Five common car problems that could see you slapped with fines of up to £2,500
FOR MILLIONS of Brits their car is a lifeline - meaning when things go wrong it can be a real nightmare.
Repairs on your motor can set you back thousands in garage bills and can often add unnecessary stress to your life.
That is why it is essential to keep your car in good nick and look after it to prevent the small issues becoming a big headache.
Car finance experts at CarMoney have revealed the most searched for car maintenance queries in 2021 to help you understand the most common problems experienced by drivers.
The experts also shared how to solve these problems and how much you could be fined if you don't get them sorted.
Feeling the pressure
The question ‘What should my tyre pressure be?’ is searched by motorists 36,000 times per year.
Low tyre pressure is dangerous because it can cause a blowout which can be deadly at high speeds.
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Defective tyres can also result in a fine of £2,500 and 3 penalty points per tyre, so it is really important to regularly check your tyre pressure.
You should also know the optimal pressure for your specific tyre type to ensure you're pumping them up correctly.
Tread carefully
There are 20,400 searches per year for ‘how to check tyre tread’.
Driving with tyres that don’t meet the legal standard tread of above 1.6mm can land you with a hefty £2,500 fine and 3 penalty points per tyre.
This is where the 20p test comes in: insert a 20p into the groove of the tyre, if the outer rim of the coin is visible the tread is too low and a new tyre is required.
Total wipe out
‘How to change windscreen wipers’ is searched 5,400 times a year.
Small issues with the efficiency of windscreen wipers can affect your view of the road and impact reaction time, so always replace broken or damaged wipers as soon as possible.
This helps to avoid causing an accident in challenging driving conditions.
Well oil be damned
‘How often should I change my oil’ receives 1,200 searches per year, but the answer depends on your car’s oil change interval.
A good rule of thumb is to change the oil every 3000-5000 miles, but keep an eye on any warning lights on your dashboard before then.
If you’re forced to stop on the road because of an engine failure and cause an obstruction, you could be fined £100 and 3 points on your licence.
Cracking job
‘How to remove scratches from car windscreen’ gets 1,200 searches.
You can actually fix windscreen scratches yourself with DIY kits, these come in around £15 online.
This is important to do as it can stop a scratch developing into a costly windscreen crack.
A crack can result in yet another £2,500 fine and 3 points on your licence as it can be considered a motoring offence.
What the experts say
Andrew Marshall, Marketing & Partnerships Manager at CarMoney said: "Keeping on top of car maintenance can feel like a chore, but if you don’t take care of issues quickly, they could prove dangerous.
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"Not only will regular services identify potential early issues, but they could also help you save money and avoid costly repairs further down the line.
"Always seek professional advice for any vehicle problems that may pose a risk to your safety and that of other road users."
