Holidays, travel and motoring

Helpful guidance on the advertising rules for ads about Holidays, Travel or Motoring, and examples of previous Advertising Standards Authority rulings in these areas.

When it comes to buying a holiday or a car, there is an array of consumer choice. There are dozens of comparative websites out there to make the decision easier but it is important consumers can trust all holiday, travel and motoring ads they see not least because their purchasing decisions can often be expensive ones.

Holiday and travel ads should ensure they don’t mislead consumers and should contain all non-optional taxes, duties, fees and charges that apply to most buyers in their quoted price. Holiday advertisers should ensure that their descriptions are accurate and the photos which they feature in their ads are representative of what’s being offered. They should also ensure they have evidence to back up any comparative claims they are making in their ads and proof of availability of an offer.

Motoring ads must also make sure they don’t mislead consumers but another important part of the advertising rules they must adhere to are those around social responsibility.

Adverts for cars must not condone or encourage unsafe or irresponsible driving, such as not wearing a seatbelt, or depict speed in a way that might encourage motorists to drive irresponsibly or break the law. Car ads are permitted to give general information about a vehicle's performance such as acceleration, braking power, road holding and top speed, but they cannot make speed or acceleration claims the main message of their ads or link speed with excitement.

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Latest rulings

Furosystems Ltd
- Upheld
- Internet (on own site), Internet (social networking)
- 24 February 2021
A website post, a YouTube video, an Instagram post and two Facebook posts for an electric scooter manufacturer were banned for misleadingly and irresponsibly suggesting electric scooters could be used on public roads or pavements in the UK.
Ryanair DAC
- Upheld in part
- Television
- 03 February 2021
Two TV ads for Ryanair were banned for misleading viewers about the impact vaccines would have on their ability to travel abroad during Easter and summer. We also upheld complaints on the grounds of social responsibility.
Flights & Holidays UK Ltd
- Upheld
- Internet (on own site)
- 06 January 2021
A website ad for an online travel agency was banned for making a misleading price claim for a flight from London to Orlando.
Licensed Taxi Drivers Association Ltd t/a LTDA
- Upheld
- Radio
- 25 November 2020
A radio ad promoting London black cab services exaggerated the extent to which features of the taxis could reduce the spread of COVID-19.

View all rulings

Holidays, travel and motoring

Helpful guidance on the advertising rules for ads about Holidays, Travel or Motoring, and examples of previous Advertising Standards Authority rulings in these areas.

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