Once you hit 17 years old you will probably want to gain some independence and start learning to drive. Before you book your lessons with a driving school in Birmingham, you must have a provisional driving licence. To get this you must fill in the D750 licence application form; this can be obtained at any main post office.

Once you have filled in your application form and paid any fees applicable, you will receive your provisional licence in the post; you can then start your driving lessons. It is also recommended that you buy a copy of the Highway Code as these questions will come up when you take your theory test.

You do not have to take your theory test before having driving lessons as the practical experience of driving a car will help you during the test.

So, once you have your provisional licence you can start taking your driving lessons. Why not book your lessons with your local driving schools in Birmingham today and start gaining you independence, you won’t regret it!

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Jeep leasing offers a wide selection of Jeeps for customers to have, and can allow them to save money as well. The choice of Jeeps depends on the type of leasing contract, whether the lease is for commercial or personal use, and may or may not provide tax advantages.

By paying a determined monthly value, customers gain peace of mind by knowing the leasing agency will take care of all problems. There are several types of leasing agreements, such as personal contract purchase, personal contract hire, and Jeep leasing contracts. These are all available on all Jeep vehicles and other cars as well. These vehicles are supplied directly from Jeep franchise dealers with a manufacturer warranty.

When a vehicle is leased, the payments, made on a monthly basis, are computed according to the vehicle’s value, excluding VAT. A portion of the purchase price is withheld up to the end of the deal. If the customer is decides to stop leasing altogether at the end of the leasing period, all previous payments count towards the calculation of the final purchase price.

Part of the monthly payments covers car maintenance. This part of the contract includes the vehicle’s routine servicing, batteries, exhaust, wipers, tyres, and bulbs. Under the agreement, the customer will have accident management and breakdown coverage for the entire period. If an accident occurs, the customer will have a guarantee of getting back on the road as quickly as possible, which usually means receiving a replacement vehicle until the leased car is repaired. Not all contracts include insurance, fuel, and accident repairs. Therefore, the cost of leasing will depend upon not only the type of Jeep, the period of the lease, and the distance that may be driven, but also upon the value of the services provided in the contract.

Jeep leasing provides many good services and tax advantages, making the acquisition of a brand new vehicle easier for the customer.

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The primary difference between vehicles and car number plates is that you do not own the latter in the same way in which you own your vehicle.  You can fork out hundreds or even thousands of pounds when purchasing your car number plate and it won’t matter because you can only own the rights to use its allotted index mark.  What this means is that you can lose those rights as well as the money spent to purchase them.  This is an all too common event as most individuals here in the UK are not very knowledgeable of registration rules and typically have no clue what they have actually paid for.

In the UK, there are two ways in which you can protect the rights to your plate registration.  You can have your number plate registered to a specific vehicle or you can retain that number by virtue of what is referred to as a “retention” certificate.  When you have completed the purchase of your number plate, it is imperative that you protect your rights as being the registered owner.

The V5 document (or logbook) is your proof of ownership and contains your name.  If the number plate is held by retention certificate your name typically appears at the top of that document.  Retention certificates have a one year lifespan, although you will need to have it renewed (for a £25 fee) within 28 days of the certificate’s expiration date.  If you fail to pay the fee, you could lose the number completely. 

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If by some chance you want to register an old vehicle under its original number plate because the 1983 deadline for this was missed, you are going to need to complete DVLA Form V765 at your nearest local DVLA office, or by downloading the form off the internet at the DVLA website.  These types of original registration mark applications typically relate to classic vehicle enthusiasts.  The DVLA Booklet V765/1 details the procedure for correctly handling this.  You can download these or visit your local area DVLA office in order to complete the procedure.

In order to apply for this type of car registration, you need to:

- Complete DVLA Form V55/5 which is available at your local DVLA office
- Complete DVLA Form V765
- Provide the DVLA with the most current photograph of the vehicle in your possession as well as all related documentary evidence.  This includes the original V5 log book, a MOT certificate, or a pre-1983 tax disc.  Any of these must link the vehicle to its original car registration number.

You should then send the application to either a relevant authorised enthusiasts club, or owners club, and have them endorse the document.  They will not obligate you to join their club.  However, they will most likely charge you a fee for the service.  Additionally, the club may request that they have the opportunity to inspect your vehicle before completing this procedure.  In any event, your local area DVLA office will have the latest information regarding this.

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When considering a 4×4 there are an increasing number of people who look at the purchase of a left hand drive 4×4 London based dealer as they have access to a large number of imports from Europe as well as frustrated export orders. There are very good reasons for buying a left hand drive 4×4 the major one being the tremendous savings in cost that can be made with a left hand drive 4×4 London purchase. Of course you may want to buy either a new or used left hand drive 4×4 London vehicle for taking back to Europe if you are an ex pat living there, the specialist will certainly be able to help you with the paperwork needed to import this to most countries.

With left hand drive 4×4 vehicles you will certainly have a wide choice from the many that can be found at the left hand drive 4×4 London specialist, including, a wide range of New Land Rover and Range Rover products sourced directly from manufacturer, they are usually cancelled orders or surplus stock and come at very competitive prices with full manufacturer’s warranty.

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If you are thinking of leasing a Suzuki Grand Vitara Diesel Estate 1.9 DDiS 3dr, then Leasing Options offers you this precious car for an affordable lease price. All you have to do is to pay £808.62 for the initial rental and pay £269.54 per month, which would save you a lot of money when compared to paying off a monthly car loan.

Most features of this car are standard, and include air conditioning with climate control; an integrated CD player/radio with audio controls mounted on the steering wheel; front electric windows; reclining rear seats; tilt adjustable steering; folding and heated door mirrors; front fogs; alloys; and immobiliser. It has impressive and outstanding safety features such as curtain, front, and side airbags for the occupants in the front seat, as well as curtain airbags in the rear.

The Suzuki Grand Vitara has a lightweight monocoque structure along with a built-in and stiff ladder frame that gives the typical off-road vehicle look. As compared to its elegant 5-door model, the 3-door model has a ‘crouched’ muscular body that gives it a sporty personality. Moreover, it has a long wheelbase that allows a spacious cabin experience with rear and front legroom.

What’s under the hood is the diesel powered 1.9-litre engine that is capable of producing 129 PS power output and 221 lb ft of torque. This assures excellent driving experience whether on or off-road, fuel economy, and less CO2 emissions amounting to 195 g/km only.

Car leasing this 4×4 commuter vehicle from Suzuki will give value for your money while you enjoy its terrific features.

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Along with purchasing personalised number plates at the DVLA or at an official DVLA auction, you also have the option of buying them from a private dealer.  However, should you be contemplating pursuing this purchasing option, there are a few things you should know.  If you have been unable to locate the private number plate you’ve been searching for at either the DVLA or through one of their authorised auctions, contacting a private dealer is the only real option that you have left.

Today, many individuals have found the private number plates they have been looking for by visiting certain websites such as “eBay” or “Loot.”  One of the advantages is that the seller can arrange the transferring of the private number plates straight from their vehicle to your vehicle.  Additionally, they can transfer the number plate to a Certificate of Entitlement or a retention certificate if you choose that course of action.  What this means is that you will be named as the “nominee” and then you will have to complete the transferring of the personalised registration to your vehicle in due course.

You can also do this if you do not currently have a vehicle to assign the private number plates and registration to.  However, it will be up to the seller to ask the DVLA that your name is placed on a Certificate of Entitlement.  This gives you the right to assign your private plate numbers and registration to a vehicle at a later date.  Please visit the DVLA website before you proceed with purchasing your private number plates so that you are aware of all the guidelines that need to be followed by both purchaser and seller.

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In recent years, it seems the good people at Mercedes Benz have been able to do no wrong, but one blip on their graph has been the monstrosity of a space wagon known as the R-Class. Mercedes are often looking for holes in the market to try and fill and have, for most of the time, achieved success. However, what the R-Class is trying to do; be a 4×4 six-seat family “Sports Tourer” is not going to appeal to many.

It would be harsh to judge the R-Class on looks alone, after all, it is clear that the manufacturer has put a lot of hard work into getting the best they could out of their creation and the engines and interior easily live up to the Mercedes standard. There are two 3litre engines, with either 190 or 272bhp, a 3litre V6 and a 5litre V8. Speed-wise this awkward looking vehicle will actually surprise many, as the R320 CDI can hit 134mph, while the R500 is capable of an impressive 150mph.

The road handling also appears out of character, as the R-Class feels amazingly nimble for its size, when taking tight corners. Being a 4×4, it is similar to the M-Class SUV when gripping the road and this is definitely one department where this model redeems some points.

The R-Class can also tick the boxes for space and comfort and will leave plenty of room in the back for a party of four or more. Folding down the back seats opens up an incredible 2,385litres of storage space for whatever your heart may desire.

So the R-Class is not as bad as it looks, although how it looks is the big problem. If you have been holding out to own your first Mercedes, you will be sorry if this is your introduction. The R-Class can commonly be seen dropping the kids off at the school gates or taking up two spaces in the supermarket car park, so if you have been anticipating using it as a trendy “sports” vehicle, then think again.

The R-class is not too friendly on the pocket either and achieves poor fuel economy across the board; for example the 280 V6 CDI only makes 32mpg. It also falls heavily into the high tax bracket and insurance isn’t cheap either. For anyone who is considering this model, a price range of £35,283 to £73,300 should help make your mind up for you.

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Personalised car number plates; also known as vanity number plates, prestige number plates, cherished number plates, custom number plates or private number plates, are legal car number plates that combine a series of letters and / or numbers to denote something more meaningful (usually the owner’s initials) than those issued by the state.

In the United Kingdom, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is the government body responsible for the issuing of car number plates, as well as monitoring driving licences, road traffic offences and road taxation. The DVLA allows a set of personalised number plates to be used as it sells such number plates itself, as well as regulating those that are bought and sold privately.

Personalised number plates commonly spell out a person’s name or place of residence. In the UK, the official registration system stipulates the use of a number following any three consecutive letters. What this means is that personalised number plates are often highly creative, with a number often used to stand for a letter. An example is the use of the number 3 for the letter E.

Personalised number plates can be bought in advance of a car being bought, as well as afterwards. Replacing a state issued number plate with a private alternative is, with some exceptions, straightforwardly an issue of paying for the alternative. Those refused are when that number plate is already in use, or is common with very widely used names such as ‘John’ or ‘Mary’, or in the case where the index mark creates a swear word.

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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!

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