As we reach the end of the 2020 journey, it’s safe to say the year has been a frustrating and arduous trek. The COVID-19 road trip has been one with no estimated time of arrival, indecisive sat-nav instructions, numerous U-turns, tailgating drivers, traffic jams and occupants who won’t wear seatbelts.
As a result, it comes as no surprise that our list of most read stories for 2020 is dominated by the challenges revolving around the pandemic. However, despite all the Tiers and ever-changing rules from the Government, you can find consistent advice from our stories below, along with the most popular car reviews over the past 12 months.
1. Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice
It comes with little surprise that our most popular story on Parkers relates to Coronavirus and the advice around buying, selling and the use of your vehicle. We’ve been updating this since the first lockdown, right up until the latest Tiered restrictions, with all you need to know regarding travel rules, car maintenance and links relating to car ownership during the pandemic.
>> Read more: COVID-19: driving, buying, selling and using your car
2. Buying your new car before April 2020
With new Vehicle Excise Duty rates introduced this year, April was the month in focus for customers looking to avoid any major price hikes when buying a new car. As road tax continues to be calculated based on the vehicles CO2 emissions, what’s changed?
>> Read more: Save hundreds – buy your car before tax changes in April
3. End of the road for new petrol and diesel cars by 2030
Huge news this year, as the government confirmed the sale of new petrol and diesel-powered cars will be banned from 2030, with plug-in hybrids to follow in 2035.
We look at the UK industry’s reaction, if the UK is ready to go electric, and what this means for you.
>> Read more: Confirmed: Government to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030
4. Can I get my car MoT’d during the pandemic?
During the first lockdown earlier in the year, all cars, vans and motorcycles that were due a test after 30 March 2020 were given an automatic extension.
MOT centres reopened back in the summer, but what does this mean for you as we approach 2021?
>> Read more: Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice: MoT testing stations remain open
5. Car finance help during the pandemic
With the pandemic having a varying effect on people’s employment status and financial situations, we looked at what manufacturers had been doing to help those financing vehicles on PCP or HP.
As a three-month payment holiday was made available for mortgages, would car companies offer a similar arrangement?
>> Read more: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Payment holiday advice for car finance
6. The bestselling cars in the UK
Updated every month, we list the top 10 cars sold in the UK, with the latest results in for November at the time of writing, consisting of a mix of hatchbacks and small SUVs.
The Ford Fiesta has long been the UK’s best seller, but it’s not there anymore – what’s knocked it off the top spot?
>> Read more: Top 10 bestselling cars in the UK in November 2020
7. What about car values in 2020?
Back in the summer, we looked at the pandemic and how it could affect used car values – from a trade response to used car values.
With dealers closing showrooms and lockdown restricting the chances of viewing vehicles on the private market, is it all bad news on the horizon?
>> Read more: Are used car values going to recover in 2020?
8. Government spending for motorists in 2020
Closely related to the ban of new petrol and diesel engine cars by 2030, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced its plan to support the reduction of carbon emissions to ‘net zero’ by 2050.
But how does that affect you? We breakdown the amount of spending the UK will see in relation to charging infrastructure and vehicle grants.
>> Read more: Spending Review 2020: how it affects you
9. Being left with a car at the end of a PCP agreement
Some drivers ran into the complication of being left with their vehicle as they reached the end of its PCP term during the pandemic. The reason? Travel restrictions and staff being furloughed meant customers were left with the car sat on their property. Did that introduce a world of complications in costs?
>> Read more: Drivers ‘stuck’ with cars they don’t want
10. Car finance payment freeze of three months due to COVID-19
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) confirmed in April that car finance companies had to offer a three-month payment freeze to customers struggling to make instalments due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Find out what this means for you and how you can apply below, while details of the Ford six-month payment holiday followed closely behind this article just outside of the Top 10.
>> Read more: Car finance payment freeze of three months due to Coronavirus
The top 10 car reviews of 2020
The eighth-generation Golf was introduced this year and was by far the most popular review on the Parkers site. Read our review to find out if it manages to uphold its legacy.
>> Read more: VW Golf review
This was followed by the BMW 3 Series, Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus, BMW 1 Series, Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai, Volkswagen Tiguan, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Ford Kuga.
The Kuga was launched this year right before the pandemic, but sales of the plug-in hybrid was soon suspended, with existing models recalled due to an emergency recall on the safety of charging its battery.
>> Read more: Ford suspends Kuga PHEV sales
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