Experts have warned that plunging car prices are leaving thousands of motorists in 'negative equity' on their vehicle loans. Many predicted future values on which car finance deals are based are well above what the vehicle is now worth leaving many motorists who opted for PCP finance having to hand back their cars .Its estimated that the total shortfall between what is owed on car loans and the value of the vehicles could be as much as £272million.

This news comes as a blow to UK motorists who are already gripped by the recession, falling house prices and job security. It's never been such a good time to start Hypermiling.

The UK is set for Big Chill in the New Year with weathermen warning that temperatures could plunge as low as minus 13C. Motorists will need to be extra careful in the coming weeks as overnight temperatures plunge to as low as minus 6C. At least two weeks of widespread frosts are forecast as a cold front from Siberia takes hold.

If the last cold front we experienced is anything to go by motorists will see a massive drop in MPG and grip! See our busy Hypermiling forum for more experiences with the cold weather from our forum members. 

Just when both petrol and diesel prices both dropped below the magic £1 mark motorists could see the cost of their petrol and gas soar again after the world's oil producers (Opec) announced that they are to dramatically slash production. Oil cartel Opec says it is cutting 2.2 million barrels a day from its output - the largest ever at one time - to stem crude prices that have plummeted over 70 per cent from summer highs of nearly $150. Consumer groups have warned that the cut could have a dramatic impact on customers here in the UK with firms using Opec's decision as an excuse not to cut their prices.

The price of fuel is at an all time low this year with the price of diesel costing 34p less a litre from its July high.

Just when UK Motorists thought their fuel bills were at last at a stable and sensible level we are slapped in the face with a 'stealth tax' rise of 5p a litre in fuel duty. The first 2p-a-litre hike kicks in on Monday December 1 as Chancellor Darling ends a freeze on duty and increases the flat-rate tax from 50.35p to 52.35p a litre.

Thats not the end of the bad news... as well as the unfrozen 2p a litre, motorists face a further 1.84p-a-litre duty from April 1 200... thanks Gordon!! Apparently these increases will not effect motorists due to the recent fall in fuel and oil prices.

Edmund King, AA president, said: 'The Chancellor is giving with one hand and taking away even more with the other. We would have to agree with that.

I was frankly amazed today to see Topgear dedicate nealy half tonights show to "Hypermiling". For those who missed it the challenge required all three presenters (Clarkson, Hammond and May) to drive from Basel, Switzerland to the glorious s*it hole "Vegas" of the North, Blackpool. However there was a slight twist, they had to do so on one (yes 1) tank of fuel. I'm not going to ruin the result for those who are yet to see it but I can confirm that once again Topgear has proved that its not what you drive but how you drive it. For those that have missed tonight's episode you can catch up with this and previous episodes on the BBC iPlayer. Read more on our busy forum.

Winter is finally here and with the cold weather (and Santa) comes both higher fuel bills for the frosty UK population. There are a number of ways to keep your winter fuel costs down, it's mostly common sense but it can make a huge difference to your consumption. Here are Hypermilers top tips:

Fuel giants BP and Shell have reported massive third-quarter profits totalling nearly £9billion, thats a whopping £4million pound an hour. The head of BP has admitted higher pump prices have led to the company posting record profits of £6.4billion in three months, sparking furious claims the company is profiteering. Labour MP John McDonnell said: 'This is a grotesquely obscene level of profiteering by BP and I will be calling in Parliament for price controls and profit windfall taxes.'

The news comes after plummeting fuel prices have prompted OPEC to further cut oil production to drive prices back up - so make the most of the recent low fuel prices

The cost of a litre of petrol has dropped below the magic one pound mark for the first time since December 2007. With financial markets around the world crumbling and the price of oil at only $80 a barrel from a high of $147 it’s the UK motorists that are reaping the rewards. UK Supermarket ASDA have been the first to slash prices below the one pound mark and others are likely to follow suit. The fall oil prices has been widely reflected on the stock market, with shares in BP sliding nearly 4 per cent.