Buckle up Londoners, there’s a new Motorway ad on the tube…
This week we are proud to announce we have launched our first tube ad across London’s underground train network.
The advert features a pink-haired passenger whizzing down the road as she enjoys the rush of comparing prices with Motorway. The ad explains how you might be smarter using Motorway when you sell your car – you could get up to £1,000 more.
We are running the ads London-wide for a couple of weeks this September across every underground line. Look out for them on your commute!
See the Motorway tube ad below:
Buckle up. It’s the Motorway tube ad
And here it is spotted in the wild on the Bakerloo line:
The Motorway tube ad on the Bakerloo line, September 2019
● 52% of car owners say they don’t expect to switch to an electric car soon because of the UK’s inadequate charging infrastructure^
● Poole, Dorset has the UK’s highest percentage of properties with private off-street parking, offering more electric car home charging opportunities
● London has the lowest percentage of properties with private off-street parking, meaning less potential for home charging points
Poole, in Dorset, is the most electric car-friendly town in the UK, while London, not surprisingly, is the least friendly, according to research into home car charging by Motorway.co.uk, the car buying comparison website.
Analysing the towns and cities that are best placed to create a substantial home charging network, Motorway.co.uk assessed the percentage of homes currently on the market in major towns and cities with private, off-street parking, enabling households to easily install an electric charge point and power up their vehicles at home.
The problem of electric car charging is perhaps the biggest barrier to ownership in the UK
Motorway.co.uk used new properties for sale data* as a gauge of total and type of housing stock, to reveal the areas with the biggest opportunities and challenges for home charging.
The Government has said it wants all petrol and diesel cars off UK roads by 2040 to be replaced by more environmentally-friendly electric cars. For that to happen, motorists need to be able to charge their electric vehicles easily and cheaply. However, a recent electric car survey of car owners by Motorway.co.uk revealed that more than half (52%) said they weren’t planning to switch to electric any time soon because of the UK’s inadequate charging infrastructure^.
Motorway.co.uk’s home charging research revealed that Poole has the highest percentage of current properties for sale with off-street parking. In Poole, more than 9 in 10 properties on the market have some form of private parking, so the Dorset town is perfectly set up to create a home charging network over the next 10-15 years. Similarly, Solihull and Chelmsford have more than 90% of current properties on the market with off-street parking.
This is in stark contrast to London, where less than half (48.6%) of properties on the market have off-street parking available. This presents a headache for residents who currently have to drive to a public charging points and local councils who will need to build more shared charging units to cope with demand. Comparing boroughs, 83.7% of properties for sale in Havering have off-street parking, while only 19.3% in Islington do.
Further research by Motorway.co.uk also reveals that 80.7% of properties for sale in London are flats or terraced houses. Although many have off-street parking, that doesn’t mean electric charging points can be installed, as it’s likely the freeholder will own the land and the flat owner will have to get their permission – and potentially pay a pricey levy.
The problem is even more severe in some boroughs. Motorway.co.uk research reveals in a third of London boroughs, 95% of housing stock is made up of terraced houses and flats, which will either have no private parking, shared parking, or allocated bay parking, where the land is not owned by the homeowner.
The challenge facing the Government is ensuring that electric car charging infrastructure can handle the 2040 switch over to electric and hybrid vehicles. And a vital component of this network will be home charging, as many people will want the option of leaving their cars charging overnight at home, not on the street.
But that in itself creates its own problem, as a large number of properties in the UK, particularly terraced houses and flats, won’t have driveways or off-street parking, or if they do, there will need to be multiple charging points installed for all flats to use at considerable cost.
The following table shows the most electric car friendly UK towns and cities, with the highest percentage of properties with private, off-street parking:
The towns with the most potential for electric car charging points
The following table shows the least electric car friendly UK towns and cities, with the lowest percentage of properties with private, off-street parking:
The UK’s least electric car friendly towns
The following table shows the London boroughs with the highest and lowest percentage of properties with private, off-street parking:
London boroughs, not all great for electric car charging
Alex Buttle, director of car buying comparison website Motorway.co.uk comments:
“The physical shape of Britain’s housing stock could put a spanner in the works of the Government’s electric switch over plans. Although many car owners can expect to have access to on-street charging stations, there’s no guarantee there will be enough to go around.
“Most people will want the convenience of charging their car at home rather than having to walk to a main road to pick up their vehicle. Home charging is usually fine if you have a detached or semi-detached house with a driveway, but what about the millions of people who live in flats and terraced houses with no private, off-street parking?
“As the country moves closer to the 2040 Government deadline proposed for a UK-wide diesel and petrol vehicle ban, the need for an electric car charging infrastructure becomes ever-more critical. We are talking about more than 30 million new power-hungry electric cars on the road by then if the switch over happens as expected.
“The big question that needs to be answered is how will most people be able to charge their vehicles at home? In some towns, the type of property stock will make it a lot easier to create a home charging infrastructure, but the challenge will be in urban areas with a high density of flats such as London, where off-street parking is limited.
“If the UK needs more on-street charging stations, that is a cost that cash-strapped councils will need to meet. Will there really be enough funds available to power a shared charging network for 30 million cars by 2040?”
Data and methodology
^In February 2018, Motorway.co.uk’s own research suggested 52% of people do not expect to switch to electric because of the UK’s inadequate charging structure
* Motorway.co.uk used publicly available property data for this research. Data was aggregated by looking at a number of market-leading property websites
Car thefts in City of London fall by a fifth (21%) in 2018 vs 2017
Five police forces in England and Wales have seen car thefts more than double in five years
Staffordshire Police recorded the largest increase in car thefts of any police force in England and Wales last year, with crimes up by more than a third (38%) on 2017 figures, according to analysis of GOV.UK data by Motorway.
The latest government data on recorded police crimes*, reveals that, alongside Staffordshire, four other police forces – Bedfordshire (27%), Thames Valley (27%), Surrey (22%) and Durham (20%) – saw car thefts rise by more than a fifth last year vs 2017.
Only seven police forces in England and Wales recorded fewer car thefts in 2018 than the previous year, with the City of London (-22%), British Transport Police (-12%) and Wiltshire (-11%) all reporting double-digit cuts in thefts.
Five police forces – British Transport Police (217%), Surrey (138%), Nottinghamshire (122%), Staffordshire (115%) and the West Midlands (114%) – have seen motor vehicle thefts more than double in the past five years.
Four in ten car thefts in England and Wales during 2018 were reported by the Metropolitan Police (30,752) and West Midlands Police (11,140).
The following table shows police forces recording largest rise and fall in car thefts in 2018.
Police Force
Number of car thefts in 2017
Number of car thefts in 2018
% rise in car thefts 2018 vs 2017
Staffordshire
1,332
1,831
37.5
Bedfordshire
1,054
1,342
27.3
Thames Valley
2,574
3,265
26.8
Surrey
1,257
1,537
22.3
Durham
631
760
20.4
Gwent
681
813
19.4
West Midlands
9,386
11,140
18.7
Derbyshire
1,055
1,252
18.7
Northumbria
1,411
1,667
18.1
Essex
4,216
4,915
16.6
London, City of
78
61
-21.8
British Transport Police
464
409
-11.9
Wiltshire
636
565
-11.2
Humberside
1,489
1,352
-9.2
Dyfed-Powys
211
195
-7.6
Merseyside
3,063
2,836
-7.4
Avon and Somerset
2,476
2,352
-5.0
Alex Buttle, director of Motorway comments:
“These troubling car crime figures suggest that over-stretched and under-resourced police forces are struggling to curb the rising number of car crimes, and in particular keyless car thefts.
“Advancements in anti-theft systems do not seem to be discouraging thieves, who are using a variety of ever-more sophisticated techniques to break into and start cars.
“The 21st century thief isn’t using a hammer to smash a window and hotwire a car. They’re armed with wireless transmitters, signal jammers and key programming devices, and can open car doors and start engines in seconds.
“The police can only do so much, and there is a responsibility on drivers, particularly those with highly desirable prestige motors, to check they are not being watched, to keep their car keys in a safe place away from windows and front doors, and to consider fitting a tracking device as an added level of protection.”
Smashing a window is passé. Modern car thieves use signal jammers and electronic devices to steal cars.
Notes to Editors
Methodology
Motorway.co.uk analysed the latest Police recorded crime data on www.gov.uk, updated on 25th April 2019, for 43 out of 44 police forces in England and Wales. Lancashire wasn’t included in the research due to the lack of a complete data set.
Average value of diesel variants of most popular car models falls by 5.7% in Q3 vs. Q1 2017, while equivalent petrol models increased by 5% comparing same period
Diesel variants of some popular cars fell in value by up to 26%
Car scrappage scheme announcements and impending toxin taxes to blame for dive in diesel values
London, 11th September 2017 — Data from car buying comparison website Motorway.co.uk has shown a sharp decline in the value of popular diesel cars, with average values down 5.7% in Q3 2017 compared to Q1 2017. Valuations for some of the UK’s most popular diesel models are down by as much as 26%.
In 2019 so far, more than 42,000 people have had
their driving licences medically revoked
Over 7,000 drivers had their licences revoked
because of seizures or blackouts
Alcohol (5,450) is the most common reason for a
licence to be medically revoked
Almost 1,000 domestic vehicle drivers have had
licences revoked for sleep conditions, including narcolepsy
In the past 18 months, almost 1,000 bus or lorry
drivers had their licences revoked due to blackouts or a sleep-related
condition
More than 360,000 UK drivers (363,280) have had their driving licences revoked for medical reasons in the past five years, according to DVLA data analysed by Motorway.
Numbers peaked in
2018, with 73,724 driving licences medically revoked. Over 300,000 motorcycle
and car drivers (307,414) have had their licences revoked on medical grounds
since the start of 2014, while 55,866 lorry or bus drivers have had licences
cancelled.
So far this year, more than 40,000 UK drivers (42,467) have had their driving licences revoked on medical grounds.
Accidents involving drivers with medical conditions has risen in recent years leading to a high number of DVLA revocations
A Freedom of
Information (FOI) request made to the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing
Agency) in August 2019 by Motorway.co.uk, reveals that 36,310 car or motorcycle
licences (Group 1) and 6,157 lorry or bus licences (Group 2) have been
medically revoked in 2019 to date.
Of these, almost
two-thirds (65%) of drivers were 50 years old or over. More than 800 teenage
drivers (829) have had their licences medically revoked.
Alcohol (5,450) is
the most common reason for the DVLA to medically revoke a driving licence. More
than 7,000 drivers (7,159) have had their driving licences cancelled this year
for seizures or blackouts.
Just under 3,000
motorcycle or car drivers (2,865) have had their licences revoked in the past
18 months for sleep related conditions, including narcolepsy.
And worryingly, DVLA
figures on larger vehicles reveal that almost 1,000 bus or lorry drivers (920)
have had their licences revoked over the past 18 months because of blackouts or
a sleep condition.
If a driver has
their licence revoked on medical grounds, they can reapply for their licence
once their doctor says they meet the medical standards for driving.
The rules are
different if a driver voluntarily surrenders their licence. Under these
circumstances, you can drive while your licence is being renewed if; you have the
support of your doctor, a valid licence, you only drive under the conditions of
the previous licence, you’re not disqualified, your last licence wasn’t revoked
and your application is less than 12 months old.
The following table shows the most common reasons why the DVLA revoked a driving licence on medical grounds (2019):
Medical condition
Number of licences revoked
% of all medical licence revocations
Alcohol
5,450
15.0%
Seizures
5,417
14.9%
Eyesight
4,534
12.5%
Memory
problems
4,175
11.5%
Mental
health
3,268
9.0%
Neurological
3,041
8.4%
Cardiac
2,228
6.1%
Drugs
1,770
4.9%
Blackouts
1,742
4.8%
Diabetes
1,176
3.2%
The following table shows the number of driving licences medically revoked in the past five years (2014 to 2019 to date):
Year
Number of licences medically revoked (Group 1
& 2)
2014
48,941
2015
55,753
2016
72,019
2017
70,376
2018
73,724
2019 (to
date)
42,467
Alex Buttle, director of Motorway comments:
“These figures make
for quite frightening reading, but they could be just the tip of the iceberg.
How many people are driving with a medical condition and haven’t informed the
authorities?
You can be fined up
to £1,000 if you don’t tell the DVLA about a medical condition that affects
your driving, but is that really a strong enough deterrent?
“With so many of us
reliant on our cars for work and pleasure, there will be drivers on the road
who think it’s worth the risk to keep quiet because handing in their driving
licence could mean losing their mobility, their job and not seeing their family
and friends.”
This week we were proud to launch our first radio ad for commercial UK radio.
Like our TV ad, it features a cheeky sat nav with a mind of its own which once again helpfully suggests Motorway as the fast and easy way to sell your car.
The advert explains how you could get up to £1,000 more by using Motorway to compare offers.
You can hear it airing on commercial radio stations including Absolute Radio and talkSPORT throughout 2019.
Listen to the Motorway radio ad on stations including Absolute Radio and talkSPORT
We are really proud of the finished recording and would like to thank Space City who produced it working with MNC, as well as voiceover artists Elizabeth Saary and Paul Seed.
Motorway, the UK’s fastest-growing online marketplace for used cars, today reveals record growth in transactions on its platform as buyers and sellers embrace the opportunity to buy and sell cars entirely online.
Having paused trading during the lockdown, Motorway restarted its service for private car sellers and dealers nationwide on May 11th, along with free, no-contact transport for every transaction. It has since seen 100% week-on-week growth in transactions, achieving £4.9m in sales last week, and a record £1.39m completed on June 10th. Over 250 new dealerships have started buying cars in its daily auctions since lockdown restrictions were eased, joining over 1,000 already using the platform. This recent performance surpasses figures from before the lockdown, supporting reports that the market is surging back to life.
To respond to huge market demand, the three-year-old start-up is now expanding its 70-strong team to reach 100 by the end of the year, as it leads a drive for efficiency and online transactions in the used car market.
Motorway connects car sellers with dealerships looking to buy stock via a purely online platform, helping both parties get the best deal by removing middlemen and automating the sale process. It charges dealers a fee for each successful sale, and is free for consumers to sell their car, with each vehicle collected from their home in a contact-free transaction.
Key stats from Motorway include:
Over 60,000 customer sale enquiries since the start of May
£4.9m in weekly sales and a record £1.39m on a single day
480% increase in revenue over the past four weeks
Sustained improvement in car sale valuations achieved in its auctions. On average, Motorway’s sellers are receiving £480 more for their cars in June than in May.
The company is now looking to expand its 70-strong team to 100 in the next three months to help fulfil market demand for its service.
Huge demand from consumers looking to sell their cars, along with safety concerns around visiting physical dealerships, is shifting behaviour to all-online solutions, which Motorway is leading. Motorway’s model – connecting private sellers directly with dealers – results in much faster transactions for everyone.
Tom Leathes, Motorway’s CEO, comments on surging growth in used car sales
Tom Leathes, CEO of Motorway, says:
“We have been growing rapidly for the past twelve months as the automotive market continues its shift online. The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated that trend, and we’re now seeing unprecedented demand for our service, from car sellers and dealers alike.
“Unlike many other industries, the used car market is now looking stronger than it has been for months. Consumers wanting a quick sale for the best price, and dealers looking to replenish their stock, are now embracing the efficiency of doing everything online with Motorway.
“The car industry has been behind others in embracing technology, but that is changing – and there will be no return to how things were. Motorway is delighted to be at the forefront of a fundamental movement towards a better experience for the long term. We look forward to continuing to drive technology to help the used car industry get back on the road.”
“With ballooning sales and a surge in new dealers signing up, Motorway’s experience suggests strong growth ahead in the used car market. Motorway expects this trend to continue through 2020 as both car sellers and dealers adapt to the post-Covid market with a much greater focus on efficiency, speed and transparency.”
