Michael McAleer answers your questions
From A.H, Dublin:
While parked recently, the back of my car was hit by a foreign-registered vehicle. In fairness to the driver, he stopped, came back and waited for me to return. However, his English was very poor and all I really got was a name and the registration of his vehicle. He also gave me some money towards the damage.
I was wondering, in general, what the requirements are from the insurance company in such incidences?
First off, you have to admire the person for stopping. So many others don't, regardless of where they are from. As you were compensated already, perhaps there is no need to make a claim in this instance.
However, for other drivers involved in such incidents, it is worth outlining the procedure.
In short, you should get as many details as possible, recording the name and address of the driver, the colour, make, model and registration of the vehicle. If you wish to make a claim then you need to contact the Motor Insurer's Bureau of Ireland. Its role is to ensure claims arising from foreign motoring in Ireland or Irish motorists abroad are properly handled and settled. It is also the organisation that compensates genuine victims of uninsured and untraced driving in Ireland.
You can contact them at 01 634 5869 or through their website (mibi.ie).
From Jane Vora, Dublin:
My mum, who is in her 50s, is learning to drive - our family has never had a car before, so I wonder if you could recommend the best small cars currently on the market. We intend to purchase a new 2006 model. Also which insurance companies offer good deals for first-time policy holders of my mother's age? We would greatly appreciate your assistance as it's like a jungle out there for first-time car buyers.
There are several very good small cars on the market at present, but perhaps the best buys at present would be a new Toyota Yaris or a new Suzuki Swift.
I would advise her to try both out and see which one suits her needs best.
As far as insurance is concerned, your mother can take some comfort from the fact that while she is new to driving, the person that still scares the life out of any insurance company is the 19-year-old male with a provisional licence.
While I have not seen any insurance price surveys that fit your mother's criteria, the latest report from the Irish Financial Regulatory Authority (IFSRA) published last September suggests that Quinn Direct is one of the most competitively priced insurers for provisional licence holders and also for people in their 50s. Whether the combination of both offers a similar result remains to be seen.
Everyone should shop around when renewing their premiums and your mother is no different. For the price of a few phone calls you can make substantial savings.
From S Phillips:
Who is in charge in car parks, the Garda or the parking attendants? The car park I use applies a speed limit of 5km/h within the building but this is frequently broken by motorists. As there are children walking around and the space is very tight I want to know what the parking attendants can do to enforce this rule.
Unfortunately, car park staff and management have no real sanctions bar resorting to clamping, barring certain cars from their property - which is not an easy thing to enforce - or calling the Garda. In extreme circumstances such as the one you refer to, the Garda may be able to prosecute the offending motorists with careless driving. Otherwise a financial penalty, by using a clamp, may be the initial appropriate measure.
I suggest you speak to the manager of the parking facility. No doubt they would also be keen to get these motorists to slow down for fear of someone being hit on their property.
• Regarding the query some weeks ago from the owner of a BMW M5 about where to get 98 octance fuel, BMW suggest that Shell Optimax fuel may also be a solution. According to a BMW spokesperson, it has an octane rating of higher than 98RON. "This makes it possible for Optimax fuel to be used in BMW vehicles, with petrol engines, including M Power Cars.
"The fuel does not replace LRP and vehicles using LRP at present should not run on Optimax fuel."
A thoughtful reader, Paddy Donovan, also contacted us to let us know that there is indeed a supplier of super-unleaded 98 Octane fuel in Dublin. He says the Esso garage in Shankill, Co Dublin, now stocks the fuel.
Send your queries to Motors Help Desk, The Irish Times, D'Olier St, Dublin 2 - or e-mail motorshelp@irish-times.ie