In part one of our series on smart motorways, we explained how smart motorways work and the technology behind now. In part 2, we go into the issues with them and what the UK government is doing about it.

Smart Motorways, the stretches of road that utilises the latest technology to regulate traffic flow, have been built to ease traffic congestion across the UK motorway system. However, these changes have often resulted in a key motorway safety feature – the hard shoulder.

So our smart motorways really as dangerous as what their critics suggest? And what, if anything, should be done about it?

What are the risks of smart motorways?

The removal of a permanent hard shoulder has been linked to deaths on smart motorways in recent years. In 2019 during an interview, the government told BBC Panorama that 38 people had died on smart motorways since they were introduced in 2014.

The government have faced growing criticism on this subject. The removal of the hard shoulder has led to motorists being trapped in a ‘live’ lane by speeding traffic in the event of a breakdown or other emergency.

This has led to a five-year pause in the rollout of further smart motorways whilst the Government reviews the current situation.

A recent YouGov Poll has highlighted the concerns that motorists have with the rollout of Smart Motorways. A shocking 64% of people asked thought that they were less safe than motorways with hard shoulders. That figure rose to an astonishing 82% amongst people over 65.

What is the UK Government doing about it?

The UK government is pausing the smart motorway rollout for five years to allow them to gather more safety data on the existing stretches of smart motorways that have already been built.

Highways England will also be investing close to one billion pounds to improve safety on the stretches of smart motorways that have already been built. Of that, £390 million will be used to add more emergency refuge areas.

This investment should lead to a 50% increase in areas to stop on smart motorways by 2025.

The Government plans on making a decision on smart motorways once all the data has been assessed.

Why were smart motorways originally introduced?

Traffic congestion is a growing problem in the UK that smart motorways aim to tackle.

Widening motorway sections is an expensive undertaking. Smart motorways offer a cheaper solution by using a feature that is already built – the hard shoulder.

What is a smart motorway?

Smart Motorways are a stretch of motorway that uses the latest in traffic flow technology. To control traffic flow with the ultimate aim of easing congestion on the roads of the UK.

By utilizing the latest developments in Tech, Smart motorways can actively manage congestion on the motorway and optimise how the Motorway is used by road users.

Smart Motorways were as developed by Highways England to manage Britain’s congested roads to minimise the environmental impact and cost of building additional lanes.

The methods used include using the hard shoulder as an extra lane for traffic and introducing variable speed limits to control traffic flow on motorways. 

 

How do Smart Motorways work?

With many miles of smart motorways already built in the UK, it’s imperative that motorists understand how they work and how to use them.

The main type of Smart Motorway  in the UK is what is referred to as ‘All Lane running’

This refers to when the hard shoulder is removed and converted into a running lane. In these instances, the left-hand lane, which was the hard shoulder, is only closed to traffic in the event of an accident on the motorway.

If more lanes of the motorway are required to be closed, they will be marked by a red x on an overhead gantry. This signals that you must exit the lane as soon as possible.

Ignoring the ‘red X’ sign is extremely dangerous and is against the law. 

The signage is also used to show the speed limit, which is variable depending on traffic and road conditions. If a speed limit is not displayed, the national speed limit will be in place. 

The speed limits are enforced with speed cameras. If the speed is reduced, there is a slight lag between when the speed limit is updated and when the speed cameras will begin to enforce the new speed limit. A specific time for this to happen isn’t given for each camera, but it can happen in as little as ten seconds.

Smart Motorways rely on CCTV to monitor traffic for any incidents. 

In the event of a breakdown or accident, motorists can use the Emergency Refuge Areas (ERAs), that are situated on the left side of the motorway. The average spacing of these ERAs is 1.5 miles apart. 

What are the benefits of Smart Motorways?

According to Highways England, the stats show that since the first smart motorway opened in 2006 journey reliability has improved by 22% and personal injuries have reduced by more than half.

However, many motorists still feel unsafe on smart motorways.

 

What are the issues with Smart Motorways?

Many UK motorists are concerned that smart motorways are far more dangerous than the traditional motorway setup, because of the lack of a hard shoulder.

Campaign groups have been drumming up support to improve safety on ‘all running smart motorways sections where the hard shoulder is turned into a permanent lane.

To counteract this criticism, Highways England has run UK wide campaigns to educate drivers on how they should use smart motorways. 

 

 

 

Motorly is proud to announce the launch My Motorly, a customer-focused car search platform that will enable the company to assist UK Motorists ever further in the car-buying journey.

Visitors to the platform will find a comprehensive selection of used cars to choose from. Whether you know exactly which make or model you are after or are unsure what you are after, Motorly can help.

As well as the extensive Car Search Platform, My Motorly also offers:

Justin Cottrell, Founder and Director of Motorly stated ‘As the company steps in 2022, we are always looking for new and innovative ways to improve the level of service we offer to our customers ’.

‘My Motorly is the next step in the evolution of Motorly, allowing us grow the digital journey of the car buying process.’

‘The launch of our Car Search Platform will enable us to help UK Motorists find their dream car and get the finance they need’.

For further information on My Motorly, please contact mymotorly@motorly.co.uk

The process for applying for car finance when you have bad credit is much the same as if you had good credit. The main difference will be the number of finance partners willing to approve your application.

For those with bad credit, Motorly can simplify the process and find you the best deal from our panel of finance partners that suits your circumstances.

The first step is to make use of our car finance calculator, as this will give you an idea of your monthly repayments depending on the repayment period you select.

Once you know how much you want to borrow, you can complete a quote and within minutes will find out if you have been pre-approved by one of our finance partners. If you have been pre approved you will be assigned an account manager who will walk you through which finance partners have approved you and help you compare the best deal. Your account manager will also take care of all the admin along the way. 

You can now begin your car search with the knowledge your finance is in place. You can pick a car from any reputable dealer or speak with your account manager who can assist you in your car search. 

Once you have found a car, all you need to do is provide your account manager with the details and they’ll take care of everything else from the paperwork, chasing the finance partner and ensuring the dealership receive the funds. 

There is no minimum or maximum credit score that will determine you will definitely be accepted or rejected for car finance. If you feel your credit score is bad or requires some work we could still help you. At Motorly we work with a panel of finance partners who are able to help people with varying credit backgrounds. From those with average  & bad credit ratings to those with a history of CCJ’s, missed payments and we may even be able to help those who have been refused finance elsewhere. 

What is a credit score? – A person’s credit score is one of the main factors a finance partner uses to find out use creditworthiness. Your score will usually be a 3 digit number and the higher the number the greater chance of having finance approved. Those with higher scores will usually benefit from a lower interest rate, as finance partners associate higher scores with a lower risk of a person defaulting. As each finance partner has a different understanding of what’s a good score, there’s no set number that can guarantee you will be accepted or rejected for car finance. ers 

How could I improve my credit score? – Your credit score isn’t a fixed number and can increase or decrease based on a multitude of factors. It should be notated there are no quick fixes, but there are steps you can take to ensure you maximise your score such as;

Although your credit score is important, some finance partners on our panel place less importance on your score than others. So if you have recently been refused car finance we may still be able to help you. Apply online now and see if you’re pre-approved without impacting your credit score. 

Worried that your credit rating will affect your ability to get approved for car finance? Don’t worry, you are not alone.

Whilst it can feel an uphill struggle to get a car finance loan with bad credit, the great news is that it’s not impossible. Having a good credit score does indeed give you a few more options when looking for a deal, but for those with bad credit, it’s still possible.

Despite what you may have heard, there isn’t a minimum credit rating needed to get approved for car finance. This means those with a fair to poor rating can still get the finance they need to get behind the wheels of a new car.

At Motorly, we are experts on Bad Credit Car Finance, assisting UK motorists to navigate the car finance landscape to find the right solution for them. Read on to find our top tips to help you get approved.

 

What to do before you apply for car finance

Your credit score is a prime factor that finance partners take into account when deciding to approve you for a car finance loan.

Even thought having a bad credit rating can limit the options available to you, it is still possible to obtain the car finance loan you need.

 

Check your credit score today and see if you can improve it.

Checking your credit score is always a great idea, especially when you are considering taking on a new finance agreement. If you do check your credit score, it is possible to make changes and potentially increase your credit score. Improving your credit score may help you get approved for car finance on better terms and a lower rate of interest. A few ways to improve your score include:

Reduce debts as much as possible

Reducing your credit utilisation (the amount of credit you are currently using versus the total level of credit currently available to you) can help improve your credit score. Reducing your credit utilisation to below 30% can help you get approved for more affordable rates.

Ensure all bills are paid on time

A great payment history will increase your credit score. Ensure all bills are paid on time. Make sure no accounts have been left in arrears.

Decide how much you can afford the monthly payments to be

When looking to buy a new car, it’s vital that you consider how much the monthly repayments will be. This will factor into what car will be suitable for you. You don’t want to find the ideal car only to find out the payments are too high for your budget.

Also, don’t forget to factor in other costs such as tax, insurance, and maintenance charges.

 

Get pre-approved for car finance

Not sure if your car finance application will be accepted? If you’ve got a poor credit rating the best course of action is to get a pre-approval before shopping for cars. By ensuring that you can get a car finance loan, you can walk into the showroom with your finance already in place – no need to worry if you will be accepted for your dream car

Motorly are the Bad Credit Car Finance experts and can help you every step of the way to get approved.

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Shopping for a new car can sometimes be a challenging process, especially if your personal circumstances could get in the way of you obtaining the car that you want. A bad credit history can affect your eligibility for securing car finance, as well as other factors such as being in an IVA or having CCJs against your name.

If you have had issues with your finances in the past, it is possible that you are currently in a Debt Management Plan (DMP), which can often lead to problems obtaining the car finance you need.

At Motorly, we specialise in helping people get behind the wheel of a new car, whatever their credit history. Whilst being in a Debt Management Plan will mean that you have a few more actions to take to get finance, we can help you every step of the way.

What is a Debt Management Plan?

A Debt Management Plan (DMP), is a program put in place by a DMP provider to help you manage and control your debts in a way that is both responsible and manageable. Debt Management Plans can be a suitable route to take for those with the following debts:

A debt management plan cannot help with certain ‘priority debts’ such as:

Your debt consultant will organise your Debt Management Plan to ensure that you start to reduce the debt you owe in the most efficient way. Each month, you will pay a fee to the Debt Management Plan provider, who will then pay the money to your creditors on your behalf. In doing so, your plan provider will assist you in keeping track of your obligations and stop you from spending your money irresponsibly.

Is it possible to get Car Finance when I am under a Debt Management Plan?

If you are currently in a debt management plan, it can be hard to make new purchases. This is because your Debt Management Provider will be stringent when deciding what new expenditure you are allowed to take on. This is particularly true when it comes to purchasing a new car.

However, it is still possible to get a car finance agreement approved when you are in a DMP. You will need to show that your new car is an essential purchase (such as being able to get to work), and also show that the vehicle is affordable within your agreed budget, without having an impact on your existing debt agreements.

When your Debt Management Provider is checking to see if your car is a necessity purchase, they will consider the following:

Can you afford the car payments?

The most important factor you need to consider when looking into car finance is whether you can afford to pay the payments constantly for the lifetime of the contract. By taking out a car finance agreement, this debt will be added to the plan that your provider is managing.

The Motorly team can help you understand how the process works, help you find a suitable car for your budget and perform a credit check.

Are you eligible for car finance?

If you are currently in a Debt Management Plan, you are likely to have a lower credit score. This is due to the level of debt you currently have, along with the fact that a DMP is in place, showing up on your credit file. However, whilst it can make it harder to get car finance, it is still possible to get an agreement that is suitable for your circumstances.

Motorly is a specialist at finding car finance solutions for those with fair to poor credit scores, including those in an IVA or Debt Management Plan. We offer bad credit car finance and debt management car finance plans that enable people just like you to get behind the wheels of a new car.

Would a bad credit car finance deal be right for you?

If you currently have a bad credit score, it’s still possible to find a finance deal that is right for your needs. Motorly has a wealth of experience in helping those with bad credit find the perfect finance solution for their needs.

If you’d like to find out more, go to the Motorly bad credit car finance page

One question we get every day here at Motorly is how your credit history, credit rating and current financial obligations impact your ability to take out a Car Finance Agreement. This is especially true for those who are in an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA).

If you are in an IVA, it can feel like someone has jammed on the hand break when it comes to obtaining car finance, with many people assuming that it is simply isn’t possible. However, with the help of a trusted broker such as Motorly, you may be able to get the finance you need.

Whilst being in an IVA does make the process a little longer, here at Motorly we pride ourselves on being IVA Car Finance specialists, assisting people in an IVA just like yourself get behind the wheel of a new car.

What do I need to do to get car finance when I am in an IVA?

If you are currently in an Independent Voluntary Agreement (IVA), you will need to get permission from your IP (Insolvency Practitioner) to enter the new credit agreement when the finance is over a certain amount.

For you, it means that if you want to take out a new credit arrangement for anything above £500 that is not for essential utilities, you will need a letter of confirmation from your IP to go ahead. This includes taking out car finance.

The reason for this is that your Insolvency Practitioner wants to ensure that you do not get into further debt by starting new finance agreements that you cannot afford. It enables you to continue paying off your debts as agreed.

How do I get the Insolvency Practitioner to agree to this new Car Finance Agreement?

To make sure that your IP allows you to take out a new car finance agreement, there are two vital stages to ensure you are given permission to enter a new car finance arrangement. They are:

Prove to your Insolvency Practitioner you can afford the car finance agreement

This involves showing to your IP that if you take out this new finance agreement, you will still be able to pay your current debts and responsibilities. It’s important at this stage to understand what your outgoing and obligations currently are and work out what you can afford to be paying out monthly for car finance. Our team of dedicated sales experts can help you work out what is a suitable figure for your circumstances.

Prove to your Insolvency Practitioner you need to take out car finance

This step involves proving to your IP that not only do you need to take out car finance but that it’s a vital agreement for you to enter. This could be, for instance, proving that you need to get the car to travel to work or that the cost of buying and operating the car is cheaper than relying on public transport and taxis to get around. If you can show that a car is either a work necessity or will save you money over the long term, your IP may approve the car finance agreement.

The good news is that if you can show that you can still afford the car finance deal without putting yourself at further risk of insolvency, you are one step closer to getting your new car. Your Insolvency Practitioner understands that getting to work is important, and if owning a car will enable you to continue working or even save you money, then you have a great chance of getting the confirmation letter you need.

Ready to find out more? Start your next motoring journey now by visiting the motorly IVA Car Finance page

Refused car finance but not sure why? Here are the top 5 reasons why a car finance application is not successful.

Credit Score

A poor credit score is the main reason why customers are rejected for finance. Whilst it’s not the only thing finance partners considered, it’s a key factor in whether you will be successful or not.

Having a bad credit rating will not mean you are automatically rejected when you apply. However, a poor credit rating will at best limit your options when looking for a suitable car finance deal.

Never taken out credit before? A small or non-existent credit history can just be as bad as a poor one. Lenders will be unable to see how good you are at paying your bills on time and keeping on top of your debts, making you a bigger risk to lend to.

Employment Status

Your employment status is another factor that is taken into account. The positive news is if you are employed in full-time or part-time work, you should be able to find a suitable for you.

Those who are self-employed or have an income that does change every month may find it harder to obtain finance. The reason for this is because of the uncertainty that comes with not having regular monthly pay makes car finance finance partners wary of accepting the application.

Age

Whilst you can pass your driving licence at 17, if you want to take out a car finance agreement you will have to wait until you are at least 22 until you are accepted. The main issue here is that most young people have a limited credit history.

Affordability

Responsible Lending practices are a key part of the finance process that borrowers go through. When looking over your application, finance partners will look at your monthly income and spending patterns to see how much money is left at the end of the month. If a monthly car payment would wipe out your remaining budget, it’s likely your application could be refused.

Mistakes

A big reason for applications being rejected is because of simple mistakes. A slight error with an address, a wrong date or a typo could make all the difference between your application being accepted or not.

The best way to avoid this happening is to take your time and double-check all your details before you submit your application.