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

FlexFuel-Energy Development
- Upheld
- Internet (website content)
- 03 August 2022
An ad on the company’s website misleadingly implied that misleadingly implied that a hydrogen-injection treatment for engines could reduce carbon emissions without evidence.
The Trade Centre Group plc t/a The Trade Centre UK, The Trade Centre Wales
- Upheld
- Radio
- 27 July 2022
A radio ad misleadingly claimed hundreds of cars were available to purchase for £20 a week.
AA Ltd
- Upheld
- Poster, Website (own site)
- 20 July 2022
A poster and website ad contained inaccurate claims that AA was the UK’s ‘largest provider’ for breakdown services, which could not be verified.
DNBA Entertainment Ltd
- Upheld
- Social media (paid ad)
- 13 July 2022
An Instagram post encouraged unsafe and irresponsible behaviour by linking alcohol with driving.

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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Latest rulings

FlexFuel-Energy Development

The Trade Centre Group plc t/a The Trade Centre UK, The Trade Centre Wales

AA Ltd

DNBA Entertainment Ltd

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Motoring: Fuel consumption and emissions figures

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Relevant codes

19 Motoring

20 Motoring