21 July 2008
Damage caused by bird droppings is costing car insurance customers almost £57 million a year, according to a new report from Zurich Insurance. The survey shows that 38% of motorists whose cars have been hit by bird droppings have reported damage to their vehicles. This includes permanent dull spots, discolouration and corrosion of the paintwork and scratches as a result of scrubbing off droppings. Mike Quinton, managing director for Direct & Partnerships at Zurich Insurance, said bird droppings can be costly to repair and can seriously devalue a car. "Unfortunately, very few birds have insurance to claim from, and your own insurance is unlikely to cover it, so the best way of avoiding having to pay for damage is to act quickly and remove the offending item as soon as possible," he remarked. According to the survey, just one in five drivers removes bird muck immediately and a third leave it until the next time they wash their car. Meanwhile, research from Direct Line car insurance shows that 4.3 million UK motorists fell victim to car vandalism last year, with damaging totalling £659 million.
© 2008 Adfero Ltd
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