Tag: li

Tegan and Sara Would Rather Be Called ‘Sell-Out’ Than Do ‘Free’ Gig on Social Media

Sara Quin says she and her sister and bandmate Tegan refuse to follow the livestream trend and do free concerts only to generate money for social media.

AceShowbiz –Tegan and Sara rocker Sara Quin won’t be joining the new livestream gig trend as she doesn’t want to work for social media platforms for free.

The Canadian musician and her sister and bandmate Tegan have been keeping in touch with fans during the Covid-19 pandemic by broadcasting insights into their lives as a weekly show, “Where Does the Good Grow?“, on Instagram Live.

However, Sara says fans can’t expect any livestream concerts as she objects to generating money for social media sites by performing on their platforms.

“My hesitation is that it’s a form of labour we do for free that is generating money for Instagram and Facebook and Twitch,” the musician tells The Guardian newspaper. “I know it’s not cool to be a sell-out and to say you need money and you want your fans to pay for things, but I feel as artists we need to be comfortable being transparent about that.”

The “Closer” hitmaker went on to say that while she is fine with others using the internet to perform, it’s not for her.

“I’m inspired by people doing livestreams and making content, but I don’t feel inspired to do it, because I hate playing concerts to people holding up their cellphones, and I don’t want to play a concert to my cellphone,” the 39-year-old explains.

Sara also complains that global restrictions on concerts due to the pandemic have “f**ked* the band’s “ecosystem” by putting their team out of work, and complained about the rates artists receive from streaming services.

“Instead of asking consumers to solve the problem, the industry needs to have a reckoning about the way we value music, and that needs to be platform-wide,” she adds.

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If Your Yogurt Has A Lot Of Liquid At The Top, Sniff It Before You Eat It

Though it might not be on quite the same level as bread, milk, and eggs, yogurt is definitely a staple food.

Not only is yogurt super-versatile (you can use it as a base for dips, smoothies, and baked goods, or just dig in with a spoon), but it also packs an impressive nutritional punch.

“Yogurt is a good source of bone-strengthening calcium and gut-healthy probiotics,” says nutritionist Keri Gans, RD, author of The Small Change Diet. It can also be a solid source of protein (many varieties contain double-digit grams of the stuff).

Despite its perks, though, the snack gets lost in the fridge pretty easily—often leaving you with an expired tub of yogurt when you do find it.

Which, of course, raises some major questions, like: Is it okay to eat yogurt past the expiration date? How can you tell if the creamy stuff has gone bad? And, honestly, what’s the worst that can happen if you dare to eat expired yogurt?

Well, don’t stress about wasting food the next time you rediscover that long-lost (and now-expired) tub. It’s good for longer than you probably realize.

Can you eat expired yogurt?

If you get freaked out by expired food, know this: With the exception of baby formula, federal law doesn’t require that food products have dates on them that say how long they’re good for.

Oh, and the date on your yogurt isn’t ~technically~ an expiration date. Usually, it’s actually a “best by” date.

“A lot of this comes down to quality—not safety issues,” says food safety specialist Benjamin Chapman, PhD, a professor at North Carolina State University. Basically, the date stamped on your yogurt just lets you know when the yogurt company thinks the product will be at its peak flavor.

So, yogurt with a “best by” date that’s come and gone isn’t technically expired—and it is 100 percent okay to eat yogurt beyond this date. “It’s really only going to get more acidic and ferment more over time in your refrigerator,” Chapman says. “All that’s going to happen to the flavor is that it will get tangier.”

How long past the expiration date does yogurt usually last?

That doesn’t mean you want to dig into yogurt that’s been chilling in the fridge for years, though.

While there’s no set time after which your yogurt will suddenly turn to total crap, in general, you can safely enjoy many unopened yogurts for a month or so past the “best by” date, says Chapman.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8eHgcyBYWY/

However—caveat alert!—not all yogurts are created equal.

If your yogurt has fruit on the bottom, it’s a totally different story. In this case, “I would stick with that date,” Chapman says. “Yeast and molds will grow on that fruit and create a totally different experience.”

And, if you already opened your yogurt, it may only last a week past the date printed on it, Gans says. This is especially true if you dipped an already-licked spoon back into the tub at any point, since microorganisms in the air and bacteria in your mouth can make your yogurt go bad more quickly, adds Chapman.

Here’s how to tell if yogurt has actually gone bad

If your tub of yogurt has truly turned foul, your nose will give it away.

“Even the slightest rancid odor means that the yogurt has gone bad,” says Gans. Chapman agrees. “If there’s a terrible odor, something else is growing in your yogurt that you don’t expect to be there,” he says.

A growing layer of liquid at the top of your tub can also indicate that your yogurt may be off, says Gans.

When in doubt, though, do a quick taste test and chuck anything that has a funky flavor.

Got it. So what happens if you do eat spoiled yogurt?

If your yogurt is on the vintage side, but comes from an unopened container, it may justupset your stomach a bit, says Chapman. However, if it’s bad enough to bother your belly, it’ll probably taste off enough that you won’t want to eat it.

That said, if you eat yogurt that’s been opened and gone bad, it could cause a foodborne illness and leave you with diarrhea, stomach cramps, and vomiting, Gans adds. Again, though, it will taste bad.

How to keep your yogurt as fresh as possible

To safely make that yogurt last, good refrigeration is key. Make sure your yogurt goes into your fridge (which should be set to 40 degrees or below) as soon as possible after you buy it, Gans says.

Once your yogurt is in there, don’t open it until you need it, recommends Chapman. And, if you bought a larger container, make sure the spoon you use to scoop out your portions is clean—and that you reseal the container tightly after using it.

Fun fact: If you buy more yogurt than you think you’ll eat within a few weeks, pop it in the freezer. “Yogurt may be frozen for one to two months without affecting the taste,” says Gans. From there, defrost and spoon away.

The bottom line: You can typically eat yogurt beyond its “best by” date, but be wary of any changes in smell or flavor and note that fruit-at-the-bottom yogurts have a shorter life span.

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Wendy Williams eats eggs on live TV one day after bursting into tears while hosting talk show at home – The Sun

Wendy Williams prepared deviled eggs on live TV.

The daytime host's cooking followed her bursting into tears while hosting her talk show yesterday.


Wendy started out the show saying "well I'm making deviled eggs," but she couldn't find paprika to decorate them.

She called the eggs "one of the most perfect things in the world."

Fans tweeted in response: "@WendyWilliams just had the Defiance in children conversation yesterday and you are 100% correct as always! And deviled eggs are the best food on the planet! Love you."





Others wrote: "wendy williams at home lmfaooo she's a mess."

Another said: "@WendyWilliam sitting at home making deviled eggs and doing her show is life goals. I hope you locate your paprika bb."

One person added: "#WendyWilliams is making deviled eggs on LIVE TV while interviewing #VivicaFox and it’s the funniest ish ever!"


Yesterday, she started crying on her show when ESPN host Stephen A. Smith said hello to her 19-year-old son.

Stephen said: "Say hi to your family and make sure you tell Kevin I said 'hey.'"

An emotional Wendy welled up, saying: "Oh! He said hi to Kev! Oh! I like him.

"I like when people do that, you know?"

Over the weekend Last Week Tonight host John Oliver applauded Wendy's antics saying: "…I get that people do eat. It's not just usually at the same time they are hosting a talk show and telling anyone watching to f**k off if they don't like it.

"This isn't what people do. This is what Wendy Williams does. Because Wendy has ascended to a level of 'f**ks not given' that no human has ever achieved before."

Last week, Wendy lost it trying to eat a fake burger – leaving fans worried for her mental health.

She said: "I wish that wasn't fake. It looks so delicious. I want to have a bite… It's 100 percent glitter but a real pickle."

Later in the episode guest Michael Yo discussed contracting coronavirus.

He said the disease is serious, people are dying alone and no one deserves that.

Wendy cried after the interview: "That thing about dying alone. I can't even.

"That is unbearable. Yesterday was Easter."



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Paul Oakenfold is holding a live rave online this weekend recreating his iconic Spike Island gig – The Sun

PAUL Oakenfold is bringing back the Nineties with a retro gig this weekend.

The DJ is recreating the 1990 Spike Island show headlined by The Stone Roses at the height of the Madchester scene which inspired a film of the same name.

His set can be streamed all round the world.

Paul said: “Super-excited for my Spike Island-inspired set Saturday night 11pm til midnight on United We Stream’s website.

“Manchester has a massive place in my life and heart.

"I love your city.


"Keep safe at home and remember this is our time to support the great British NHS.”

The money raised will be divided between three causes.


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Sorry Joe Wicks, I’d rather lift a pint than a dumbbell – here’s my survival guide for staying strong in lockdown – The Sun

FELLOW lock downers, responsible citizens, keepers of your distance!

It is my honour and privilege to address you from the front line of what is without a doubt the world’s longest lock-in.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

First things first, well done everyone, the country’s efforts have already shattered the British and Commonwealth world lock-in record of 1956 when future Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke was locked into a snug in Oxford for 39 hours straight.

The only other possible lock-in contender I can think of is Noah’s Ark, which at forty days and forty nights is an incredible effort, but given they were at sea and normal licencing laws do not apply, I’m not sure it counts.

Maybe at the end of this, the government will buy us all a pint/glass of white wine, and congratulate us on a job well done.

This is a trying time I know, but what I want to do is something like what Joe Wicks is doing, but requires a lot less effort, jumping around, and sweating.

OK, he means well but it seems to require an awful lot of energy, and my view is any physical activity you can’t do without spilling your pint is deeply suspect.

I imagine young Joe hasn’t tried his squat thrusts or sit-ups or burpees or whatever with a pint in one hand a bag of crisps in the other.

One word: spillage. He hasn’t thought it through; no matter how many chins of mine he might think he can shift, it ain’t worth spilling perfectly good lager or ales.

Nevertheless, if that hyperactive chancer can unite the nation, then someone like me who doesn’t go at ramming-speed the whole time can surely help. He’s the hare, I’m the tortoise.

My view is any physical activity you can’t do without spilling your pint is deeply suspect.

But what this is all about is morale. Morale is important: it’s the key component of any battle and that’s what we are in the middle of right now.

And as we near the end of our second week in national solitary confinement, I imagine tempers may be fraying, time might be hanging heavy, maybe the way you’re rubbing along has got you chafing a bit: I know I am, I gave up bathing last weekend, I’m on my own, who cares what I smell like.


So, here’s a cut out and loose guide to how to keep your morale up and avoid those moments which lord knows you’ll regret, because it’s not like you can go down the pub and moan to your mates about what happened.

Disputes over the dishes? Wash your hands of it

Dishwasher stacking disputes. You think the knives should point up not down.

The amount of times people can fall out over this sort of simple day-to-day admin in normal life is something I’ve heard from my regular drinkers time and time again, so no doubt in lockdown-land this one is raging all day, every day.

Solution:

You know what: forget it. It ain’t worth it. Simply rule yourself out of stacking or emptying the dishwasher – problem solved.

Can't decide want to watch? Seize control!

Deciding what to watch on the TV. We live in an age of a billion channels and nothing to watch. And they’re not making any more TV either: even Eastenders could grind to a halt. Yes that’s how serious this whole thing is. So whoever has control of the TV rules the roost.

Solution:

The remote is the key to this problem. Seize control: seeing as you aren’t going anywhere or doing anything, superglue the remote to the hand you use the least and retain control of the TV.

This may seem extreme but it’ll simply mean there’s one great big argument when you reveal what you’ve done, rather than the long slow drip drip drip of anger about your third week of watching Homes Under The Hammer.

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Ironing away the day? Why bother?

Ironing and/or folding the laundry. Ironing, for some, is a 100% flash point. This is how the argument runs. You leave something out to dry, then some thoughtless Herbert chucks it all in a laundry basket in a heap and you have to iron it.

Immediately a row ensues about why there’s no need to iron tracksuit bottoms anyway and remember the time you burned that nylon shirt because you had the iron on too hot you idiot.

Solution:

Compromise. Now here’s the thing. It’s not like you’ve got anywhere to be. It’s not like your glad rags are going to get any attention over the next few days.

Maybe you’re a slave to fashion and were looking forward to moving from your spring to your summer wardrobe. Whatever that means. But there is no need to iron stuff right now. None. Zero.

So put the iron down. Unless of course, it’s something you like doing to calm the nerves, pass the time, inject some sense of order into what is currently a formless existence. In other words, let the ironer iron. But only if totally necessary.

 

Remember, in the end would you rather be right or happy? And the answer to that is happy. Unless of course what makes you happy is being right. But you get my point.

And remember, chins up Britain, all of them.

Keep calm and carry on award

Hats off to all the people who two weeks ago were panicking and spreading rumours about the army being deployed.

During the fortnight these Scary Maries were crying into their soda waters about imminent martial law the army quietly got on with setting up a brand-new hospital. Give yourselves a round of applause, you divs.

Stockpiling error number 456

Oh yeah you all bought bog roll, but judging by the towpath by the canal none of you bought poo bags for your dogs.

SORT IT!

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Petrol for less than £1 per litre – the lowest in the UK for 15 years

Petrol sells for less than £1 per litre: Murco garage cuts unleaded to 99.7p – the lowest its been in UK for 15 years – as coronavirus crisis grips the nation

  • Petrol station in Birmingham has been selling petrol for 99.7p-a-litre this week 
  • Just over a month ago it was at between £1.25 and £1.40 for unleaded fuel 
  • Prices should soon fall below £1-a-litre across the UK – lowest level since 2005
  • Price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia and coronavirus caused price crash 
  • Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?

The price of a litre of petrol in Britain has fallen to below £1 per litre for the first time in 15 years with the cost of filling up a tank now £6 cheaper than a month ago, it was revealed today.

The Murco garage on the A435 near Kings Heath, Birmingham, has cut the price of unleaded to 99.7p – when seven weeks ago the same litre of petrol typically cost between £1.25 and £1.42 in the UK.

Wholesaler Costco has also cut the price of petrol to 99.9p-a-litre this week, though this is only available to those who pay an annual fee a membership.  

Petrol prices were last at that level in Britain in August 2005 on the back of Hurricane Katrina causing damage to oil and refinery operations in the Gulf of Mexico and the southern states of the United States. 

Coronavirus and price war between the Russians and Saudi Arabia has seen the price of a barrel of oil fall by an astonishing 60 per cent since the New Year to an 18-year low of $24.52.  

An employer at the Murco garage told Birmingham Live that the price of petrol had been cut below £1 per litre on Tuesday, and said it was likely to stay at least as low as that for a while.

He said: ‘The pandemic is affecting business because it is limited the number of people who are coming out.’

First £1-a-litre fuel in the UK: This Murco filling station on the A435 near Kings Heath in Birmingham cut the price of unleaded to 99.7p per litre on Tuesday

The price of petrol at the Murco station in Birmingham was some 19p-a-litre cheaper than the UK average and down to its lowest level for around 15 years

The FTSE 100 fell this morning after two days of gains as investors gave a mixed reaction to US senators finally passing a big stimulus package to fight coronavirus.

The index of Britain’s leading firms was down 169 points or 3 per cent to 5,519 shortly after opening in London today.

At about 11am, it was down slightly less by 88 points or 1.54 per cent to 5,600. 

Meanwhile the pound was up slightly against the dollar by 0.24 per cent or 0.0029 at $1.1912 this morning.

The unprecedented $2trillion (£1.7trillion) plan in America had been delayed by wrangling over details, but the falls in Britain mirror another advance on Wall Street being blunted yesterday.

Today, the future for the S&P 500 was down 1.1 per cent, while the Dow Jones future lost 0.8 per cent. Yesterday, the Dow rose 2.4 per cent and the S&P by 1.2 per cent.

It comes after it emerged four Republican senators had baulked at the generous provisions agreed to in the bipartisan deal with the White House.

 

It came days after two of Britain’s major supermarkets have cut petrol prices by a record 12p per litre in a single day as the global coronavirus crisis bites.

Both Morrisons and Asda slashed their unleaded fuel by 12p a litre, and diesel by 8p – down to as low as around £1.04 for petrol, 1.11p for diesel.  

Pieces on forecourts nationwide are now at their lowest for years. Yet while the reduction seems a welcome piece of good news, it comes only after petrol stations have been attacked for failing to pass on their wholesale savings to motorists.

The price of a barrel of oil has fallen by an astonishing 60 per cent since the New Year, partly because of an international oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia, but largely because the spread of Covid-19 has led to a huge reduction in industrial and other activity globally.

The introduction of sweeping controls on people’s movement, including now in Britain, has also led to a huge fall in consumer demand for petrol. With fewer people going out to work, roads and car parks are visibly much emptier.

There have also been disputed concerns about the risk of virus transmission in using petrol pumps – which can be removed by wearing gloves and cleaning hands.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said in response to the Morrisons and Asda cuts: ‘These unprecedented times are leading to unprecedented price cuts on fuel – the largest single cut from a retailer we’ve ever seen.

‘Drivers can expect to see petrol sold at supermarket forecourts for around 104p per litre as a result of these cuts, a price last seen nearly four years ago. Diesel should drop to around 111p per litre.

‘The price of oil has fallen so far – down to an 18-year low – that it was inevitable that pump prices would eventually follow suit.

‘These savings will directly benefit those people who continue to rely on their vehicles for essential journeys.’


The table of the left shows the decline in the price of fuel in 2008 during the financial crash and the chart on the right shows the comparative drop in the last month

Some drivers had feared that they would catch coronavirus from petrol pumps, but Public Health England said that the pumps ‘are no worse than other surfaces’. It comes as workers have been told that they should stay at home amid the coronavirus crisis [File photo]

Supermarket chain Morrisons has cut 12p off the price of a litre of petrol at its filling stations. This means motorists will pay just 116p a litre for petrol and only 118.5p for a litre of diesel [File photo]

But Mr Williams added cautionary notes to the otherwise good news – saying that a price war threatened the survival of smaller independent forecourts, already suffering from their bigger overheads and the slump in trade from even voluntary lockdown.

And he reminded motorists that when filling up with cheap fuel they should remember the new rules, saying: ‘Follow the social distancing guidelines and use disposable gloves when handling pumps.’

And AA fuel price spokesman Luke Bosdet said: ‘Such a huge cut in pump prices is very welcome. It is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise gloomy outlook.

‘The key benefit of the slashed prices is in reducing costs for deliveries as online and other firms work hard to keep goods moving and consumers supplied.

‘However, we urge drivers to think carefully before making unnecessary road trips that may put them in proximity of other people.’

Announcing the Morrisons price cut yesterday, the chain’s head of fuel Ashley Myers said: ‘We are playing our full part in reducing the cost of living and feeding the nation. This reduction in fuel prices will help motorists to save money at this difficult time.’

Asda had introduced its identical price cut earlier in the day – but a source said that it chose to keep the reduction quiet, to avoid prompting any increase in people out and about as attempts to stop to spread of coronavirus continue.

Can I drive, fill up with petrol and get my car serviced? We reveal what motorists need to know during the coronavirus lockdown

With strict restrictions in place to prevent people from leaving homes and gathering in groups, motorists with scheduled car maintenance might wonder if they can still have work carried out on their vehicles. 

MOT tests, servicing, repairs, filling up with fuel and collecting motors just purchased will be top of the agenda for owners, especially those deemed critical workers who are relying on their cars.

This is Money explains what the Government has said so far and which services are impacted.

Can I still drive my car? Unless you’re using your vehicle for one of the approved reasons, motorists are advised not to use their motors during restrictions for Covid-19

Can I still drive my car? 

Yes, you’re still allowed to use your car, but the government has recommended this should be only for one of a number of approved reasons.

This includes shopping for essentials, travelling to a location to undertake daily exercise, attending a medical appointment, assisting an elderly or vulnerable person, or getting to or from work if you can’t work from home. 

While there are no current measures in place to shut roads, the Prime Minister has told people not to leave their homes for any other reason than those listed above.

This means it is inadvisable for motorists to take advantage of partially deserted roads just to go for a drive on their own. And anyone caught doing so by police while restrictions are in place could face a fine.

With the spread of coronavirus restricting most Britons to home, it’s become essential for people to keep their houses scrupulously clean.

However, the same level of attention also needs to be paid to your car if you intend to use it for unavoidable travel requirements. 

There are multiple surfaces in vehicles that need special attention – 40 in fact, according to Toyota. They are listed below.

40 car areas to pay attention to

Toyota has put together the following list of 40 areas of the car that should be cleaned to kill germs.

For simplicity the seatbelts are counted as one item and if you carry others in your car, you might have to spend a little longer ensuring each of your passengers can enjoy a factory-fresh ride next time they get into your car.

1. Exterior door handles

2. Frame of door and roof

3. Interior door release

4. Window switches

5. Interior door handle

6. Door pocket

7. Seatbelts

8. Seatbelt clips

9. Seat adjust buttons

10. Steering wheel

11. Horn button

12. Control stalks

13. Driver air vents

14. Dashboard

15. Power button

16. Gear shift

17. Multimedia screen

18. Central air vents

19. Heating controls

20. Glovebox

21. Log book

22. Central storage compartment

23. Cupholders

24. Rear-view mirror

25. Interior lights

26. Grab handle

27. Key

28. Head rests

29. Seat pockets

30. Rear central tab

31. Fuel cap

32. Wheel valves

33. Boot lid

34. Parcel shelf

35. Boot floor tab

36. Boot close button

37. Bonnet lid

38. Washer cap

39. Dipstick

40. Oil cap

Can I get my car MOT tested during the coronavirus lockdown? The Government has confirmed a 6-month exemption for owners of cars, motorcycles and vans from March 30

Can I get my car MOT tested?

Owners of cars, vans and motorcycles have been granted a six-month exemption from MOT testing from 30 March, the Department for Transport has confirmed.

It says this will enable drivers and riders to to continue to travel to work where this absolutely cannot be done from home, or shop for necessities.

That means that if you have an MOT due from 30 March 2020, the next test date will be extended by six months.

This measure will be in place for the next 12 months, the DfT confirmed. 

However, the statement adds that vehicles must be ‘kept in a roadworthy condition’, and those found at the controls of unsafe motors can be prosecuted. 

See the instruction below for what to check on your car to ensure it’s safe to drive. 

What drivers need to check to make sure their vehicle is roadworthy

Every time you drive you should check:

– the windscreen, windows and mirrors are clean

– all lights work

– the brakes work

Your vehicle’s handbook will tell you how often to check the:

– engine oil

– water level in the radiator or expansion tank

– brake fluid level

– battery

– windscreen and rear window washer bottles – top up with windscreen washer fluid if necessary

– tyres: they must have the correct tread depth and be free of cuts and defects

The handbook will also tell you when your vehicle needs to be serviced.

Tyre tread

Tread must be a certain depth depending on the type of vehicle:

cars, light vans and light trailers – 1.6 millimetres (mm)

motorcycles, large vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles – 1mm

Mopeds only need to have visible tread.

There must be tread across the middle three-quarters and around the entire tyre.

Source: Gov.uk

Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary, confirmed that garages would be kept open.

‘Safety is key, which is why garages will remain open for essential repair work,’ he explained.

The DfT also provided information to those who haven’t been able to get their vehicle MOT tested in recent days because they’ve been self isolating after showing symptoms of the virus. 

It said it is working with insurers and the police to ‘ensure people aren’t unfairly penalised for things out of their control’.

MOT tests for heavy goods vehicles, trailers and public service vehicles – such as buses – has also been suspended for three months from March 21. 

Vehicles in these groups that are due to have an MOT expire during this period will be issued with a three-month exemption certificate to allow them to remain on the road with the provision that they are tested as soon as the ban lifts.

If vehicle servicing can be avoided during these unprecedented times, it should be. However, garage can remain open under the current guidance

Will I be able to get my car serviced? 

While the Government insists you will still be able to get your car serviced, many franchised dealerships are having to close due to the virus pandemic, which could hit the workforce in their dedicated servicing centres. 

The National Franchised Dealers Association has called on the government to ensure that ‘essential’ repair and maintenance services for vehicles will not be shutdown as part of wider closures of shops to ensure critical workers are driving safe cars that are mechanically sound.

If you’re self-isolating due to having the virus, the recommendation is that you don’t leave home – which is causing concerns for those with newer cars with servicing plans that require them to have their vehicles checked under warranty requirements.

If you own a car with a ‘variable servicing agreement’ based on mileage, you don’t need to worry as it won’t be acquiring miles during the time you’re self-quarantining. 

That said, if your motor is subject to fixed servicing intervals determined at specific times, there isn’t as much clarity. 

Most manufacturers allow a grace period of around one month or 1,000 miles to have the car tested before the warranty is invalidated by a lack of care on the owner’s part. 

The Motor Ombudsman recommends anyone in this situation should contact the car manufacturer for advice. 

With dealers closing this week and unable to facilitate this, you are likely to need to call the brand’s head office.

Fixter can collect, MOT or service your car and drop it back without you having to interact with other people – and they have new measures in place to clean vehicles once they’re delivered back to their owners

Services to make MOTs, servicing and repairs easier and safer during pandemic

There are a number of services that allow for no-contact collection and delivery of vehicles for all maintenance requirements. 

Comparison site BookMyGarage says it has seen a rise in the number of garages offering no-contact services.

Some are offering this for free and all the motorist has to do is inform the garage of where they have left the keys. 

The person collecting the car will also be wearing protective gloves and use other protective equipment as appropriate when collecting and returning the vehicle.

The no-contact delivery and collection is being offered to those who need it, including NHS staff, other key workers, as well as those who require the service during these unprecedented times.  

Fixter, an end-to-end online car maintenance service, confirmed its business is booming, experiencing its single busiest day on record on Wednesday 18 March.

It said that in the Covid-19 crisis, customers are valuing the ‘physical contact free’ Fixter service, with their cars picked-up then serviced or maintained before being dropped back at their homes. 

The company has also introduced a sanitising cleanse for cars, before they are returned to customers, including a wipe down of the steering wheel, gear knobs, driving controls and handles.

There are also specialist services being offered to those still having to work.

For instance, Halfords is providing a free ten point car check  – normally worth £15 – to all NHS frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic. 

The checks, which includes top-ups of tyre inflation, screen wash and checks on oil levels, headlights and brake lights, are intended to help keep vital NHS workers moving at this critical time.

What about safety recalls?

A This is Money reader told us they had been turned away from an appointment for a safety recall on their Toyota Prius due to the dealership being closed during the virus outbreak.

The recall is for a seatbelt fault.

Toyota said it is setting up a skeleton workshop to deal with vehicles in order of importance. 

Taxing and insuring a vehicle unaffected

With Vehicle and Excise Duty shifting from paper discs to online in 2014, motorists can renew their car tax online using the government website.

With MOTs due to expire after 30 March being extended by six months, motorists can use their existing MOT certificate when taxing and insuring their car. 

The restrictions of movement should also not impact insurance and breakdown recovery policy renewals, which can be placed online. 

Can I still fill up with fuel?

Petrol stations remain open, for now. And prices at the pumps are falling.

However, under the directive of the Government, it will mostly be critical workers who can take advantage of cheaper petrol and diesel.

This week, Asda and Morrisons both announced cuts of up to 12p-a-litre on petrol due to the fall in wholesale fuel prices due to the crash in oil value in the last fortnight. 

Motorists are told then can go for an ‘occasional drive’, as long as they do not get out of the vehicle and chat with anyone. This includes to deliver food and medicine to those who are in isolation.

Drivers are recommended to wear gloves if they do visit a fuel station, as petrol  pumps – like any other hard surface – handled by other users can spread the virus.

Public Health England says: ‘Petrol pumps are no worse than other surfaces, although we do recommend people use gloves and wash their hands after using them.’ 

The suspension lasts up to and including 20 April 2020 for driving theory tests and for up to three months for driving tests

All driving tests cancelled 

All driving tests have now been cancelled for three months.

However, there is currently an exemption for those with a ‘critical need’, such as NHS workers and potential delivery drivers. 

The suspension lasts up to and including 20 April 2020 for theory tests and for up to three months for driving tests.

This applies to all types of theory tests, driving tests and approved driving instructor (ADI) standards checks.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: ‘It is vital that those who need a test can get one so DVSA is offering tests to those who have a critical need, such as the NHS and drivers delivering goods across the UK.’

Car showrooms have been ordered to close from Monday evening, meaning buyers and collectors of new vehicles will have to wait

Buying – and collecting – new cars will be impacted

Many franchised dealer groups announced on Monday that they would be temporary closing showrooms.

Sytner, Marshall Motor Group, HR Owen, Lookers and Chorley Group said they would be closing dealerships hours ahead of the Prime Minster’s announcement that all non-essential businesses – including motor showrooms – should not be opening for trade. 

This means customers can still place orders for cars over the phone, though the appeal of this is very limited. 

Orders already placed will also not be able to be collected due to dealership staff being told to stay home. 

This isn’t good news for the industry, with registrations of new vehicles falling back another 2.4 per cent last year to the lowest output for six years. And there’s been further declines in the first two months of 2020.

Last week, motor dealership group Pendragon slumped to an annual loss of £16.4million in the last year as it struggled to offload ‘excess’ used car stock. 

And the owner of major dealers Evans Halshaw and Stratstone warned that future prospects looked even worse than the sales slump in its rear view mirror.

Online vehicle purchasing site BuyaCa has introduced its own contactless handovers of new cars for vulnerable people, such as the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions, as the business seeks ways to help consumers and dealers overcome unprecedentedly challenging times.

The business says it is also in the process of boosting stock, with stringent preparation and cleaning processes in place to ensure the safety of customers, who can now buy and even receive a car without stepping out of their home.

It is also waiving its £199 charge for delivery of new motors to key workers – and provide them with a £499 two-year warranty free of charge.

Used car sales will be affected by the government’s restrictions, but there are services that might still be able to help

What about buying a second-hand car? 

Used car dealerships are also being forced to close under the guidance of the Government, and with drivers told not to go out and mix with people in their immediate family they don’t live with there should be very limited private transactions taking place. 

This has opened the door for revolutionary online business, Cazoo, which is reporting strong demand for its service in the current climate of consumers staying home and social distancing.

Cazoo holds its own stock of thousands of second-hand vehicles, similar to an Amazon warehouse, and you can purchase entirely on the website or app.

It fully reconditions every motor before offering it for sale and delivers stock for free to customer’s doors in a two-hour delivery slot. 

Every vehicle sold comes with a seven-day money-back guarantee, so you can return it if you’re unhappy with the car, there’s also a free comprehensive 90-day warranty and roadside assistance.

Deliveries are conducted at an extended distance in order to protect both customers and employees during the pandemic, it says.

 

 

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