Rob Hull, Motoring Editor

Rob has been Motoring Editor across Daily Mail and ThisisMoney since 2021 having joined as Motoring Reporter in September 2015. He's been writing about the automotive sector for 20 years and specialises in all things that impact motorists in Britain. He previously worked at consumer watchdog Which? as a Senior Researcher overseeing vehicle testing and the UK's largest survey of car drivers. Before that, Rob was a reporter, road tester and serial crasher at Motorcycle News (MCN).

Coverage: Cars Electric Cars

MOST RECENT ARTICLES FROM ROB HULL

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Record number of drivers are being caught and fined for ignoring smart motorway rules

22/07/24 11:01

The shocking number of people flouting the rules is the latest in a string of concerns over smart motorways following a report from the BBC earlier this year that the technology monitoring the roads had lost power nearly 400 times in just two years....read

The 10 inanimate objects drivers most commonly hit in single vehicle crashes
22/07/24 05:00
While you might think kerbed wheels are the most common misjudgements made by motorists, there's one other type of item drivers accidentally steer into more often.
- 117 comments
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What is ghost charging and how are half of EV owners using it to get priority?
21/07/24 07:29
Half of electric car drivers admit to 'ghost charging' - a dirty tactic used to get priority parking at supermarkets, restaurants and shopping centres.
- 733 comments
- 47 shares
Five classic car names making a comeback - is it a good idea to relaunch former legends? We ask the experts
20/07/24 06:00
At least five former car names will be making a return in the coming months, including icons such as the Ford Capri and Renault 5. But is it a fool proof tactic by brands?
Ford shelves plans to go all-electric from 2030 as EV boss says deadline was 'too ambitious'
19/07/24 12:53
In an interview with Autocar, Marin Gjaja, the boss at Ford Model E, said 'uncertainty' around EV demand and legislation has forced it to shelve the target of 2030.
Dacia's budget-friendly Sandero tops Europe's sales chart - as Tesla's best-seller of 2023 plunges down the order
19/07/24 09:40
Starting from £13,795, Sandero is officially Britain's cheapest new model. However, it failed to break into the list of top 10 more popular cars in the UK in the first six months.
Fiat boss says it is reintroducing a petrol-engined 500 city car because older drivers don't want EVs
16/07/24 04:33
Olivier Francois said the new petrol 500 Ibrida would be coming in early 2026 due to a 'slower than anticipated uptake of EVs across Europe' in an interview with Autocar.
Electric car breakdowns from running out of battery hit record low, says AA
16/07/24 02:44
Just 1.4% of the EV callouts in June were due to the car's batteries having no charge, the AA said. This is almost at the same level as petrol and diesel drivers running out of fuel.
The sweet spot when EVs become better value than petrol cars revealed
16/07/24 02:00
Would you be more open to EV ownership if we told you that there's a particular sweet spot for when one becomes better value than a petrol carl?
Revealed: The 10-second danger window when humans take back control of self-driving cars
13/07/24 06:00
Researchers observing a new study found that 'vehicular control during the ten seconds immediately after resuming manual driving was generally poor in the case of all participants'.
Lexus slashes EV prices by as much as £7k to stimulate sales
11/07/24 12:52
With today's EV market being propped up by huge fleet demand , the manufacturer has slashed its prices to increase appeal for private buyers.
Ford Capri is back but not as you know it! Ford's cult classic name controversially returns for a new £42k electric SUV
10/07/24 12:28
Ford has taken the daring decision to relaunch the iconic nameplates after 40 years. But not all fans will be happy to see it used for a £40k+ electric SUV baring little resemblance to the original.
New Renault cars will score your driving out of 100 and deduct marks for these mistakes
09/07/24 07:07
Marks are docked if any of the vehicle's suite of Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems kick in during the journey, including new Intelligent Speed Assistance limiter technology.
Honda relaunches much loved sports car after 25 years: New hybrid to go on sale in 2025
08/07/24 03:03
The original Honda coupe name launched in Europe back in 1979. The last example to carry the name - the fifth generation car - went out of production in 2001 and it hasn't been used since.
Fifth of drivers unwittingly breaking the law by using a phone at certain times during journeys
08/07/24 08:20
Some 19% of motorists polled said they do handle their devices at specific times when on a journey, which could be out of ignorance rather than flagrantly breaking the law.
- 416 comments
- 43 shares
One-off bronze Ford Escort RS2000 built for Henry Ford II could be yours for a five-figure price
07/07/24 06:00
Having fallen off the radar for 20 years before being snapped up by a collector, it is now predicted to sell for a staggering sum when the hammer drops at a UK auction on 24 August.
- 372 comments
- 103 shares
Which car makers WILL put automatic speed limiters in UK models this month? Each brand explains how to turn them off
06/07/24 06:00
We contacted the 32 top-selling brands to find out if UK models will be equipped with Intelligent Speed Assistance - and how drivers can turn it off.
Chinese electric car makers stung with huge new EU tariffs
05/07/24 09:02
An eight-month probe into the Chinese EV sector found makers benefit from substantial government subsidies to keep prices low and gain an unfair stronghold on the market.
New cars fitted with automatic speed limiters from this week - can drivers turn them off?
02/07/24 09:32
As of 7 July 2024, new vehicles will need to have Intelligent Speed Assistance systems fitted as standard as part of an EU safety regulation mandate.
Britain's second best-selling EV has a 'potentially dangerous' issue, warns Which?
01/07/24 06:59
Which? says it identified the problem during controlled and repeated tests that it carries out on over 100 different cars each year.
Hyundai Inster will be its smallest EV yet with an affordable price tag and clever party trick in its cabin
28/06/24 06:01
One of the biggest complaints about electric vehicles is their inflated price tags. But the Hyundai Inster is one of a recent bunch of 'affordable' small electric cars coming to market.
- 126 comments
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The speed cameras that can catch drivers using a phone: Convictions soar 90% with hi-tech roadside devices now capable of snaring offenders
28/06/24 06:01
There are at least 18 different types of speed camera being used across Britain. Three of these are can also detect other offences such as handling a phone. Find out how they work.
- 245 comments
- 165 shares
Capri to make its comeback in days: Ford teases the return of its iconic nameplate - but it will be reborn as an electric SUV
27/06/24 03:03
The US brand is relaunching the famous nameplate for its new electric sporty EV as it adds to its growing arsenal of battery-powered cars coming to showrooms featuring its classic names.
I'm an ex police interceptor and these are my six best tips to protect your car from motor thieves
27/06/24 06:00
Ben Pearson, a former police interceptor, says: 'You don't need to make your car the hardest car to steal in the world - just the hardest one to steal on your street.'
Volkswagen invests £4bn in US electric vehicle maker Rivian to access its software technology
26/06/24 11:41
The investment will provide a financial lifeline to Rivian and give VW access to the start-up's more advanced software.
Vauxhall owner threatens to pull plug on UK production amid row over EV sales targets
25/06/24 09:00
Vauxhall-owner Stellantis, one of the world's top car makers, has threatened to close its plants in Ellesmere Port in Cheshire (pictured) and Luton.
What is BYD? How Chinese brand is winning at Euro 2024 with searches of its cars soaring - are its EVs any good?
25/06/24 03:50
There are still some big questions that remain for British motorists about this relatively little-known brand. Here, we answer some of them.
How Volvo became cool - five ways it ditched its bland reputation
25/06/24 06:00
Volvo has ditched its long-time reputation for making boring, practical, box-shaped motors and is now considered one of the most desirable marques.
The Volvo estate is back: Drivers force U-turn on axe in Britain
23/06/24 09:34
The company, synonymous with Swedish practicality, had blamed poor sales for the move and said it would focus instead on selling SUVs and electric cars.
Medical conditions most likely to cost drivers their licence - almost 650k have been revoked on health grounds in a decade
18/06/24 08:16
We reveal the ten most common conditions that have led to drivers having their licences rescinded as the DVLA deems them no longer fit to be behind the wheel.
- 299 comments
- 65 shares
Can you save on finance on a used car?
17/06/24 10:48
Finance deals are one of the most popular ways of buying used cars, but it pays to compare prices rather than just taking what the dealer offers.
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Are you giving away your personal data in your old car by mistake? What to watch out for
17/06/24 08:29
With the majority of modern models fitted with infotainment systems that can link to an owner's smartphone, many drivers forget to wipe this info before they sell it on.
- 116 comments
- 65 shares
London boroughs should 'reallocate a quarter of car parking spaces' to help tackle climate change, charity says
14/06/24 10:09
Climate charity Possible called cars 'inefficient uses of space' and said it wants to see London councils provide 'more equitable streets' by reducing parking space allocation.
Drivers predicted to fork out £2.1bn in parking and traffic fines this year
14/06/24 06:00
This is based on the number of requests already made to the DVLA by private and public authorities to gain vehicle owners' details.
- 71 comments
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Tesla Model Y officially the world's best-selling new car in 2023: The SUV becomes first EV to top the global charts
13/06/24 11:30
The SUV from Elon Musk's American electric vehicle brand topped the global sales charts with 1.22m examples bought by customers worldwide in 2023.
Say hello to the world's fastest EV: Stunning £2.5m electric hypercar clocked at 272.61mph
12/06/24 02:49
The Aspark Owl, a battery-powered hypercar, has just set a new record for the highest speed clocked by an EV you can legally drive on the road.
Cheap Chinese EVs set to be slapped with import tariffs of almost 50% by the EU
12/06/24 01:09
The decision now risks triggering a trade war with China if the issue cannot be resolved in the coming days.
Car touchscreens have become so complicated that more drivers now rely on voice controls
12/06/24 12:30
Vehicle safety bodies have already told car makers to ditch distracting touchscreen systems and reintroduce button controls to avoid being penalised in crash test ratings.
Drivers 'waste £112m a year' by making a mistake with cars that takes minutes to rectify
12/06/24 05:00
It is estimated that 57% of motorists on UK roads are currently making this error, which is also costing them over £100 a year in wasted fuel use.
- 131 comments
- 26 shares
Jaguar Land Rover to pump more than £1million into proactive policing to tackle UK car theft epidemic
11/06/24 11:01
JLR is investing yet more millions of pounds to tackle car crime, especially organised criminal gangs who have been using British ports to ship stolen motors out of the UK.
Car safety scandal rips through Japan's auto sector: Brands including Toyota and Mazda admit filing false crash data - are UK models affected?
11/06/24 06:00
Five major auto makers are at the heart of an ongoing probe by government authorities after all admitted filing false safety reports to gain vehicle certification.
Car hire costs this summer down 43% as rental firms restore supply of vehicles
08/06/24 11:01
A study of car rental costs worldwide found that a week's car hire this summer is 27% cheaper than in 2023 and 42% less than 2022. See which holiday destinations have fallen in price most.
- 31 comments
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Blooming nightmare: Road signs and speed limits are often obscured by overgrown trees and bushes
06/06/24 11:01
Some 53% of motorists say they are regularly unable to read road signage because it is being obscured by overgrown trees and bushes.
- 146 comments
- 51 shares
Car makers leading the way in the EV race and the manufacturers falling behind - see where your brand ranks
06/06/24 06:00
The International Council on Clean Transportation has released a ranking of the world's biggest auto makers by EV strategy. Find out which brands are leading the charge.
Three quarters have 'serious concerns' about second-hand EVs - as battery worries rank highest
05/06/24 11:01
This hesitancy to own a used EVs could already be hitting second-hand motor retailers who are taking on increased stock of battery cars that a limited number of customers want to buy.
- 856 comments
- 53 shares
Car makers warn heavily discounted EV prices to stimulate demand are 'unsustainable' as private sales fall again in May
05/06/24 02:37
The Government has remained steadfast on its position to not help encourage EV sales with fresh purchase and charging incentives.
- 176 comments
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Electric cars need to have a 'battery passport' from 2027 to show carbon footprint and one brand already has them
05/06/24 12:15
Every new EV sold in Europe from 2027 will require a battery passport to prove the origins of the raw material and how much of the content is recycled.
The most expensive supermarket drivers should avoid when they fill up - and it used to sell the cheapest fuel
05/06/24 08:22
The supermarket retailer, which has for years 'prided itself' as being the cheapest to fill up, was charging 2.1p more for petrol than its big four rivals last month.
- 211 comments
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Lack of cheap used EVs slowing down Britain's move to electric cars, Auto Trader warns
04/06/24 10:24
Motorists wanting to switch to an EV aren't just facing steep prices for new cars, they're also being priced out in the used market, a report says.
More than a fifth of driving tests are now for automatics - are they easier to pass?
03/06/24 02:59
Is it a wise decision to ditch learning to change gear? While it might appear easier to pass in an automatic, the figures tell a very different story indeed.
- 263 comments
- 16 shares
Three Japanese car makers ready to turn their backs on EV revolution
30/05/24 11:00
All three manufacturers have been reluctant to join the battery car arms race currently in motion in China and Europe.
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Pensioners being priced off the road thanks to rising car insurance costs - but could make big savings with this simple renewal trick
30/05/24 10:48
Pensioners who face a choice between staying on the road or giving up driving thanks to rising insurance costs are being urged to renew in the 'sweet spot' to slash the cost of cover.
- 180 comments
- 86 shares
Japanese car makers join forces to develop small internal combustion engines in latest major EV shun
29/05/24 03:32
All three manufacturers have been reluctant to join the battery car arms race currently in motion in China and Europe.
The Porsche 911 goes green - and the hybrid engine makes it faster too
29/05/24 12:40
Porsche's flagship model will now be sold with a hybrid engine, the German manufacturer has revealed. Here's how fast - and green - it will be.
Diesel drivers pay more to fill up in Britain than anywhere else in Europe
28/05/24 11:01
The UK average price of diesel is currently 155p a litre. This makes it 5p more expensive than the next most expensive countries - Ireland and Belgium.
- 478 comments
- 13 shares
Major car maker forced to scrap 70-year tradition due to new EU safety rules
28/05/24 12:23
Alfa Romeo's customary feature dates back to the 1955 Giulietta Spider and is synonymous with the brand.
AA adds fully electric recovery trucks to its fleet
28/05/24 09:50
The next time you're stranded at the roadside because your car has suffered a mechanical issue, it could be an electric vehicle that comes to your rescue.
- 357 comments
- 74 shares
There are now over 100 different EV models on sale in Britain - the only problem is finding drivers who want to buy one
26/05/24 05:00
The variety of different battery-powered vehicles in showrooms has grown by more than 500% in the last decade, with only 16 electric variants on sale in the UK back in 2014.
- 547 comments
- 25 shares
The 30-year-old timewarp Ford Fiesta with 139 miles on the clock: Scottish car dealer wants £13k for the 'lowest mileage example in existence'
24/05/24 06:17
This once run-of-the-mill silver 1.4-litre Fiesta in range-topping Ghia trim - which would have been ten a penny back in its registration year of 1992 - is particularly special.
Petrol retailers fleecing drivers with 'same old' rocket and feather price tactic, AA warns
24/05/24 01:17
Since mid-April - over a month ago - the wholesale cost of petrol has dropped by around 4p a litre. Yet, in the last 10 days, the average cost of unleaded is down just a penny.
- 47 comments
- 41 shares
Rare MG Metro 6R4 rally car sells for a record £425,500
24/05/24 08:48
The stunning rally car was sold by Iconic Auctioneers at the weekend to become the priciest example to change hands in history.
Cars owned by the biggest cheats: Drivers of a British brand have the worst record for infidelity, poll claims
23/05/24 10:18
Three in ten drivers surveyed confessed to being unfaithful to a partner in their car. And the study has named the brands most commonly linked to infidelity.
- 70 comments
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EV write-off and scrappage rates are LOWER than petrol and diesel cars, new data shows
22/05/24 03:02
It comes after various reports suggest that EVs are being written off by insurers at an alarming rate because minor collisions are said to be causing unrepairable damage to the batteries.
- 53 comments
- 60 shares
Fiat's cute new electric car has been reprimanded in Italy for breaking the law
22/05/24 07:29
Fiat's Topolino is without question the cutest new car of 2024. But Italian authorities aren't a fan and have seized 134 examples that have entered the country.
Would you work from a car office? Ford patent shows how it wants to turn dashboards into desk space
21/05/24 02:01
The car maker has filed a design that would turn its vehicles' dashboards into a 'coffice' [car office] with fold-out desks to allow owners to work from the driver's seat.
- 53 comments
- 16 shares
Self-driving cars 'on Britain's roads by 2026' as Automated Vehicle Act becomes law
20/05/24 06:16
New legislation delivers 'the most comprehensive legal framework of its kind worldwide' for the safe deployment of self-driving vehicles in Britain, says the DfT.
Britain's new bonkers EV: Callum Skye is an £80k electric buggy built in Warwickshire
20/05/24 11:52
The electric performance multi-terrain buggy can be 100% charged in under 10 minutes to offer a range of around 170 miles. But it won't be cheap, priced from £80,000 to £100,000.
Do you think you are a better driver than AI? Three in five motorists reckon they are superior to autonomous vehicles
18/05/24 06:46
The Automated Vehicles Bill is due to receive Royal Assent this month and the Government is ready to invest £150m into driverless tech. But are you convinced this is the way to go?
Eight premium cars including Audi and BMW with common reliability issues, according to Which?
17/05/24 11:01
Which? says its unique reliability data collated from thousands of UK drivers shows you can't rely on cars from premium brands to be more dependable.
Government considers rules to prevent cash-strapped councils using new powers to overzealously fine drivers
17/05/24 09:55
Some 52 councils have successfully gained these powers, though MPs are concerned they could be using £70 fines for a 'profit motive' to bolster their threadbare budgets.
Young drivers can't afford to insure their cars: Number of 17-20 year olds convicted for not having cover more than doubles in two years
17/05/24 08:34
Official figures show that 6,316 drivers aged 17 to 20 were convicted of driving without insurance in 2023. That is up 117% on the 2,902 instances recorded in 2021.
- 163 comments
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Drivers are being stung at the pumps by fuel retailers unfairly hiking profit margins, Energy Secretary warned
16/05/24 09:33
The average retailer profit margin - the difference between the amount they pay for fuel and the price they charge at forecourts - is around double what it was pre-pandemic.
- 42 comments
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Car makers will miss Government target for electric vehicle sales this year, MPs told
15/05/24 01:47
The share of the new car market held by EVs is predicted to be just 19.8% in 2024, which is below the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate requirement introduced this year.
- 690 comments
- 96 shares
Leapmotor is the next new Chinese car brand coming to Britain and its first model will be a super cheap EV
15/05/24 01:15
Chinese EV start-up Leapmotor will begin selling cars in nine European countries from September. It will then enter the UK market in March 2025 with the T03.
Are you a parent and child parking space imposter? Shocking number of drivers abuse rules
15/05/24 11:01
It explains why nearly two fifths of parents struggle to find one of the spaces vacant when visiting busy car parks, such as those at supermarkets and shopping centres.
- 208 comments
- 32 shares
The best month to sell your car REVEALED - and why SUVs get the highest price at a different time of year
15/05/24 10:09
A new study contradicts the age-old belief that the hotter months are generally the best time to sell a car. Find out when you should be trying to flog yours.
European-made electric car batteries could cut carbon emissions by up to 60% compared to China
14/05/24 02:00
By producing Europe's demand for battery cells and components locally would save an estimated 133 metric tonnes of CO2 between 2024 and 2030.
- 159 comments
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How reliable are the most popular used cars? Here's how the top nine in 2024 fare
13/05/24 10:28
With a booming second-hand car market, can you count on getting your hands on a reliable used motor? Warrantywise has rated the dependability of the 10 most popular.
The councils that ban you from their car parks if your vehicle is TOO LONG
12/05/24 09:05
Five local councils have introduced length restrictions on cars using their parking facilities, with most setting a limit at 5 metres, which is shorter than a Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
- 745 comments
- 56 shares
Ford confirms it will cull another of its best-selling petrol cars
09/05/24 04:23
Ford will go ahead with plans to kill off another of its hugely popular petrol models after 2025 to accelerate its switch to electric vehicles, despite the monumental drop in demand for EVs.
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