Latest news with #KwikFit
The Sun
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Major DIY retailer offering free car air con checks as temperatures set to reach 34C
A MAJOR DIY retailer is offering motorists free car air con checks as temperatures are set to reach 34C. Halfords customers can get gas and refrigerant levels on their vehicle air conditioning units checked to make sure they're in working order. 1 It comes as temperatures are expected to reach as high as 34C in parts of the UK by Monday. Halfords lets shoppers book their free air con check on its website via You enter your postcode and vehicle registration and it tells you the nearest branch you can get it done. However, you may be charged based on where you live and the type of vehicle. The retailer hasn't said if the free appointments are available all the time, but we checked based on a North-East London location and there were slots until as far away as July 6. Halfords says if the check reveals you need to top up your car air conditioning unit's gas or refrigerant levels, you can buy the products to do this yourself in its stores. However, the RAC says this is usually a job for the specialists. You can also book in for an air con recharge service at Halfords from £65. Checkatrade says having this service done normally costs between £65 and £130, so Halfords is at the cheaper end of the scale. Halfords is not the only place you can have a free air con check carried out though - Kwik Fit also offers a free checking service. Urgent warning over easy nighttime driving mistake that could see you fined £5,000 - but the fix is free You can find out more via However, the cost of getting your air con unit recharged at Kwik Fit is £72.95 or more - more expensive than Halfords. Hot weather car mistakes that can cost you £1,000s Driving in the wrong footwear Swapping trainers for flip flops while driving during bouts of hot weather might seem practical, but it can land you with a big fine. Any shoes which could limit your ability to put pressure on the pedals breaks the Highway Code. If you are found to be ' driving without due care and attention ', you face a £100 fine and three points added to your licence. If the matter escalates to court, you could face fines of up to £5,000. Drinking water while driving If you get distracted and are not considered to be in proper control of your car while drinking water, you could face a fine. If you're involved in an accident as a result of a lapse in concentration, it could see you slapped with a £2,500 bill. The same rules apply to eating behind the wheel, so think again if you're considering diving into an ice cream while driving. Keeping your windows closed and A/C off It might be tempting to save some pennies by closing windows and keeping the AC off during hotter weather. But this can breach Highway Code rule 237, which states that a car must be kept 'well ventilated' in hot weather to reduce drowsiness. Not doing this and being caught could result in a £5,000 fine. How to save money on summer essentials SUNNIER days and warmer weather will leave many of us wanting to kit out gardens and outdoor areas. Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to get a great deal on summer essentials… It pays to know how to bag big savings on the likes of hot tubs paddling pools, egg chairs and outside bars. Many retailers have flash sales across entire ranges – often this ties into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends. Sign up to the mailing lists of your favourite brands and you'll be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too. Keep a close eye on the specialbuys at Aldi and middle of Lidl drops which drop a couple of times a week and usually mean great value seasonal items such as beach gear and paddling pools. If you are not in a hurry to buy an item, try adding it to the shopping cart and leaving it for a couple of days. Sometimes big brands will try to tempt you into the sale by offering you a discount. Always check if you can get cashback before paying. It's especially worth using sites such as Topcashback, Quidco and app Jamdoughnut when buying bigger ticket items such as garden furniture as you'll get a nice kickback.
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Major DIY retailer offering free car air con checks as temperatures set to reach 34C
We reveal which hot weather car mistakes to avoid or risk forking out £1,000s CHECK IT OUT Major DIY retailer offering free car air con checks as temperatures set to reach 34C A MAJOR DIY retailer is offering motorists free car air con checks as temperatures are set to reach 34C. Halfords customers can get gas and refrigerant levels on their vehicle air conditioning units checked to make sure they're in working order. Advertisement 1 Close-up view of a person hand setting the temperature of air conditioner in the car. Credit: Getty It comes as temperatures are expected to reach as high as 34C in parts of the UK by Monday. Halfords lets shoppers book their free air con check on its website via You enter your postcode and vehicle registration and it tells you the nearest branch you can get it done. However, you may be charged based on where you live and the type of vehicle. Advertisement The retailer hasn't said if the free appointments are available all the time, but we checked based on a North-East London location and there were slots until as far away as July 6. Halfords says if the check reveals you need to top up your car air conditioning unit's gas or refrigerant levels, you can buy the products to do this yourself in its stores. However, the RAC says this is usually a job for the specialists. You can also book in for an air con recharge service at Halfords from £65. Advertisement Checkatrade says having this service done normally costs between £65 and £130, so Halfords is at the cheaper end of the scale. Halfords is not the only place you can have a free air con check carried out though - Kwik Fit also offers a free checking service. Urgent warning over easy nighttime driving mistake that could see you fined £5,000 - but the fix is free You can find out more via However, the cost of getting your air con unit recharged at Kwik Fit is £72.95 or more - more expensive than Halfords. Advertisement Hot weather car mistakes that can cost you £1,000s Driving in the wrong footwear Swapping trainers for flip flops while driving during bouts of hot weather might seem practical, but it can land you with a big fine. Any shoes which could limit your ability to put pressure on the pedals breaks the Highway Code. If you are found to be 'driving without due care and attention', you face a £100 fine and three points added to your licence. If the matter escalates to court, you could face fines of up to £5,000. Advertisement Drinking water while driving If you get distracted and are not considered to be in proper control of your car while drinking water, you could face a fine. If you're involved in an accident as a result of a lapse in concentration, it could see you slapped with a £2,500 bill. The same rules apply to eating behind the wheel, so think again if you're considering diving into an ice cream while driving. Keeping your windows closed and A/C off Advertisement It might be tempting to save some pennies by closing windows and keeping the AC off during hotter weather. But this can breach Highway Code rule 237, which states that a car must be kept 'well ventilated' in hot weather to reduce drowsiness. Not doing this and being caught could result in a £5,000 fine. How to save money on summer essentials SUNNIER days and warmer weather will leave many of us wanting to kit out gardens and outdoor areas. Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to get a great deal on summer essentials… It pays to know how to bag big savings on the likes of hot tubs paddling pools, egg chairs and outside bars. Many retailers have flash sales across entire ranges – often this ties into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends. Sign up to the mailing lists of your favourite brands and you'll be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too. Keep a close eye on the specialbuys at Aldi and middle of Lidl drops which drop a couple of times a week and usually mean great value seasonal items such as beach gear and paddling pools. If you are not in a hurry to buy an item, try adding it to the shopping cart and leaving it for a couple of days. Sometimes big brands will try to tempt you into the sale by offering you a discount. Always check if you can get cashback before paying. It's especially worth using sites such as Topcashback, Quidco and app Jamdoughnut when buying bigger ticket items such as garden furniture as you'll get a nice kickback. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Advertisement Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Scotsman
25-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
30 Scottish Kwik Fit centres sold as part of ‘complex' legal deal
'This was a complex deal, which saw colleagues across the UK work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary and multi-jurisdictional teams' – Sheelagh Cooley, Shoosmiths Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... More than 80 Kwik Fit-operated tyre fitting sites including 30 in Scotland have been acquired for an undisclosed sum. The portfolio of 83 UK properties has been bought by Kwik Fit, part of European Tyre Enterprise Limited (ETEL), as it aims to bring more sites into its direct ownership. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The tyre and car servicing firm, whose ultimate parent company is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, was advised on the multi-jurisdictional deal by law firm Shoosmiths in the UK, including legal teams within its Edinburgh, Glasgow and Sheffield offices. It marks the latest in a number of similar transactions that the legal outfit has undertaken for Kwik Fit in recent years. Kwik Fit is one of the most familiar names in the tyre fitting and car servicing sectors with more than 600 centres in the UK. The roadmap to secure the deal saw Kwik Fit acquire Hawkeye Properties 501, a Jersey entity, which was itself ultimately held by Spring Real Estate Investment Trust, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The complex deal, for an undisclosed sum, also required consent from the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong, as the transaction constituted a special deal under the Takeovers Code. Paul Dempsey, group property director at ETEL, said: 'This transaction is a key part of Kwik Fit's strategic plan for growth across the UK and Ireland. We are delighted with the dedication and support Shoosmiths provided to manage this complex deal on our behalf.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Kwik Fit runs more than 600 centres in the UK. The business was set up by the late businessman Sir Tom Farmer in the early 1970s. Sheelagh Cooley, real estate partner and head of the Edinburgh office at Shoosmiths, added: 'Having supported ETEL with portfolio acquisitions in 2023 and 2024 (which saw 58 sites acquired), we are thrilled to have advised Kwik Fit on this latest acquisition of a further 83 sites. These deals enable one of the UK's leading tyre, MOT and car servicing retailers to bring more properties under its direct ownership.
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Should heavier cars be taxed more to cover the cost of fixing potholes they create?
Half of drivers have backed calls for heavier motors - particularly lorries - to pay more road tax that can then be ring-fenced for repairs of pothole they are responsible for causing. Some 48 per cent of drivers think weightier cars should pay more Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) to reflect the greater impact they have on road conditions, according to a study by Kwik Fit. While there are calls for vans and big cars to incur a pothole levy to pay for the much needed improvements to Britain's crater-filled roads, the majority of drivers think operators of HGVs should make the biggest contribution to repairs. Almost three in five of the 2,000 drivers surveyed said that HGVs should pay an additional levy to be set aside for road maintenance budgets, while 44 per cent believe delivery vans should pay an additional tax for the same purpose. This comes after This is Money reported the true cost of Britain's pothole crisis for drivers has risen to £320 - this is the average associated repair bill motorists face, according to figures from road safety charity IAM RoadSmart. Britain's roads are so littered with craters - over one million - that the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) has revealed it will take an estimated £16.78bn to tackle the backlog of repairs, leading the Government to announce new measures to tackle them. While the majority of drivers are all for heavier cars and vehicles paying more to use the roads in order to compensate for the added toll on tarmac, not everyone is in favour. A small number, 17 per cent, disagree that HGV operators should pay an additional levy, while 23 per cent are against vans facing additional charges. One in five (21 per cent) are opposed to heavier cars paying more road tax. And when drivers were asked if they would be happy to cough up more money to improve road surfaces around the UK, the research clearly shows that motorists already feel they are personally paying enough to support our road maintenance budgets. In contrast to a levy on HGVs or vans, only a quarter of drivers would be prepared to pay more 'road tax' to be ring-fenced for road repairs in their local area. Dan Joyce, operations director at Kwik Fit, said: 'Our new research highlights that there are no easy answers as to how this [road maintenance] is funded. Motorists already feel that they are contributing enough so it is understandable that they want the additional burden to be on the heavier vehicles believed to do the most damage to road surfaces. 'Of course, any costs placed on businesses through levies on HGVs or delivery vans are likely to be passed through to the end consumer, so it's critical that potential measures are not looked at in isolation.' Kia's £65,000 EV9, which has a kerb weight of 2,664kg and a maximum load weight 3,240kg Heavier cars are increasing damage to UK roads The AIA in 2024 found that Britain's growing road repair crisis has been fuelled by 'increased average vehicle weights on a deteriorating network'. New cars have been growing at an annual average of 10kg heavier and half a centimetre wider in recent years, also driven by growing demand for SUVs, reports have found. The increase in heavier vehicles and cars was said to be helping push Britain's crumbling roads to 'breaking point'. Just last week the Government announced that millions of drivers will have an updated category B driving licence - by far the most common type held by tens of millions of motorists in the UK - to allow these licence holders to get behind the wheel of heavier vehicles. Drivers can now pilot vehicles with a heavier maximum authorised mass (MAM) of up to 4,250kg, having previously been limited to 3,500kg. However, the new rules apply to electric vehicles only because electric SUVs - which are laden with weighty battery packs to deliver long ranges on a full charge - are now teetering dangerously close to the previous MAM restriction. How much are drivers having to shell out to fix pothole damage to vehicles? This year's ALARM Report from the AIA revealed that the estimated £16.8billion road repair backlog bill has increased by 42 per cent since 2016. Kwik Fit Pothole Impact Tracker published earlier this year highlighted how the cost to drivers has increased during the same period: Motorists are facing higher costs of 150 per cent to repair pothole-caused damage. Last year, the country's drivers paid a total of £1.7billion to repair vehicle damage caused by potholes. And while the IAM RoadSmart data last week put the average repair bill at £320, other drivers are having to stump up three times that to repair or replace damaged wheels, shattered suspension components and broken steering parts. Some five per cent say they paid more than £1,000 getting their motors fixed after driving through a pothole during the 12-month period. The road safety charity said potholes are not just a 'danger to motorists and cyclists alike' but they have become a 'substantial financial burden' on drivers. Our five-step guide to making pothole compensation claims 1. Collect the evidence If you're a motorist looking to make a claim for a repair bill for pothole-related damage, or a cyclist putting in a damage or personal injury claim after hitting one in the road, the first port of call is to make a note of where the pothole is located, the time and date of the incident, and take a photo of the pothole. A pothole needs to be at least 2 inches deep to be deemed a pothole in the eyes of councils. And it's not just the depth and size of the pothole that councils will try to use to refuse paying out compensation. Local authorities may defend a claim if they successfully argue that the pothole was not an obvious hazard - or if they were unaware of it, despite having in place a reasonable system of inspection and repair. To improve your chances of a successful claim, it will help to demonstrate whether the pothole was an obvious danger or not. Where possible, take photos at the scene, just in case the council repairs the pothole before you can return to take them. If you didn't do this at the time of the incident, you can return to the scene to take pictures. You should also take a photos of the damage the pothole has caused to your vehicle (or person, if you have been injured). If possible, take your car to a garage and ask for a mechanic's report in writing for the projected cost to fix the issue caused – or if your motor isn't drivable, phone a reputable repair centre and request a quote. 2. Work out who is to blame To make a claim for compensation, first you need to know who should pay out. If the pothole is on a motorway or main trunk road, the chances are it is a National Highways (formerly Highways England) problem. For local roads, you will need to research which council is responsible. Once you've identified the party you need to contact, request a copy of highway maintenance schedules and number of reported incidents on the particular road for the previous 14 days as evidence that the road hasn't been properly maintained or a reported pothole hasn't been addressed. 3. Make the claim You'll need to issue a formal claim to the local authority or National Highways and most responsible parties will have a template you can request from them. 4. What to do if you do - or don't - get a compensation offer After making the claim, you should be notified if compensation is being granted. Though you can still reject the value of the offer if you believe it isn't sufficient, especially if you have evidence that the pothole had already been reported but the responsible party had not acted to rectify it. If the council refuses compensation, you can seek legal advice or make a case through the courts. However, a word of warning that this could be a time-consuming process and is likely to be worthwhile only if the repair bill is considerable. 5. Final option: Make a claim through your insurance If you have comprehensive cover, you can claim for pothole damage on your insurance policy. However, it's worth considering the cost of the damage as well as your excess payments and if this action will affect your No Claims Bonus.
The Sun
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
The little-known AC button that will help slash your fuel bill & keep cars perfectly cool as temps soar this weekend
MOTORISTS might have missed this air conditioning setting that is essential for keeping costs down as the weather heats up. With a warm weekend ahead and temperatures hitting 29C today as Brits head into the summer months, drivers maybe unknowingly wasting money in the fight to keep their cars cool. 1 Many motorists might simply set their AC to full blast when trying to handle the heat, and while this will get temperatures down, it might be over-kill if you are travelling alone. Instead, setting your vehicle's air con to 'driver only' will make sure that all the energy will be used on cooling just you down, rather than refrigerating those empty seats. A vehicle's air conditioning can have a very negative impact on its fuel economy by putting a greater strain on its engine, according to The AA. 'Driver only' setting The car insurance company has urged drivers to check if their motor has the 'driver only' AC option, and to make sure it is always in use when appropriate. Air conditioning can increase fuel consumption by between 8 and 10 per cent, amounting to an extra 0.2 and 0.4 litres per hours, according to It is also advisable to reduce the increased strain on the engine by turning the flow rate down once the AC has brought your car to a comfortable temperature. Drivers should also avoid travelling at speed with the windows down, if they are trying to be as fuel-conscious as possible. Driving with open windows can increase the drag on the vehicle, making the engine work harder to maintain speed. Getting the instruments in your car regularly serviced is also key to keeping everything working efficiently. Kwik-fit recommends ensuring that your air-con system is regularly regasssed to keep it running as efficiently as possible while using minimal power. Car buyers face $500 added fee when buying new vehicle as angry drivers blast 'it's only benefitting dealers' It also lists ways in which drivers can cut down on having to use the AC at all. Taking measures such as parking in the shade and opening windows when setting off can help keep the car cool without putting more stain on the engine. Air Con not cold enough? Here are four checks you can do at home to save yourself hundreds By Jorge Hinojosa Mena A CAR expert has revealed four checks you can do at home if your air-con isn't cold enough. Air Con expert, Andrew, from specialist firm Accelerate Off-Grid Touring says that these simple checks are essential to ensure your air conditioning is summer-ready - and it could save you a bundle of cash. YouTube user @accelerateoffgridtouring, with more than 12,200 users on social media, explained that you should first check for any unusual noises in your motor. Andrew explained: "On most cars, when you turn the air conditioning on, you should hear a loud click, and that's the noise of the air compressor cutting in. "If you hear a rumbly sound once your compressor cuts in, this means it's on its way out, and you'd need a replacement." Second, the car expert recommends checking for any weird smells. "If there is a musty or unpleasant smell coming out of the vents or your allergy symptoms are being triggered when the air conditioning gets switched on, there may be a bacterial or mildew buildup in the system. "The other thing that can happen is it can be a sign that your evaporator's leaking, so it's leaking as in the car. That's sort of an issue. "The other thing you'll notice if your evaporator's leaking is the air conditioning will be low on gas, so it won't be as cold as it should be and will have that uneven vent temperature." Andrew advises carrying out a performance test to make sure your air-con is in good condition. He explained: "What we've done here is we've put a thermometer in the vent. You can just use any old thermometer. "We've set the fan to first or second speed, and we've also got it on recirculate. That's quite important. "What we should see is a temperature of below eight degrees. The temperature will fluctuate as the compressor cuts in and out. "This is a natural part of the air conditioning system. "What it will do is the compressor gets colder and colder and colder, as it gets down to a freezing point, so out here at the vents, it will say six degrees to five and a half degrees, the compressor will cut out, the temperature will rise to about seven or eight degrees, and then it will cut back in. The cycle will continue. It's called cycling." The expert insisted that if you see the temperature going below five degrees, that's a sign that something is wrong. He continued: "It's either gonna be faulty thermostat or thermistor, or more commonly, a blocked cabin filter." Lastly, Andrew says drivers should be concerned if they see water under their car after driving with the air-con on. The car expert added: "The air conditioning system was designed to drain the condensation to the exterior of the car. If you've driven for a long time, you pull up, and it will make a pool of water. "The amount of water it discharges at the bottom actually depends on the humidity of the day and what setting you've got your air conditioning on, so don't stress too much about having the pool. You just want to see it on the outside of the car. "One thing to look for is if the air con's cold, it's a humid day, and you do not have water on the ground outside of your car, maybe just check the passenger floor of your car 'cause sometimes that drain tube can block up, the water can leak inside the car, and obviously, then you get a mouldy, stinky carpet." This comes after an expert mechanic revealed some of their top tips about air conditioning, including one which can cool down your vehicle very quickly. Plus, an expert mechanic has revealed how to keep your car's air-con blowing ice cold-free.
