE
AVERAGE
ROAD USER
£576
Damage caused by potholes and other
issues relating to poor road conditions
are costing the average person in the UK
almost £600, according to a new survey
by motor insurer NFU Mutual.
The research found that potholes topped
the list of the survey respondents’ main
concerns as road user, with 44% listing it
as a main issue.
The average cost of damage caused
by poor road conditions was £576. The
survey 昀椀ndings follow the Government’s
announcement of a £1.6 billion fund to
repair Britain’s roads.
Andrew Chalk, car insurance specialist at
NFU Mutual, said: “This latest research
by NFU Mutual shows that 15% of UK
adults have been involved in a road
collision in the past 12 months – if better
surfaces and clearer road marking can
reduce even a small proportion of these
avoidable crashes, it’ll be well worth the
investment.”
NFU Mutual’s survey also revealed
other worries by motorists, with 31%
concerned about increased traf昀椀c
and a quarter (24%) worried about
bright headlights. The increasing size
of vehicles was a worry for 14% of
respondents. As LED headlights become
brighter and larger vehicles become
more common, dazzling of road users
– which can often cause collisions – is
becoming increasingly common.
[continued on page 8]
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