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Cheap car parts can seem like a smart way to save money—but in reality, counterfeit components often come with hidden costs that far outweigh any initial savings. Across the UK, the problem is growing. Recent enforcement action in South Gloucestershire uncovered over 3,600 fake vehicle parts worth more than £100,000, while national surveys suggest that one in six motorists has unknowingly purchased a counterfeit part in the past year. These aren’t harmless bargains—they’re il

With the weather warming up now is a good time to make sure that your air conditioning is running smoothly. It’s also worth making sure that the air you’re breathing in the cabin is as healthy as possible. Whether you are using your vehicle heater or air conditioning system, condensation can build due to dark, damp and warm conditions. This can become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, mould and fungi. When the system is turned on, bacteria is drawn through the vehi­cle

It’s an incredible milestone — 20 years since Star Tech first opened its doors and began welcoming customers into what has become one of Dorset’s leading independent specialist service centres. From humble beginnings to a thriving, award-winning business, the journey has been remarkable, and the values it was built on remain as strong as ever. Since launching in 2006, Star Tech has proudly provided Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar, MINI and Smart owners with a trusted alternative t

While Electric Vehicles (EVs) have fewer moving parts, just like petrol and diesel cars they are prone to certain common faults. We look at what these are and how you can try to prevent them from happening. Battery related faults One of the biggest culprits is the 12-volt battery system. Even though EVs run on large high-voltage battery packs, they still rely on a small 12-volt battery to power essential electronics such as locks, lights and infotainment. When this fails, the

Finer weather and longer days results in more people making longer journeys over the bank holidays. To stay safe on the road, it’s advisable to check the following on your car before you go to avoid breakdowns. Tyres Good tyre condition is vital for safety. Worryingly, badly worn tyres can drastically affect the driving performance, braking distance and increase the risk of punctures. A hefty fine and points on your license could come your way too! Keep an eye on your tyre tr

Spring is a great time to tackle those niggly jobs and make sure things are shipshape at home, and the exact same approach should be applied to our cars as well. As the days lengthen and the weather improves, it’s time to prepare your car for the new season. After a winter driving in wet, cold conditions on salted or gritted roads, spring is a perfect time to service your vehicle. As well as having professional help, there is also some essential maintenance that you can be do

Renters, flat owners, homeowners without driveways and businesses will be able to save up to £500 when installing electric vehicle (EV) charge points, thanks to an over 40% increase in charge point grant amounts announced on 25 February 2026. The uplift will cover almost half the cost of a typical charge point installation until March 2027, helping thousands more drivers access cheaper domestic electricity rates at home or work to power their car. Expanded access to home cha

A healthy battery is vital to keeping an electric vehicle running smoothly for longer. So, whether you’re looking to buy a second hand EV, or just want to look after your own, it’s important to check the battery’s health. What is electric car battery health? When we talk about electric car battery health, we’re talking about the battery’s capacity compared to new. That’s how much energy it can hold and keep available to power the car. Over time, the battery capacity naturally

A recent survey from The Motor Ombudsman (TMO) shows nearly seven in ten UK garages are set to see car owners skipping essential repairs this year in a bid to save money. With all of us facing rising bills it’s understandable that we’re tightening our belts to save money, which sometimes includes delaying getting our car fixed or serviced. However, putting these off could lead to bigger bills in the future. For example, TMO highlights that ignoring squealing or grinding nois

The latest IMI Tech safe data on electric vehicle (EV) trained technicians and qualifications shows that just one in four technicians were qualified to work on EVs at the end of the third quarter of 2025. What’s more, it highlights that the distribution of skills across the UK geographically is uneven. Therefore, the growing population of EV drivers are likely to find it harder to get their vehicles serviced and repaired by qualified experts, especially in certain areas of th

With all the flooding from the recent downpours there is a lot of surface water on our roads which can hide potholes and other damage, increasing the risk of tyre, wheel and suspension damage. To help we’ve put together some tips to help you drive safely. Slow down and increase your following distance – stopping distances are much longer on wet roads. Be smooth with steering, braking and acceleration to help maintain grip. Watch out for standing water, especially in dips, und

You may have heard that colder and more demanding weather requires you to purchase a set of winter tyres for your car. In this article we tackle the pros and cons and explain if it’s worth splashing out on them. What’s the difference between normal and winter tyres? Winter tyres are designed to perform better in colder conditions, water, snow and ice, especially in temperatures below 7°C. The main difference, in comparison to a normal tyre, is that the grip and tread depth is

If you’ve joined the thousands of other drivers in the electric car revolution, then you may be wondering if your electric car needs an MOT. The answer is yes. In line with UK regulations all cars, including electric vehicles, must have an MOT every year (if over 3 years old) to ensure they are safe to drive on UK roads. However, electric car MOTs differ slightly to fuel cars. EV Car MOT vs Petrol Car MOT The MOT test for electric cars is very similar to the MOT for petrol an

At Star Tech and Star Tech EV, we take great pride in the level of personal service that we provide our customers. It was incredibly satisfying to end the year with a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 85 for 2025, based on customer feedback throughout the year. Our aggregate NPS stands at 87, taking into account feedback from previous years. Understanding the Net Promoter Score The Net Promoter Score is a valuable index ranging from -100 to 100. It measures our customers’ satisfact

Just like your mobile phone many modern EVs also need regular software updates. These updates are important for EVs as they help improve performance, fix bugs, add new features, and enhance safety, helping to prevent issues like the loss of power or range anxiety. They can also help with security by patching vulnerabilities. When does my EV software needs updating? You should be automatically notified about an available software update via a pop-up message on your EVs central

Our Holiday Hours With Christmas fast approaching, I want to take a moment to thank you for trusting us with your electric and hybrid vehicles in 2025. Your support means the world to us! I also want to share our opening hours during the festive season. We’ll be open as usual until 17:30 on Tuesday, 23rd December . After that, we’ll be closed until 08:00 on Friday, 2nd January . So if your car needs a service, MOT, or repair before we close, please get in touch as soon as pos

Today the Star Tech and Star Tech EV teams are taking part in Save the Children's Christmas Jumper Day. By pulling on our Christmassy knits and donating, we’re supporting children in the UK and around the world to keep safe, healthy, and learning. We’ll be helping them fight for the future they deserve. If you’d like to donate, simply click the link below: https://christmas.savethechildren.org.uk/fundraising/CJD250033383 Or to donate £5 text “STARTECH” to 70050. All the dona

These days charging your car is, for the most part, fairly intuitive. But there are definitely some tips and tricks to be aware of that will help you optimise your charging experience and keep your battery healthy. Optimum Charging Habits EVs thrive on regular charging, so plug it in frequently. It’s best practice to top up your car before it drops below 20% charge. This is primarily for the health of the battery, but also for your own peace of mind. It’s good to have this 20

A new tax for electric and hybrid vehicles has been announced by the chancellor in the Budget. From April 2028, electric car drivers will pay a road charge of 3p per mile, while plug-in hybrid drivers will pay 1.5p per mile, with the rates going up each year with inflation. The new tax is about "half the fuel duty rate paid by drivers of petrol cars", according to the government's independent forecaster, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The chancellor also committe

Keyless car theft is on the rise, and many popular cars are at risk. Whether you unlock your car with a fob, a card, or an official app, tech-savvy criminals are finding new ways to steal your vehicle in a matter of seconds. Fortunately, there are several ways to protect your vehicle from keyless theft. Find out more in our guide below. What is Keyless Car Theft? Keyless car theft covers a range of methods used by thieves to gain entry to a car without a traditional key. The