Driving a LHD, or left hand drive, vehicle is becoming a trend, with many American A-list celebrities importing their beloved vehicles to their base in the UK.

In the capital in particular, it’s easy to spot left hand drive vehicles London is the fashion capital of the world and celebs flock here for events, shows and premieres. A popular model is the Toyota Prius Hybrid vehicle – perfect for the eco-friendly personas of the rich and famous (just don’t mention the ozone-battering plane emissions…)

Take a look around and see how many you can spot! In the meantime, here’s some of the best:

1.    Simon Cowell drives a magnificent LHD Bugatti Veyron, reported to have set him back a cool $1 million. Nice motor Si!

2.    Eco-warriors and uber-cool celebs du jour, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie run a planet-saving BMW Hydrogen 7 when visiting the UK. Peace up Brangelina.

3.    The fragrant Paris Hilton favours the sleek lines of the Mercedes Benz SLR, and can often be seen whizzing round the streets of London looking for her new BFF.

4.    You can rely on the big man, 50-cent, to provide the decorum in this list, with his good, old fashioned Rolls Royce. Fiddy’s Roller has been specially adapted for left hand drive and he can frequently be spotted in the car-park of Wimbledon Waitrose picking up his weekly order of Lambrini.

5.    Justin Timberlake’s White Jeep Wrangler is a less likely celeb LHD but it’s one of the most frequently spotted celebrity left hand drive vehicles London.

6.    Check out the stunning LHD wheels belonging to the fearsome Missy Elliot. Her fleet includes an Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, a Lamborghini Gallardo and a mint Rolls Royce Phantom.

So, next time you’re in London look out for the stars in their cars – just don’t get run over!

read comments (0)

In the UK, personalised car number plates; also known as vanity number plates, prestige number plates, cherished number plates, custom number plates or simply private number plates, are regulated and often sold by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) or through an agency or private sale. The DVLA is a government body responsible for the issuing of driving licences, keeping a national database of all car registrations and the addresses of car owners, as well as road taxation record keeping.

As in the US, there are certain letter / index number combinations which are prohibited from use. Letters spelling out swear words or contentious political denotations, for example, are not allowed. The DVLA issues original personalised number plates, for a commercial fee, and also tracks the private sale/use of personalised number plates from one car owner to another or from shops or websites to car owners. It can often occur that a personalised number plate is bought online without the car owner checking the permissibility of the plate with the DVLA. This results in ownership without the right to drive with this plate.

Common types of personalised number plate are those that spell out a person’s name or place of residence. Some famous individuals have highly recognisable personalised number plates that identify them. Personalised number plates are often sold through auctions. Auctions can sell either personalised plates to be used on the road, or purely collectible plates. Collectible plates may have some historical value, especially when they were previously owned by celebrities.

read comments (0)

This MPV is not quite a stunner but it has some very worthy features, including surprisingly good handling, comfort and space, and pleasing design.

There is a great deal of space-versatility on offer in this seven seater – the passenger seats fold and collapse as you please and there’s more than adequate leg and head room for passengers and driver alike. It’s not huge, but it is adaptable and it’s certainly not cramped. For an MPV, this model drives astonishingly well.  You’ll experience very little roll whilst driving thanks to the relatively low level of the cabin, and the steering is superbly responsive. With a Volkswagen diesel engine, you’re also guaranteed excellent quality.

MPVs have a reputation for being charmless and cumbersome; the Mitsubishi Grandis is not guilty on both charges. It has a distinctive elegance about it and it is not remotely difficult to manoeuvre. Both the petrol and the diesel engines take a slightly tardy 11 seconds to hit 60 mph but MPV drivers are unlikely to want to burn rubber and tear up the tarmac anyway. For city driving, it’s perfect, and it looks classy, too. And least the diesel offers superb fuel efficiency. This car is proof that MPV snobbery, if taken too far, can deprive you of an exceptional drive and a versatile vehicle.

read comments (0)

If you can’t afford to buy a new Daihatsu Sirion hatchback model then leasing it may suit your budget.  You can lease the car at centralcontract.com by paying a monthly fee of £226.23 for a personal contract or £196.72 per month for a business contract. An initial up-front payment is also required.

If you compare the Daihatsu Sirion with other cars, you’ll see how small the Sirion is; however, it is tall and wide. The boot is spacious, and you’ll have enough room to place all those shopping and grocery bags.

The exterior of the car is beautifully finished and you’ll make a good impression with its sleek doors and body panels. Getting inside the car is easy because of its large doors and tall design. This is ideal for older people who have a hard time getting in and out of new model cars with low body designs.

The Daihatsu Sirion is often associated with the Toyota Yaris; however the Sirion has more room. Although both have the same exterior dimensions, Sirion has more legroom, shoulder room, and head room. The car has a seating capacity of four; however, five people can still squeeze themselves inside. Moreover, other features come as standard such as central locking, electric windows, radio CD, and air conditioning.

What’s under the bonnet is the car’s lively little petrol engine. Sirion’s engine comes in three sizes, which are 1000cc, 1300cc, and 1500cc. Moreover, leasing a Daihatsu Sirion will give you a refined and quiet driving experience on the road.

read comments (0)

As was previously mentioned, nearly 40 million motorists in the UK are enjoying displaying their private number plates (or cherished number plates).  Although these were issued by the DVLA, only “new” number plates are available so it will require a few steps in order to obtain the number plates that you are searching for.  Here are a few suggestions to consider.

First and foremost, you need to ensure that the combination of letters, numbers, and/or words is still available for you to purchase.  You can search this by viewing the current list of permissible letters and numbers at the DVLA’s website.  Just be aware of the fact that the pricing for private number plates starts at approximately £245 but could run into the thousands for the more desirable plates.

Secondly, remember that you can make your vehicle look as old as you want.  However, you can’t make it appear any newer than what it is.  As an example of the rules with private number plates, they state that a “G” registration number is acceptable on an “S” registered vehicle, but a “T” registration number cannot be used.

Finally, you can actually see what the private number plate will look like when it is placed on your vehicle by clicking on “view on a vehicle” while you are searching the DVLA website.  Your final step is purchasing your private number plates which you can do in person, by telephone, or online.  You can find out more information about ways to purchase your registration plates by visiting the DVLA website.

read comments (0)

Today, the majority of countries in the world drive on the right side of the road and are used to driving left hand drive vehicles. It’s mainly the old British colonies that drive on the left, and due to the massive cost of changing street signs, road markings etc, the idea to change this was laughed at and dismissed in the 1960’s.

Due to booming industry and tourism in the UK, particularly the capital, there is now a huge market for left hand drive cars London. With many visitors used to driving on the right, and using a left hand drive vehicle, it makes sense to continue that tradition here. There are many dealers in the UK offering left hand drive vehicles for rental or purchase, making life so much easier for visitors and travellers when renting a car. 

Many left-hand drive vehicles are automatic, which takes the pressure off a little and means you’re not fumbling around with the gear stick! If you’re not used to an automatic transmission, this can be daunting but you’ll soon get the hang of it. However, if you prefer a manual transmission, there are many different makes and models available and it’s comforting to know that the pedals are in the same order – accelerator, brake and clutch.

LHD vehicles are not designed for use on Britain’s roads, and as such, there are few left-hand drive vehicles in the country. The biggest safety concern is blind spots, particularly when turning right. However, statistics show that a small number of accidents are caused by left hand drive vehicles and their drivers.

So, if you’re in the city on business or simply on an enjoyable vacation, don’t stress about driving in the UK. Rest assured that left hand drive cars London are available to make your driving experience so much easier.

read comments (0)

If the high price of those small Teutonic saloons makes you wince, this perfectly acceptable Scandinavian alternative might be for you. The cabin is ergonomically elegant, with the dashboard curving around the driver, and you’ll sink into lusciously comfortable seats both in the front and the rear. The roofline is distinctly higher than that of most saloons, so you’ll enjoy plenty of headroom. The boot is generous, and the rear seat folds flat on a 60/40 basis, giving you extra stowage if you need it.

Bumpy roads can result in a little judderiness but the car glides smoothly and gracefully along even tarmac. The more powerful petrol engines seem to result in a harder, bumpier ride but with the diesels and the lower power petrols, smooth-road serenity is restored. A relatively light-pressure turbo engine supplies plenty of thrust for overtaking and will cost you considerably less than, say, a 319i BMW engine. The turbodiesel engines are good performers in this department, too. Saab’s unique four-wheel drive system, XWD, has enabled the top of the range model, the 2.8 litre V6 turbo, to hit a formidable 280 bhp – not bad for a little saloon. The front wheel drive version still delivers 255 bhp.

The 9-3’s elegance, practicality, space and excellent safety features enable it to be equally comfortable as an executive auto as well as a family car.

read comments (0)

There are three primary ways in which you can purchase personalised number plates for your vehicle.  These are:

- Purchasing the number plates directly from the DVLA
- Purchasing the number plates from a private dealer
- Purchasing the number plates at an authorised DVLA auction

Purchasing your personalised number plates by way of a DVLA auction is a great way to acquire some very exclusive number plates.  Just realise that you will need to exercise some flexibility where the cost is concerned.  It is not uncommon for most bid lots to have a reserve of around £200.  However, some personalised number plates have fetched many thousands in pounds in the past.

There are usually half a dozen DVLA auctions annually.  Each of them last three days and can feature up to 1,600 number plates over the course of those three days.  The DVLA website affords you the ability to peruse all the plate numbers that will be featured at upcoming auctions.  So once the auction has officially started, you can place your bid in person, by telephone, or online.

Sealed bids are also allowable should you be slightly intimidated about bidding on your personalised number plates in person.  The auctioneer usually handles these over a period of two weeks and they do remain invisible to other bidders who are involved.  When the deadline finally arrives, all of the bids are opened and the number plates are then awarded to the highest bidder.  More information on the auction procedure and rules is available at the DVLA website.

read comments (0)