Most Brits don’t trust driverless cars as 2026 launch looms

A new survey by motoring insurance comparison site Quotezone.co.uk found 66% of respondents had an unfavourable opinion of driverless vehicles, with just 12% saying they viewed the technology positively.

The findings come as ministers confirm plans to begin trials of self‑driving taxi and bus services in spring 2026, with a wider rollout of fully autonomous private cars pencilled in for late 2027.

Safety fears top the list

When asked about their biggest concerns, almost a quarter (24%) cited safety and accident risk. Other top worries included the chance of technical failures or malfunctions (18%), the loss of human control (17%), and the threat of hacking or other cyber‑security breaches (12%).

Insurance and liability questions were also raised, with 11% saying they were worried about who would be held responsible in the event of a crash – the driver, the manufacturer, or the software provider.

‘Public trust is still catching up’

Quotezone’s founder and car insurance expert Greg Wilson said:

“While driverless technology continues to advance at pace, it seems public trust is still catching up. Many people remain understandably cautious about handing over control to a machine – especially on busy, unpredictable UK roads.

Driverless cars bring up a lot of complex questions surrounding insurance and responsibility. Insurers will need a robust framework for claims in order to help drivers feel more secure.”

Reluctance to own

The survey of 1,000 UK adults, carried out in July, found 84% would not be willing to own a driverless car. Only 13% said they would, with the rest undecided.

Limited self‑driving features are already legal in the UK, but current rules require a human driver to remain in control at all times. The government’s planned pilot schemes would be the first time fully autonomous passenger services operate on public roads.

#driverlessCar #motoring #Quotezone #selfDrivingCar

Public scepticism grows as UK prepares for driverless cars by 2026

As the UK gears up for the arrival of driverless vehicles on public roads by 2026, new research suggests the public remains deeply sceptical about the technology.

A survey of 1,000 adults conducted by motoring insurance comparison site Quotezone.co.uk found that 66% of respondents hold a negative opinion of driverless cars, while 84% said they wouldn’t be willing to own one.

The findings come as the UK government prepares to launch pilot autonomous taxi and bus services from spring 2026, with a wider rollout of fully self-driving vehicles expected by late 2027 under the newly enacted Automated Vehicles Act.

Despite the promise of reduced human error and improved road safety, the survey highlights a significant trust gap. Safety and accident risk topped the list of public concerns (24%), followed by fears of technical failure (18%), loss of human control (17%), and cybersecurity threats such as hacking (12%).

Greg Wilson, CEO of Quotezone.co.uk, said:

“While driverless technology continues to advance at pace, it seems public trust is still catching up. Many people remain understandably cautious about handing over control to a machine — especially on busy, unpredictable UK roads.”

He added that the shift raises complex questions around insurance and liability, with 11% of respondents citing this as a key concern.

“Who would be at fault in the case of a crash? The driver, the manufacturer, or the software provider? Insurers will need a robust framework to help drivers feel more secure.”

The Department for Transport says the new legislation will require autonomous vehicles to meet safety standards equivalent to — or better than — those of careful human drivers2. The government also hopes the sector will unlock £42 billion in economic value and create 38,000 jobs by 2035.

Quotezone says it will continue to monitor public sentiment as the UK moves closer to an autonomous future.

#AutomatedVehiclesAct #autonomousCar #DepartmentForTransport #driverlessCar #driverlessTechnology #motoring #Quotezone

Unemployed drivers hit hardest as car insurance premiums soar to £1,265 in 2025

Unemployed drivers are now paying the highest car insurance premiums in the country, according to new figures from comparison site Quotezone.co.uk.

At £1,265 per year on average, premiums for unemployed motorists are 91% higher than the UK national average of £664—making them the most expensive group to insure in 2025.

The data, drawn from over 100,000 insurance policies, also found healthcare assistants (£1,064) and warehouse workers (£1,063) faced significant costs, despite year-on-year drops. Accountants, delivery drivers, and company directors all sit well above £1,000, highlighting how job type can influence risk assessment.

Greg Wilson, CEO of Quotezone.co.uk, said job title terminology can affect quotes:

“Worryingly, unemployed drivers are now the most expensive to insure… This could be because UK unemployment stats skew younger, with less experience and greater associated risk.”

Wilson advised that slight changes in job title wording—such as choosing “Care Assistant” over “Healthcare Assistant”—may impact pricing, as long as descriptions remain accurate and honest.

While some roles saw insurance reductions since 2024, many still exceed national averages:

• Chefs dropped £328 to £951
• Warehouse workers fell £308 to £1,063
• Healthcare assistants decreased £277 to £1,064

At the other end of the scale, structured work and driving experience are rewarded:

• Civil servants (£495), teachers (£532), and HGV drivers (£556) enjoy premiums up to 25% below the average.
• The latter benefit from company vehicle usage and specialist training, lowering risk in the eyes of insurers.

Meanwhile, retired drivers saw the sharpest rise in premiums this year—up nearly 50% to £733—possibly due to age-related health conditions and increased vulnerability.

Car insurance premiums by job title in 2025

#carInsurance #motoring #Quotezone

Motorists split over UK digital driving licence introduction

That’s according to recent data from motoring experts at Quotezone.co.uk who found that 49% of Brits were happy about the upcoming changes while 47% were not.

In January this year the UK government announced its plans to launch a GOV.UK Wallet and App in order to simplify access to services and documents such as driving licences.

The changes come following a government report that identified £45 billion in efficiency savings through reforms to public sector technology.

The digital driving licence isn’t set to be mandatory however, with the government still issuing physical licences. This will be reassuring for the 87% of Brits who prefer a physical licence.

Another major concern raised was that almost half of those surveyed felt the changes would create issues for older drivers who may struggle with the digital service.

While a quarter of Brits admitted they preferred things as they are and were reluctant to change.

There were reasons to be optimistic for the final quarter of those surveyed, with 25% of Brits believing that the changes won’t cause any issues, and could in fact prove handy for carrying ID while also saving time and money.

The UK isn’t the first country in the world to introduce digital licences, with similar initiatives already existing in Australia, Denmark, Iceland and Norway.

And the European Union is requiring its member states to develop at least one form of digital identification by 2026.

Recent data found that over 1 million UK driving licences were reported as lost or stolen over a one-year period, costing drivers more than £20 million.

The technology is designed to provide more security for users, using features that are already built into modern smartphones such as facial recognition checks similar to those used when paying with a digital bank card.

This should make digital documents more secure, even if a device is lost.

Greg Wilson, CEO and car insurance expert at Quotezone.co.uk said: “It’s fair to say Brits are on the fence when it comes to their opinions on digital driving licences.

“While legitimate concerns are raised for elderly drivers, the changes aren’t mandatory so it does allow those who consider themselves less tech-savvy to continue with a physical licence.

“For those in favour, digital licences offer a secure form of identification, using smartphone security features that most people already have in use.

“The statistics on the number of driving licences lost or stolen in the UK are quite alarming, so it’s hoped this innovative step will create significant savings.

“Digital licences could be a big step forward and it will be interesting to see how Brits react once they become available in the summer. 

“It’s crucial all drivers have a valid driving licence, anyone caught with inaccurate details or an expired licence could invalidate their car insurance and even risk fines, penalty points and prosecution.”

#digitalDrivingLicence #drivingLicence #motoring #Quotezone #Technology #UKGovernment

Private parking owners issuing hefty fines: How drivers can appeal

Drivers stung with hefty parking fines are being told of ways they can appeal or reduce costs.

As parking fines once again hit the headlines, car insurance experts at price comparison site Quotezone.co.uk have shared tips following new rules designed to help drivers who have been caught out by private car park owners.

New rules were introduced in October 2024 for the Private Parking Code of Justice, which has changed the ways private car parks are able to charge drivers.

The new code introduced a ten-minute grace period, a cap on charges, uniform signage and regulations and an Appeals Charter for contesting fines.

These changes were welcomed in response to driver’s concerns over lack of regulation for rules governing privately owned car parks.

But as a result of these changes, some drivers may not be aware of the best ways to reduce or appeal their fines if they do get caught out.

Greg Wilson, CEO and car insurance expert at Quotezone said:

“We welcome the changes to the Private Parking Code of Justice, as it gives motorists a chance to appeal or reduce fines if they were caught out in situations which are sometimes out of their control.

“The ten-minute grace period is an especially important and positive step forwards, making any penalty charges illegal if issued before the grace period ends.

“We want to make sure drivers know exactly what to be aware of with the new rules and how they can get a reduction on their fine or make an appeal.”

Here’s Quotezone.co.uk’s step-by-step guide to appealing a private parking ticket:

1.Check the type of parking ticket

Official bodies and private companies have different appeal procedures, so it’s important to find out which one you’re dealing with.  Official tickets are called Penalty Charge Notices, Excess Charge Notices or Fixed Penalty Notices and you can find the name of the issuing authority on the ticket. All other tickets are issued by private companies. The appeals process for a council-issued versus privately-issued parking fine may differ, so it is important to ensure you are following the correct process.

2.Pay early

New rules for private companies means their charges cannot exceed £100. If you were fined by a private parking company and the charge is justified, you can reduce the cost owed by making the payment early. The amount owed must be reduced by a minimum of 40% if the payment is made within 14 days of the issue of notice.

3.Appeal your ticket

The new Private Parking Code of Justice provides motorists with an Appeals Charter. This outlines circumstances where fines should either be waived completely or reduced to just £20 if paid within a 14 day period (before rising again). Circumstances in which parking tickets could be waived completely include:

• If you pause momentarily on a private road to check directions.
• Make a minor error when registering your vehicle, for example typing an I instead of a 1.
• If you stopped in a ‘no stopping zone’ to avoid an accident or give way to an emergency vehicle.

4.Reduce your fine

You could have your fine reduced if it meets certain criteria. Remember to always gather as much evidence as possible to back up your claim and increase your chances of a reduction. You need to remember that fine reductions are only valid for 14 days, so pay or appeal quickly in order to benefit from the allowance. 

Circumstances for a reduced fine include if your vehicle broke down, if you failed to present a permit to park at the time but you supplied a copy of the permit at a later date as evidence, or if one or more payment machines were out of use, there were no alternative payment options available and you could not be expected to have accessed any of the other machines still in operation.

#PrivateParking #Quotezone

This comes after a survey from QuoteZone.co.uk reveals 92% of drivers feel potholes in their local area are getting worse. 

Because of this, many drivers are having to take evasive action to help prevent an incident or unnecessary damage. 

Nine out of ten, (94%), admit to having swerved a dangerous pothole to avoid damaging their car, but the insurance experts say these actions could actually see drivers penalised, disqualified from driving, or hit with penalty points for careless and inconsiderate driving. 

Motorists could find themselves hit with fines of up to £2,500 if their attempts to avoid pothole damage are viewed as driving without due care and attention.

Of those who have experienced vehicle damage due to potholes, over four in five (83%) have paid out of pocket for repairs, while only 6% have claimed through their insurance company. 

Drivers can claim for pothole vehicle damage either through the local council looking after the road, local road authority, or through their insurance provider. 

It’s important to remember no claims discounts will likely no longer be in place for those who choose to claim through their insurance, and they will normally have to pay the excess fee, so it’s worth weighing up the savings. 

Before making a report to the local council, it’s important to gather as much information as possible to help prove eligibility to claim and that the damage was caused by a pothole – witnesses to the incident and evidence from a trained mechanic can help with this. 

Motorists are also told to record where and when the accident occurred and take a photo if it is safe to do so, noting the size and location of the pothole. Note the pothole in question normally needs to be at least 40mm deep.   Copies of this essential information can then be used when making the report to the council or local road authority depending on the area. 

Greg Wilson, Founder and CEO of Quotezone.co.uk said:

“With the battle against potholes surging across the country, it’s not surprising to hear so many are having to make manoeuvres to avoid driving over dangerous potholes. 

“Costly damage to vehicles is the last thing any driver needs right now, but we want to help them understand what they are entitled to if they can prove they have experienced vehicle damage as a result of driving over an unrepaired pothole. 

“Many drivers are unaware their attempts to avoid car damage from dangerous potholes could see them penalised. From our survey, 66% of drivers admitted they were not aware swerving potholes was illegal. 

“However, with 92% saying the potholes in their area are an increasing problem and are not being fixed quickly or at all – it is not surprising to hear that so many are having to make potentially dangerous manoeuvres to avoid hitting potholes. 

“When claiming, it’s key to include as much information as possible – you could also provide contact details for anyone who witnessed the incident. 

“This will all strengthen your case when it comes to proving the damage was caused solely by the unrepaired pothole and helping you to secure the appropriate compensation. 

“If you have tried to claim through the local council and been turned away, you can look to your insurance provider for protection.  If your policy is fully comprehensive then pothole damage is normally covered as standard. 

“You will need to provide them with as much information as possible and help them to understand how the damage was solely caused by the unrepaired pothole. 

“However, when taking this route, it is important to remember your no claims discount will likely be affected, so check the policy details carefully and look for no claims bonus protection – also try quoting with the claim added to see if your premium price will change, to help you make the decision.”

https://swanseabaynews.com/2024/10/08/__trashed/

#driving #potholes #Quotezone