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What is insurance touting? Insurance touting is a form of motor insurance fraud, in which touts will approach drivers involved in accidents to offer their services in handling the insurance claims. These individuals often refer to themselves as ‘insurance specialists’, and would offer to assess the damages to the vehicles for the laundry list required for an insurance claim. Additionally, they would offer their services for vehicle repairs and would even go so far as to offer a ride to see a doctor for any injuries. Unsuspecting drivers who agree to let these individuals handle their insurance claims will find themselves on the receiving end of a measly insurance payout and high premiums. This is because these touts would often exaggerate and claim unnecessary damages from the driver’s insurance company, some of which includes medical and personal injury claims. They will then inform the driver that a sum of the payout will go towards offsetting the repair and medical costs incurred. How do they know where an accident has occurred? According to Mothership, most insurance touts are part of a larger network with tons of informants spotting accidents along the roads. As time is essential to them, having informants will allow these individuals to reach the scene of an accident before the parties involved call their own insurance companies to report the accident. They also have personal ties to doctors, lawyers and repair workshops – who will often jack up the prices of various medical and repair fees. The most recent incident of insurance touting happened in September when 6 men approached a driver who had been involved in an accident to offer their services to him. These men travelled in a yellow Honda and a black Audi to get to the scene as soon as possible. Coincidentally, we have written articles on how reckless both of these drivers have been on the roads: But surely people won’t fall for this right? According to the police’s Commercial Affairs Department (CAD), motor insurance fraud has been on the rise since 2017, with over 20% of motor insurance claims being dodgy. While the General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIA) has set up a hotline for suspected victims of motor insurance fraud, this does not stop the touters from targeting clueless drivers on the road. What can I do? With motor insurance fraud being such a prevalent issue in Singapore, the most important thing to do is to acknowledge and recognize certain signs. If you are approached on the road by unauthorized individuals after having been in an accident, refuse help from them and insist on settling the issue with your own insurance company. Individuals who have been offered money by touts to submit fraudulent claims, or have evidence that they were a victim of a staged motor accident should call the GIA hotline at (1800 443 7283). By reporting such cases, we can reduce the costs of motor insurance fraud, which would result in lower premiums for all drivers. Now that’s a win-win!

Over the years, we’ve seen our fair share of sports cars racing and speeding on the roads, especially late at night. While most of these drivers are experienced and often race without injury, it is not all that uncommon for them to get involved in a major accident. With one wrong move, these drivers might find themselves crashing their precious supercar beyond salvation. This then begs the question – Should there be a new class of license for sports cars? What is a sports car? Once used to describe two-seater cars with a soft top that are eligible for competition in the postwar era, the definition behind the term ‘sports car’ today seems to have faded into a rather grey area. For most consumers, a ‘sports car’ might be used to refer to any car that was manufactured by luxury automobile companies such as Ferrari, Porsche, and Lamborghini. While these brands are famous for their sports cars, Asian automakers like Honda, Toyota and Nissan are often referred to as 'bread and butter', and not deemed with the same high regard (even though these brands produced some legendary sports cars like the NSX, Supra and GT-R) For the sake of this article, we shall define a ‘sports car’ as cars with a high-powered engine of more than 200 bhp, and generally seats two people. This includes a wide array of offerings, such as the BMW Z4, Porsche 718 Boxster and Alpine A110. More implementations for sports cars in SG Following the tragic Tanjong Pagar accident earlier this year, the government has installed more safety features to decrease speeding incidents along long stretches of roads. According to the Straits Times, road dividers, traffic lights and pedestrian crossings will be implemented. The Traffic Police has stepped up patrols and enforcement in the area as well to deter and detect similar traffic offences. The accident occurred after a speeding white BMW M4 Coupe, a powerful vehicle that produces 510 bhp and 650 Nm of torque, crashed into a vacant shophouse unit and burst into flames. All five individuals in the car were killed. Call for a sports car license Although the Tanjong Pagar accident has been deemed to be an isolated incident in the area, there have been more instances of sports cars getting involved in crashes all over the island. Some of these include: As much as I love fast cars, the reality is that there is nothing in life that would prepare any driver to pilot a rear-wheel-drive performance car that puts out close to 500 bhp. No matter how many years of driving experience one has unless it’s been in a high-powered sports car, it is a whole different ball game when it comes to a Mustang or a Miata. Like pilot licenses, where multi-engine planes and seaplanes require extra training and are add-ons to a standard private license, there should be a special class of driving license should be implemented for these fast vehicles. Drivers of all ages should be better prepared if they want to drive a sports car. Just my two-cents worth. Please don't roast me. --- Thinking of selling your car? sgCarMart Quotz guarantees the highest selling price for your car. We’ll even give you $100 cash if you find a better offer elsewhere! Get a free quote to find out how much your car is worth today!

There goes a saying that “Real men drive with 3 pedals./Real men drive manual cars.”, and even though that’s not the case, most male (and female) drivers have certainly had that thought at the back of their mind when it comes to taking their license. According to the 2020 Annual Traffic Statistics, out of the 3 million citizens holding a Qualified Driving License (QDL), 1.7 million (56.9%) individuals have a Class 3 license while only 200 thousand (6.58%) individuals have a Class 3A license. While it was a no-brainer for me to take Class 3A for my driving license, my dad met my decision with a disapproving sigh before simply stating that having a Class 3 license is “simply the better option”. Most of my male (and female) relatives and friends were quick to comment on the convenience of having a manual license. “It’s better because you can drive both manual and automatic cars on the road,” my dad would often say, “and it makes you a better driver.”. Having a manual license isn't all that useful. . . Oddly enough, that sentence stuck with me throughout my teenage years – “Manual drivers are better drivers”. I wasn’t sure if I believed it wholeheartedly, to be honest. After all, my father (a manual driver) had also gotten his fair share of traffic accidents. Because of their incessant repetition of this traditional mindset, I opted to try for a manual license, only for me to realise that there isn’t a real need for me to learn how to drive with a clutch. . . . here's why: Most cars run on automatic transmission nowadays, and unless I’m intending to get a van or a sports car (that I can't afford), learning how to drive with three pedals was virtually useless. Besides the type of vehicles that one could drive with a manual license, I don’t see it as any different than having an automatic driving license. The only thing that separates these two is pride – pride in the ability to manoeuvre a transmission that is slowly going out of style. As someone who has grown up around manual drivers, I am here to tell you that having a manual license does not make you a better driver. So long as you don’t do stupid things and drive safely, you’re already 100 times better than the idiots listed below. -------- Thinking of selling your car? sgCarMart Quotz guarantees the highest selling price for your car. We’ll even give you $100 cash if you find a better offer elsewhere! Get a free quote to find out how much your car is worth today!

Woo, finally wrote my first commentary piece for MCF! 😊 I would like to know your thoughts/opinions on it. Would you ever get a Tesla in SG? 🤔

Ever since its first showroom launch in Singapore, Tesla has received a lot of attention and hype from local drivers. Located at One Assembly in Raffles City, the sparkling mini-showroom proudly features two units of what Elon Musk calls an “affordable” electric car – the Model 3 sedan. Intending to bring clean energy solutions to individuals globally, the high-profile American brand has raised the standard through its vehicles and proved that one could achieve a powerful and fast car without fossil fuels. Tesla drivers not only save money overall but save the earth as well. With the government intending to switch to an all-electric vehicle Singapore by 2040, the American brand’s local release came at just the right time. However, the main question still stands – is buying a Tesla worth it? Are Teslas too expensive? According to Tesla’s sales portal, the Standard Range Plus Model 3 will cost $113,245* while the Model 3 Performance will go for $155,283*. Images were taken from Tesla Both prices do not include the cost of additional features and interior/exterior options, as well as COE, which means you could pay an additional $50,000 - $60,000. With the additional features, expect to pay about $173,245* for the Standard Range Plus Model 3 and $215,283* for the Model 3 Performance. For those prices, you can undoubtedly purchase something similar or more luxurious like the Renault Zoe Electric ($159,999*) or the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe Luxury ($190,888*) and the Audi A4 ($188,016*). Although, it is worth noting that the Model 3's performance figures (0 - 100 km/h in 5.6s) obliterate every other car in its price bracket, making it an especially good deal. Audi A4 40 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe Luxury Audi A4 45 Tesla Model 3 Images were taken from The Car Guide The Model 3 enjoys the EV Early Adopter Incentive (EEAI), which includes a 45% rebate of the ARF, capped at $20,000, and an additional reimbursement of $45,000. This rebate is the highest for any car in Singapore and its attractive discounts make drivers eager to own a piece of Elon Musk’s technology. * All prices were taken from Tesla and sgCarMart Will there be charging problems for HDB owners? After its soft launch in July, Tesla has set up three charging points on the ninth floor in Orchard Central carpark. While private estate owners can opt to install a home charger with the help of Tesla Certified Installers, consumers living in HDB estates cannot enjoy the same luxury. Given that most Singaporeans live in HDB apartments, does this mean that prospective owners are only limited to these three stations? Even though there is a limited number of Tesla V3 Superchargers in Singapore, the Model 3 is compatible with Type 2 AC and CCS2 DC fast-charging stations. This allows drivers living in HDB estates to charge their cars at various third-party charging stations by SP Group, Shell-Greenlots and BlueSG. Image was taken from Shell Greenlots If you’re afraid that there won’t be enough places to charge your vehicle, there is a wide variety of different charging stations powered by various companies across Singapore. With BlueSG having more than 1,000 points across the island, it is safe to say that finding a charging station for your shiny new Tesla will be the least of your worries. Is the cost of maintenance high? Contrary to widely held belief, the cost of maintaining a Model 3 is much more affordable than one thinks. Since Teslas are fully electric, many standard maintenance items do not apply. These include brake jobs, oil and filter changes, accessory belt replacements, engine air filter and fuel filter changes. Image was taken from AsiaOne The recommended routine maintenance includes tire rotation, brake fluid replacement, cabin air filter replacement, windscreen wipers replacement and air-conditioner servicing every two years. Overall, the cost of maintaining a Tesla is cheaper than fuel vehicles in the market. Is a Tesla still worth it? There are still a select few who believe that going electric brings more harm than good. While concerns regarding the cost of a Tesla are still circulating amongst the local driving community, the company has significant plans to expand its offerings and make its luxury sedans more affordable. Coupled with the extensive number of rebates from the government, drivers might find themselves owning a piece of extraordinary technology without paying excessively. At the end of the day, the benefit of owning a Tesla outweighs its cons. Sure, it is a lot of money to invest in a vehicle, but you can’t put a price tag on saving the environment. --- Thinking of selling your car? sgCarMart Quotz guarantees the highest selling price for your car. We’ll even give you $100 cash if you find a better offer elsewhere! Get a free quote to find out how much your car is worth today!

Does any one know what is the radio frequency for the F1 commentary? I have a headset bought at Sepang 3 years ago but could not receive the commentary last year in Singapore F1. Does the radio frequency changes at every track and every year? Can a normal radio be used to tune to the commentary radio frequency? Thanks!!!

As above http://www.automotorsport.se/tv/?m=11159