Our Top 10 Family Cars

Our Choice of the Top Ten Cars for Families As one of the most popular and versatile car types, the family used car market is never short on ...

How many cars break down each year?

 Many of us have been there - a warning light starts to blink and before you know it, your car is rumbling to a halt. Maybe you've got behind t ...

Road Tax Changes 2020 - What Will I Pay?

Road Tax Changes in 2020 - What Will I Pay?This year has been anything but normal, and that goes for motoring rules and regulations too. Many MOT ...

A visual guide to checking your tyre pressure

In most vehicles, the tyre pressure warning light looks like the icon in our header above. It will come on when the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System ...

Carbase Home Delivery

Until drones are powerful enough to fly your next car to you - which yes, that would be cool! - Carbase home deliveries will come via truck for ...

Carbase Hats on 4 Ben

Hats on 4 Ben!It's happening! " Hats on 4 Ben " is taking place during Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 - 18th-24th May - to raise ...

Asking Our Facebook Followers the Important Questions

We love a good poll, it's so interesting to get everyone involved and learn what makes us tick! Through our Facebook channel we post numerous polls ...

Our ultimate guide to hybrids

Labradoodles. Camera phones. Romantic comedies. Many of the best things in life aren't one thing, but two - combined to make the best of both in on ...

A guide to AdBlue

Over the years, significant efforts have been made to introduce stricter emission regulations throughout the car industry, in a bid to improve air ...

Feeder Commercials Join Vanbase Bristol

We are proud to announce that the experienced team at FeederCommercials.co.uk have now joined the Carbase | Vanbase Group. Their knowledge and exp ...

Carbase Christmas Ball 2019

A Huge Thank You to Team Carbase! As another year draws to a close the Carbase team were in full festive swing, glammed up and ready to strut ...

Our ultimate guide to the Ford Transit Custom

Here in the UK, we love the Ford Transit Custom. It's officially the best-selling van of 2019, with 34,690 sold between January and August. It's in ...

Finding the right budget for car finance

When it comes to buying a used car on finance, you want to be sure you can afford the payments. You need to know how much you can afford to pay bac ...

Buying your first van from Vanbase

Here at Vanbase, we make buying your first van a quick, simple and hassle-free process. We will have you on the road in your very own used van in n ...

Do you have the right van insurance?

Insurance. We all have to have it. Before you take any vehicle on the road, you need to make sure it is insured correctly. Whether you drive a van ...

Best vans for fuel economy

The mileage you get for a full tank is an important consideration for anyone looking for their next used van. For business customers in particular, ...

What are vehicle running stats?

When choosing your new car, it's important to check the vehicle running stats to know how the car will run and if it's right for you. Here at Carba ...

The fund pot is lovingly filling up for the NICU department at St Michaels Hospital

Ohhhhh, we're halfway there!This year everything was in full summer spirit at the Carbase BBQ! The Steel Band had the mood set with their mel ...

CarGurus Return to Carbase Bristol for Round 2 of Filming

CarGurus return to Carbase Bristol for another round of used car reviews Earlier this year the guys from CarGurus came to our Bristol store and ...

Business Initiative Winners at Auto Trader Retailer Awards 2019

The awards just keep on coming! We are delighted to announce that Carbase, for a second year running, has taken home the glory for 'Business Ini ...

The Carbase | Vanbase Vehicle Appraisal Measure

 Here at Carbase | Vanbase we strive to ensure that we are transparent within all areas of our business, which allows us to create trust an ...

Which type of van will carry my cargo?

Which type of van will carry my cargo?Vans come in all shapes and sizes, so if you need a used van for your business, you may wonder which type w ...

HP vs PCP - Which type of car finance is best?

It's time to upgrade your run-around to something altogether more eye-catching, economical and reliable, but what's the best way to pay for your ne ...

What's the difference between a soft credit search and applying for vehicle finance?

Soft search vs applying for vehicle finance: What's the difference? Are you keen to get behind the wheel of your next vehicle, but concerned abou ...

Service With A Smile

Service With A SmileWe're passionate about providing a satisfying and memorable Customer experience at Carbase, which makes it all the more sweet ...

Rob-Bot amazes customers by predicting their next car!

Customers mind blown as mystic Rob-Bot predicts their next car!We could tell you it's just magic, but we have a feeling you'll want to know more a ...

Egg-citing News for the Bristol Royal Children's Hospital

Carbase raise funds for Bristol Children's Hospital with an additional sweet touch! Here at Carbase we are passionate about giving back t ...

Sell your car to Carbase in three easy steps

Sell To Carbase!Quick and easy, we'll buy any car or van!Value Your CarBuying a new car, even a second-hand one, can be an expensive pro ...

How To Get Pre Approved For Car Finance

Five easy steps for getting pre-approved for car finance Buying a used car is a big investment and for many people, the first step is working ...

Paving The Way For Apprentices

Paving The Way For Apprentices As part of our ongoing relationship with Weston-super-Mare College we recently hosted twelve students at an in ...

AM Award Winners 2019

Carbase Take Home the 'Most Improved Dealership' Trophy at the AM Awards 2019! The biggest names in the motor industry gathered at the ICC in ...

2018 What a Year

What a Year: The Carbase Big Fat Review of 2018 As the nation winds down from the Christmas festivities and recovers from over-singing Auld L ...

Carbase - Motor Trader's 'Most Improved' Dealership 2018

Most Improved Dealership Award SuccessCarbase have been featured in a Motor Trader Magazine article celebrating our recent 'Most Improved Dealers ...

2018 Road Tax updates - What's The Latest?

In October, Chancellor Philip Hammond announced his 2018 Autumn Budget, which included a cash injection of around £30 billion for England's transpo ...

Carbase Apprentice Graduates - Congratulations!

Congratulations! We'd like to Congratulate Thomas Griffin for completing his Apprenticeship at our Weston-super-Mare Auto Centre! Tom has been w ...

RAC Combined GAP and RTI Insurance Explained

RAC Combined GAP and RTI Insurance Explained Did you know that an average of 384,000 cars are written off in the UK every year?! Here at Carbase ...

NSSR Repair RNLI Vandalism Damage

NSSR come to the aid of Weston RNLI The Weston-super-Mare RNLI woke up to a sad sight on Sunday 30th September 2018. During the night their life ...

Raising-Money-for-the-BRHC-Dolphin-Ward

Raising Money for the Dolphin Ward at The Bristol Children's Hospital In July we held a charity raffle to raise funds for the Dolphin Ward, wher ...

From NEDC to WLTP: What will change and how will it affect you?

It first came into force for new types of cars in 2017, but now the second stage of a three-part transition phase is here. From September 2018, the ...

New Partnership with Above and Beyond - Bristol Children's Hospital

We are delighted to announce that we have partnered up with Above and Beyond, the local charity raising funds for the Bristol Royal Hospital for Ch ...

Winners - Auto Trader Retailer Awards 2018

Winners - Auto Trader Retailer Awards 2018Team Carbase, the awards keep coming!  We are pleased once again to announce that we are prou ...

Winners - Motor Trader Industry Awards 2018

Winners - Motor Trader Industry Awards 2018It's all about the Base!  We are pleased to announce that we are proud Winners in the Motor Tr ...

How to Use - Carbase Car Compare

Use our Carbase compare feature to find your perfect car! Buying a car is an exciting process, but with so many brands and hundreds of models av ...

Our New Showroom

Welcome to our new Weston-super-Mare showroom! Here at Carbase we put our customers first and foremost, which is why we are proud to announce th ...

Above and Beyond Charity

Supporting Local Charity 'Above and Beyond'We are proud to announce that we have raised £600 for Above and Beyond, a charity that specialises in ...

How to Use - Carbase Expert Car Valuation

How to get the most accurate part exchange valuation with CarbaseHere at Carbase, we've always had a transparent and simple part ex ...

Our partnership with BEN

New charity partnership - BENGreat news! Carbase has joined forces with BEN, a fantastic charity focusing on supporting people in the automotive ...

What's Occurring at Carbase?

What's Occurring at Carbase?It's 2018 and we have a few exciting things up our sleeve this year, one being the production of our brand new r ...

CarDealer Used Car Awards 2017 - Highly Commended

CarDealer Used Car Awards 2017 - Highly CommendedWe were invited this year to the 2017 CarDealer Used Car Awards. We were nominated and short lis ...

Summer holiday driving - the European regulations you need to know

Taking your own car on holiday is a fantastic way to save money. Not only does it spare you the cost of hiring a car, you also can pack in as much ...

BMW 4 Series Coupe - More than just a badge

There's something about driving around in a BMW - it's classic, stylish and demands attention. These attributes are wonderfully displayed in the BM ...

Citroen DS3 - a colourful treat

The first car in Citroen's DS range was the Citroen DS3 and it really set the bar high. With the DS label evoking memories of Citroen classics from ...

Top cars for larger families

It wasn't long ago that large families needing a seven-seater vehicle had very little choice and typically ended up with something that resembled a ...

6 ways to keep your family car looking new

Buying a car can be one of the biggest investments you'll make, so it goes without saying that you'll want to keep your new purchase looking clean ...

Fiat 500 - as good as it looks?

This bubbly Italian classic is one of the most popular compact cars there is, and for good reason. With it's gorgeous retro style and small efficie ...

Is the Tiguan heading for the top of the VW class?

The VW Tiguan is one of Volkswagen's most popular cars and is a solid choice for families looking to upgrade. There is a huge amount of choice in t ...

Busting car finance myths: the truth revealed!

Unless you have applied for car finance before, it can be a confusing thing to tackle. Making that confusion no clearer is the number of myths that ...

Top tips for boosting your credit score before buying a used car on finance

If you want to buy a used car on finance the application process will look at your credit score. Now, while it's not just the credit score that cou ...

How will the new car tax rules impact you?

Car tax changes April 2017 From 1 April 2017, buyers of new cars registered from this date must immediately pay a new CO2 emissions charge which ...

The A-Z of used car finance

As the largest used car supermarket in the South West, we secure millions of pounds' worth of car finance for our customers every year. However, if ...

Safety tips for new drivers

If you've just passed your test you are probably feeling pretty confident right now about your driving ability. While it's great to feel self-assured ...

Guide to insuring your first car

Buying your first car can be a daunting process, but so can looking for car insurance. The amount of money you might be asked to pay can be stagger ...

What to look for when buying your first used car

You've decided the time is right and you are ready to buy your first car! We know you're unlikely to have ever spent this much money on anything be ...

The top 10 used small cars for first-time buyers

You've passed your driving test, gained a new independence or decided to move away from a life of public transport. Yes, it's time to buy that firs ...

Best used estate cars 2016

Practical, powerful, spacious and attractive: four words that could be used to describe today's estate cars. Whether you're ferrying the kids to and ...

Carbase Motoring Photographer of the Year 2016 Winners

And so the curtain is drawn on another fantastic Motoring Photographer of the Year competition. This year has been the best yet and the bar has been ...

Questions to ask when buying a used Ford

It seems that every other car on the road is a Ford of some description. Affordable, reliable and cheap to maintain, it's little wonder that Ford con ...

Know your Highway Code

24 Le Mans Facts

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What car matches your EURO 2016 team's personality?

At Carbase we are all really excited about the UEFA European Championships and have our fingers crossed for England to end their 50 year trophy droug ...

The ultimate guide to picking a convertible

What driver doesn't want to enjoy the wind through their hair when cruising down the motorway? Convertible cars are something many of us aspire to - ...

How to choose the perfect Audi

Just by knowing that you want an Audi means you're already ahead of most people looking to buy themselves a new used-car. We don't have to tell you h ...

10 rules for picking the perfect used Ford

Ford remains the most popular brand of car in the UK - the Fiesta and Focus were named by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders as the top a ...

Essential steps for buying a used Volkswagen

Reliable, sexy and value-retaining, Volkswagen has a good reputation, with cars which perform well in every class. From the tiny Up! to the 3.0 litre ...

The ultimate guide to picking a used BMW

As one of the world's most famous car manufacturers, Germany's BMW is a fine choice when you go to purchase a new used-car.However, with so many ...

Our Favourite Film Cars

With the BAFTA's recently announced and Oscar fever in the air, the Carbase offices came alive with debate this week with everyone asking the questi ...

Getting your car serviced

Our cars are crucial in everyday life, and more vehicles are on British roads than ever before. But what happens when we need to get them serviced? ...

What is included in an Owners' Club free winter check

What's included in an Owners' Club free winter check?We might be able to bust out the warm coat and woolly hats and scarves, but what can your ca ...

The Big Bristol Commute Survey Results

The Big Bristol Commute: Is your commute gearing you up for work or driving you mad? We asked Bristolians, and you responded in your hundredsAs a l ...

Did you Know

How to get good value for money

Tracking down a bargainKnowing what you should be looking for and understanding exactly what makes a second-hand vehicle good value for money is ver ...

Mustangs and RVs and Ford Thunderbirds

It must be the Fourth of July!What better way to celebrate Independence Day than by taking a good ol' fashioned road trip. The idea of being able t ...

10 Things to Keep in Mind when Driving in Europe

Europe is well known for being the capital of art and culture. With so many sights to see, delicious food to sample and things to experience, it come ...

People carriers the good and the bad and the ugly

If you're looking for a benchmark for vehicles in the people carrier sector then look no further than the Renault Espace. The arrival of the model in ...

The Top Six Diesel Superminis on the Market

When it comes to getting around, all of us want a dependable, stylish car that won't break the bank. What better in this day and age than a supermini ...

Audi Convertibles vs BMW Convertibles

With the cold months (hopefully) gone for another year, many motorists are getting serious about investing in a convertible. The thrill of driving ...

How to get car finance

Need a new motor but don't have a lump sum of cash lying around? You're not alone. It's a common issue and one that thousands of British drivers are ...

Whats changed at Carbase since the FCA regulations came into effect

It's all about the customersThe way that financial products are sold has recently changed. This may not seem important to you, but if you buy cars ...

Why a car salesperson is key to making your next purchase

Buying a new car can be a daunting experience, especially if you're not sure where to start. Luckily, there are people out there selling cars that re ...

Driving home for Christmas How to make the journey less stressful

Long drives can be stressful at the best of times, let alone at Christmas. The roads are chock-a-block with people, it's usually either raining or sn ...

Guide to winter driving

Although cruising along with the top down and the wind in your hair during the summer is arguably the most fun way to drive, there's still plenty to ...

5 great cars that have come back from the dead

Just when they thought it was safe to go back in the showroom, these cars rose from the grave to terrorise all who faced the already-difficult decis ...

Vauxhall Astra vs Ford Focus

Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao; Serena Williams vs Maria Sharapova; Vauxhall Astra vs Ford Focus?When the top two contenders of any industry ...

8 of the most hair raising drives

As it's fright month and Halloween is creeping up, let's go through some quick tips to help you get through a horror film:1. Always lock the doors ...

You know you need to trade your car in when

Are you umming and ahing about whether or not it's time to trade your car in for a smoother and sleeker model? If you recognise any of our points be ...

People Carriers vs 4x4s vs Estates

"Making its way to the ring...weighing in at 3,600lbs...hailing from Martorell, Spain...rated by many as the best pound for pound people carrier ...

5 luxurious commuter cars that will make you ditch public transport

Picture the scene: your alarm for work goes off a little late and you think you might miss your train. You end up sprinting to the station with your ...

A quick guide to buying a used Vauxhall

The old adage that a new car depreciates in value by 20 per cent just by driving it off the lot might be a little extreme, but in all honesty it will ...

Can the Honda Civic deliver on its individual looks

The hatchback class is one of the most popular genres in the motor industry and arguably the dullest. The line-up of ageing and uninspiring models i ...

Is the charm of the C3 enough to swing favour

The supermini class is a segment that has changed immensely over recent years with the rise of smaller and cheaper city cars. That has pushed superm ...