CAP, the UK’s leading vehicle information provider, has just launched their Black Book Mobile application for iPhone, iPad and Google Android smartphones, enabling you to get instant access to used car values.

The Black Book Mobile downloads trade values once a month, so if you want easy access to a used car price at any point in time, you can access the information without the need for an internet connection. The mobile application provides all the information available in the standard printed Black Book but with the added benefit of vehicle valuations at more mileage points.

If you want a demonstration of the new products go to the CAP website via the following links

Android version is @ www.cap.co.uk/bbma.html

iPhone version is @ www.cap.co.uk/bbmi.html

Used Car Expert, the leading used car magazine, has undertaken an analysis of the depreciation of small family hatchbacks (1.6-litre petrol or comparable engine) and has discovered some interesting results. They looked at the resale value of three year old values against their new price, with 30,000 miles on the clock.

They found that many new car buyers will have lost up to 50% of their money in this time. Depreciation is never on most people’s minds when they buy a new car and this is why business car leasing is becoming more popular with many small businesses, as the risk around depreciation is with the vehicle leasing company.

• New car prices are an approximate guide price of the price paid for a new car 3 years ago

Glass’s Guide, the used car valuation company, has undertaken a survey to find out what drivers actually use when de-icing their car. Ninety percent of those motorists admitted using “alternative methods” with some really strange tools.

Some of the items included an old vehicle number plate, a hair dryer, the base of a computer monitor, a shovel plus a credit card and a CD case. Pouring hot water over an iced-up car was a popular method at 13%.

However Glass’s guide has warned drivers that many of these methods may damage your vehicle. Andy Carroll, Managing Director at Glass’s said,” Car owners should think carefully about the potential damage they could cause to their vehicles by cutting corners or using extreme methods when getting ready for the road. They risk incurring significant costs for rectification of mistreated glass, paintwork and body panels or even reducing the desirability and value of their cars”.  It is far better of course to use a proper ice scraper and a de-icer spray and with more cold weather expected, being properly prepared for driving in icy and snowy weather is much safer in the long run.