Dave Kirby

And while his chosen career journey within the motor industry may appear to have entirely satisfied his own interests, Dave insists the unique route he took benefitted the buying public far more. His enthusiasm for cars meant that his knowledge and experience were skills he could utilise to help motorists make informed purchasing decisions.

Dave jumped headfirst into the motor trade in 2013, working in aftersales and sales at Skoda and Volkswagen dealerships, where he learned the importance of building trusted customer relationships. Five years later, his decision to become a motoring writer led to him studying MA Automotive Journalism at Coventry University, gaining distinction.

From 2019 onwards, Dave was writing content that informed motorists with stints at Carbuyer, PR agencies and freelancing with publications such as Classics World. He delivered content, PR and social media to industry leaders, car and motorcycle manufacturers, and secured industry-specific and national media press coverage.

In 2025, Dave moved back into full-time motoring journalism – becoming the Deputy Commercial Content Editor for Parkers and CAR. In this role, Dave is keen to continue sharing his industry knowledge and experience by developing content with real-life product tested recommendations that meet the needs of our audiences.

Dave has lifelong experience of the importance of vehicle care and maintenance, ensuring they last longer and maintain their value. Two of the vehicles in his classic fleet have been family owned for decades – largely due to putting this theory into practice. The efforts required can be quickly learnt, needn’t cost the earth, nor take too much time. 

Dave’s top tips for Parkers readers are:

• Cleaning your own car leads to familiarity and can help you notice visible issues before they worsen
• Carry out checks on your vehicle’s lights, fluid levels and tyres at least monthly 
• Vehicle neglect can be costly and lead to breakdowns – if you discover anything unusual, don’t leave it too late before getting it investigated or repaired
• Replacing parts might not solve the problem first time – a flat battery could just require recharging due to lack of use, or be the result of a battery drain