Who we write for
We write for everyday UK drivers. That might be someone buying their first car, a parent checking a car for their teenager, or someone who just got an MOT advisory and wants to know if it's serious.
That means plain English. If we have to use a technical term, we explain it the first time it comes up. If a guide only makes sense to a mechanic, we haven't done our job.
How we write a guide
- We start with the real question. We look at what drivers are actually asking, in search results, on forums and in the messages people send us.
- We go to the source. Facts come from official sources first, such as GOV.UK, the DVLA, the DVSA, HMRC, Transport for London and the Highway Code.
- We give the answer first. Every guide opens with a short answer, then explains the detail for anyone who wants it.
- We use real UK examples. Real rates, real dates and worked examples, so you can see how the rules apply to you.
- We check before we publish. Every figure, date, fee and fine is checked against its source, and every guide is read again before it goes live.
The sources we trust
- Government: GOV.UK, the DVLA, the DVSA, HMRC, the Department for Transport and the Highway Code.
- Local rules: Transport for London and local councils for Clean Air Zones and ULEZ.
- Consumer rights: Citizens Advice and the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
- Industry: trusted motoring bodies, where official sources don't cover a topic.
We list the main sources at the end of each guide, so you can check them yourself.
Keeping guides up to date
Motoring rules change often. Road tax rates change every April, new number plates arrive every March and September, and Clean Air Zones change when councils decide.
- We review every guide at least once every six months.
- We update guides as soon as a rule they cover changes.
- The date at the top of each guide shows when it was last updated. We only change that date when we've checked the guide and made a real change.
How we build and test our tools
Before a tool goes live, we test it with real registrations and worked examples, including the awkward cases, like brand new cars with no MOT yet. Each tool page explains how the result is worked out, so you never have to take a number on trust. You can see where every tool gets its information on our data sources page.
Corrections
We work hard to get things right, but if we get something wrong, we want to know. Please contact us with the page and what needs fixing.
We check every report. If the mistake is real, we fix it quickly. If it could have affected someone's decision, we add a short note at the end of the guide saying what we changed and when.
Advertising and independence
VehicleMonkey is free because it shows adverts from Google. Google chooses which adverts appear, not us, and advertisers have no say in what we write.
- We don't accept payment for reviews, rankings or links.
- We don't publish sponsored articles.
- If that ever changes, anything paid for will be clearly labelled.
What our content is not
Our guides and tools give general information to help you make better decisions. They are not legal, financial or mechanical advice for your own situation. Before you buy a car, have it checked by a qualified mechanic. If you have a legal problem with a car you bought, Citizens Advice can help for free.
Who writes our guides
Every guide shows the name of the person who wrote it and the date it was last updated. You can find out who runs VehicleMonkey on our about page.