25 June 2009
Some motorists could see their repair bills soar this summer as they fail to keep an eye on their car coolant levels, one insurer has suggested.
Findings from the AA reveal six million customers throughout the country could be footing four-figure bills by not checking the levels, with women being the worst offenders.
"If your car overheats, at best, you'll likely have to cough up around £250 to repair the cooling fan or £1,000 for a head gasket and, at worst, several times that for a new engine," said Stewart Topp from the AA.
Londoners are revealed to be the worst in the UK for keeping an eye on car coolant levels, as 18% are likely to never check and 22% are unaware of how to do it.
Mark Monteiro, uSwitch Car Insurance Expert, comments: "This research highlights a worrying lack of awareness from drivers. This year, because of the credit crunch there are more people than ever going on driving holidays within the UK. This coupled with predicted high temperatures could be a huge problem for cars. If you are going a on driving holiday within the UK or abroad, check all your car's main inputs (oil, tyre pressure, coolant levels, and windscreen washer fluid) before you go. In addition, make sure you are covered for breakdown."
The AA recently announced it was installing 1,000 road signs to help festival-goers make their way to Glastonbury this year.