Get on the road to Christmas

Christmas gifts for loved ones are not easy to find, year after year. In the coming weeks, high streets and shopping centres will be full of shoppers searching for appropriate presents.

However those you could be hunting in the wrong place. Perhaps something functional would be good this year. If so you should have a look at the car - the possibilities are endless.

Christmas presents for family or friends with a car include:

Car wash, wax polish, buffing cloths, glass cleaner, and air fresheners.
In-car safety box, including first aid kit, warning triangle etc.
Rug for cold weather, and equally useful for picnics in summer.
New car mats and seat/steering wheel.
Roof-rack or roof-mounted carrier - useful for those who regularly transport bicycles.
Steering wheel lock or full infra-red system.
Manufacturer merchandise: most car makers produce their own ranges which can include everything from pens and watches to t-shirts and umbrellas.
CDs to use in-car stereo systems.
MP3 player.
alloy wheels and body repair kits.
A new set of spark plugs, a tool box, or a workshop manual.

Those planning to spend a little more could invest in a personalised number plate. A personalised, or cherished, number plate is a superb idea for a Christmas gift. You may wish to pay for someone else to buy one, or alternatively why not simply treat yourself?

Cherished numbers can also have a practical application, such as to promote an individual’s business.

Though they were once quite a rare sight on Britain’s roads, demand for plates has soared over the past few years, and now tens of thousands are traded annually. The Cherished Number Dealers Association (CNDA), a part of the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) can take the sting out of the buying process. You can contact the CNDA via cnda.co.uk

The CNDA exists to guide consumers through buying, selling, and valuation of cherished numbers, and with the CNDA assisting you it will not be difficult to find the right number for you.

Entrusting a stranger with cash and valuable documents before the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has authorised your registration to be displayed may be unsettling, as is organising the transfer itself. However, dealers who are members of the CNDA will be able to provide an efficient service.

The CNDA can also give advice on the issues surrounding cherished numbers. If you like the idea of buying a personalised number plate, you should buy from a reputable dealer. It is important to stay within the law, so make sure you fully understand the regulations.

Some cherished numbers may even appreciate in value over the years, providing an additional bonus to the lucky recipient in the event that it is eventually sold. Because of this, the CNDA offers a valuation service, which can be a useful tool for those looking to trade in an existing number plate.

If you have any other motoring needs during the Christmas period, you should look to the CNDA’s parent body, the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF).

An RMIF member will be able to advise you on the type of service you need, and will be able to point out potential problem areas before they arise, or become serious. In fact, whether you want to buy or sell a new or used car or motorcycle, service or repair your existing vehicle, find an auction house, or a cherished number plate dealer, the RMIF will be able to help you.

If you have a complaint against an RMIF member garage, the RMIF’s National Conciliation Service should be able to help you get redress, if the problem cannot be solved in direct consultation with that member.’

To find a garage that is a member of the RMIF, visit rmif.co.uk and use the ‘Find a Service’ function. You will also find details of RMIF members that sell new and used cars or motorcycles, provide vehicle servicing and repair, and sell petrol.