Britons 'lack basic car knowledge'

2 July 2007

British car owners are needlessly claiming on their insurance due to a lack of basic knowledge of their vehicles, it has been revealed.

According to breakdown specialist Green Flag, nine million motorists - a full 30% of the UK's 33 million drivers - admit that they do not 'know their way around' their vehicle.

Polling 2,500 motorists, Green Flag also revealed that 22% did not know how to check tyre pressure, 13% could not locate the dipstick, and 11% did not know how to open their car's bonnet.

Philippa Naylor, spokesperson for Green Flag, said: "The research clearly shows that many of us have scant knowledge about our cars despite relying on them to go about our everyday lives."

She added: "There are few things more boring than being stuck waiting for help and just by brushing up on some basic car maintenance knowledge, drivers could identify some simple problems before the frustration kicks in and they need to call us out for expert help."

While 61% of women could not find the spark plugs on their car, this figure dropped to 22% with men.

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