The figures outlined by Warranty Direct reveal car parts are 283 percent more likely to fail in freezing weather.

Between December and February ignition coils are almost three times more likely to fail compared to the months between June and August.

The insurance company analysed 50,000 automotive policies showing thermostats were also more to fail in the winter months due to the added pressure of cold weather when motorists try to start their cars.

They showed there are 277 percent more breakdowns between December and February with an average cost of £204.16.

“This just goes to show that it pays to make the extra effort with car maintenance once the temperature turns chilly,” warned Duncan McClure Fisher, Warranty Direct spokesperson.

“As well as potentially messing up people’s New Year plans, or leaving drivers stranded in freezing weather, the garage bills these failures can cause are not what anyone wants.”

Fifty car parts were identified as more likely to breakdown in winter which could cost motorists repairs of up to £1,100 at a time of year cash is already in short supply due to Christmas shopping.

Fuel injection pumps were also shown to be high on the list of parts which are more likely to fail in freezing conditions with more than double than in summer, and these cost on average £321.91 to replace.

Central locking, heating and wiper motors are also more susceptible to the cold driving conditions of winter.

Where to Buy Cheap Car Parts Online

If your car has broken down or you need to replace damaged car parts due to the ice and snow try looking online for cheap car parts.

Latest research by car insurance provider Admiral of 2,100 people revealed nine out of ten motorists agreed there are more potholes now than there was a year ago.

Motorists in London were the most likely to agree with 98 percent of Londoners claiming they had seen an increase.

A further 38 percent of those questioned also said they had damaged their cars due to potholes, with those in Scotland the mostly to have suffered damage with 58 percent.

The number of claims from customers of pothole damage has doubled in 2010 compared with 2009 Admiral also revealed.

“The very long and cold winter we had last winter really did some major damage to UK roads and many councils across the country haven’t had the time or the money to fill them all in,” said Sue Longthorn, Admiral managing director.

“Add to that the cold weather we’ve already had this year and it’s likely that our roads are going to get in an even worse condition this winter.”

Those in Northern Ireland were the least likely to agree than potholes had worsened this year with 78 percent agreeing.

If you require any replacement parts try looking online for cheap alternatives as many online stockists offer car parts at discounted prices.

Spare tyres, engines, suspension parts and many more bits you may require inside and out of your car can be purchased this way.

According to new research by Sainsbury’s Car Insurance, as many as 461,000 people in the past five years have been victim of this crime, with an average of 92,000 people a year.

More than one in five of these victims did not get their cars or car parts back after they were stolen.

“Motorists must take care not to leave their vehicles vulnerable to opportunistic thieves,” said Ben Tyte, Sainsbury’s Car Insurance head.

“When it’s freezing outside it can be tempting to leave the engine running to speed up the defrosting process while you nip back inside to finish getting ready, but this could have terrible consequences.”

Tips for Defrosting your Car

If you are worried about being late in the morning for work because of the extra time it takes to defrost your car take a look at these tips.

While it is a good idea to start the engine straight away to warm it up and get the fan heaters defrosting the ice on the window, make sure you do not leave your car unattended.

Scrape away the top layer of snow which is usually soft and then get a pan of tepid water to pour over the windscreen, ensuring your windscreen wipers are defrosted to then help move away the defrosted ice.

Make sure you use antifreeze and de-ice all of your windows and lights before setting off on your journey.  It is also important to make sure the snow on top of the car is removed so it does not fall onto the windscreen while you are driving and obscure your vision.

If you have had any cars parts stolen recently, and are looking to replace them, try searching online for quality car parts at discounted prices.

RoadSafe recently found that the most common dangerous driving habits many motorists fail to correct, which can cause car parts to become worn or damaged, and worse, cause an accident.

Driving too close to the vehicle in front is a common bad driving habit, along with driving at inappropriate speeds, and this is not necessarily too fast but also too slow, forgetting to wear a seatbelt and rushing observations when pulling out and failing to use mirrors.

Approaching junctions too quickly and using a mobile phone while driving were other common bad habits which parents are urged to monitor so their children do no pick them up also.

How you drive can and does have a potentially damaging effect on your car. For example, material on the clutch disc can wear out between the flywheel and the pressure plate when driving. A common reason for this problem is slipping the clutch pedal, or ‘riding the clutch’ too much when driving.

Misadjusted linkage of the clutch can also be a problem that needs to be fixed. This means that the clutch pedal reacts differently to how you may want it to when driving so you feel as if you do not have full clutch control. Other problems can also include the wearing out of a clutch release bearing, too.

Replacing Clutch Car Parts

When it comes to passing your car’s MOT, the clutch and condition of the clutch are not tested; however the car needs to drive properly in order to pass. A faulty or problematic clutch before an MOT test will not necessarily result in failure, but it will increase your chances of the car operating properly.

Due to the early onset of below freezing weather, many local authorities are unprepared and as a result will be unable to provide enough salt to make roads safe to drive on.

David Quarmby, leading transport strategist, told the Telegraph local councils should conserve supplies to help with these current conditions.

Britain is currently experiencing the heaviest snowfall since 1965, and although we are used to having snow, the severe conditions currently seen are causing supplies to be used up more rapidly.

The country had 1.25 million tons of road salt on December 13^th before the latest onset of snow according to the Department for Transport, but a spokesman declined to tell the Telegraph how much had been used.

Make Sure Car Parts Survive the Winter

Although many people are worried their car parts will not be able to handle the snow and so are checking them or replacing them frantically before driving, you should also consider how the snow and salt may erode them too.

While the snow and freezing temperatures causes certain car parts to stop working, such as windscreen wipers stuck to windscreens, salt can cause rust to appear.

Make sure you give your car a wash once the snow has melted to get rid of any salt residues which could damage vital car parts such as engines, or body work.

If you require any replacement parts try looking online for cheap alternatives as many online stockists offer quality car parts at discounted prices.

Spare tyres, engines, suspension parts and many more bits you may require inside and out of your car can be purchased this way.

The AA conducted a survey prior the latest bout of snow and found 44 percent of drivers had done nothing to prepare for the winter weather.

They also showed 51 percent expect road gritting to be better than it was last year, 41 percent expect salt gritted roads to be the same as last year, and seven percent think it could be worse.

Areas such as Scotland and the North East were more likely to think gritting would be worse, with nine percent and 10 percent respectively.

“We are concerned that some drivers have not made enough preparations for the severe winter conditions on the roads,” said Edmund King, AA president.

“Highway authorities will be under great pressure as their dwindling salt supplies are stretched as the arctic spell continues.”

Car Part Preparation

The research revealed 39 percent have put a shovel and blanket in the boot of their car should they break down and have to spend the night in the car.

Nineteen percent had bought a sturdy pair of walking boots, and six percent had made arrangements with friends and colleagues to stay at theirs should they be unable to get home.

A further four percent had bought all season tyres, three percent winter tyres, and one percent snow chains, while 12 percent had taken other measures and purchased additional car parts.

Male drivers were most likely to have done nothing to prepare for winter, 45 percent in total, and 51 percent of those aged 25-34 years old.

While those over the age of 65 years old were least likely to have done no preparation, standing at 40 percent of this age group.

From the data last year from Trafficmaster, expects commuter traffic to reduce following its peak on Thursday 23^rd December.

Although last year the AA came to the aid of more than 3,400 members on Christmas day showing it was not completely without trouble on the road.

It is also expected that the Highways Agency will lift or suspend many road works across the country over the Christmas period to make travel as smooth as possible.

“Drivers should keep their speed down, stick to the gritted main roads where possible, and allow plenty of extra time for their journey, even if they’re staying closer to home,” said Paul Leather, AA Breakdown spokesperson.

“What seems certain, though, is that we’ll have more very cold weather, so even in areas without snow, there will be an ongoing risk of ice.”

However, the research also predicts there will be abnormally busy traffic around retail outlets in the two days before Christmas due to the recent bad weather, which may have prevented some people from doing their shopping earlier.

Christmas Eve should see these journeys depleting by three in the afternoon as many return home early from work to start the festive celebrations.

Car Part Damage Caused by Traffic

Getting stuck in traffic is not just stressful for you the driver but also your car as is it has to either keep running without moving, or stop and start at a slow speed.

The main problem is cars tend to overheat when stuck in heavy traffic – this is especially common in older cars which have not been designed with an electric cooling fan.

If the engine starts to overheat try and divert the hot air into the driving space by turning the fan heat up.  Once the car is moving again the airflow should fix this problem.

However, if any car part is damaged from this type of driving try looking at online stockists for replacement parts.

The AA revealed many have already started their Christmas getaway journeys when schools broke up on the 17^th December.

The busiest day on the roads is expected to be today – Thursday 23^rd December – with 76 percent of respondents in the survey of 15,927 members to drive on this day.

Christmas Eve will see 70 percent of respondents take to the roads while on Christmas day the majority intend on staying put, or as 28 percent plan, drive only up to 19 miles.  Just over half will venture out on Boxing Day.

A third of AA members are expected to travel up to 100 miles each over this period, while 51 percent intend to travel up to 49 miles to see family and friends.

“The Christmas getaway is the busiest time of the year on the roads, so if the weather’s as bad as it has been over the last three weeks, it could prove a very challenging time for drivers,” said Paul Leather, AA spokesperson.

“What seems certain, though, is that we’ll have more very cold weather, so even in areas without snow, there will be an ongoing risk of ice.”

Check Car Parts

With 51 percent planning to drive up to 49 miles in the snow, 15 percent up to 99 miles, 34 percent more than 100 miles and six percent more than 500 miles, it is vital you check your car before departure.

The last thing you will want is to breakdown halfway into your journey due to worn down car parts, so ensure they are looked after and any damaged ones replaced.

Cheap car parts can be purchased from online stockists who can deliver the spare parts straight to your front door, so you need not make an extra journey.

The Royal Society of Prevention of Accidents (RSoPA) has outlined some winter driving tips ahead of the journeys people will be taking in the snow.

Winter Driving Tips

Before you set off make sure you keep an eye on weather and traffic reports to plan which route you will take, and if this is the safest one.

If you are worried about driving in snowy conditions consider postponing the journey if it is not absolutely necessary – or look into taking public transport.

Drive as smoothly as possible, keeping breaking to a minimum and try to change gear smoothly so you do not make any sudden movements.

Keep your speed down and leave longer for braking, and if you can try and brake naturally, using the brake pedal as little as possible – also remember to leave more space between you and the car in front.

“As well as smooth driving techniques, safer winter driving is about good preparation – making sure you’re in a fit state to drive, that your vehicle is in good condition and that you’ve planned your journey,” said Kevin Clinton, Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents road safety head.

Check Car Parts

Take the time to check your car before you leave the house looking at individual car parts and listening to the noise they make when you turn on the engine.

Tyres should have good tread and should be fully inflated to give the best grip on the road.

Drivers should ensure they are ready to drive and are not too tired as driving on snow ridden roads requires a lot more concentration, and can be quite exhausting.

Always keep necessary items in the car boot to help you if you should get stuck in a snow storm, such as a shovel and lots of blankets and some food.

DIAmond Advanced Motorists is urging the government to raise awareness of the benefits winter tyres make to driving in cold conditions.

They state the public perception is that they are use predominantly for use on snow, whereas the reality is they also provide cars with better handling and braking capabilities when the temperature drops below seven degrees Celsius.

Temperatures in autumn and winter tend to be mostly below this figure so fitting these tyres would be appropriate.

“The economic benefits of vehicles fitted with winter tyres are overwhelming,” said Steve Garrod, DIA general manager.

“There’s a simple solution to many of the problems British road users are currently experiencing – and the government should be more far-sighted in encouraging drivers to fit winter tyres.”

Car Part Maintenance

The AA recently found 44 percent of drivers have done nothing to prepare their motors and certain car parts for severe conditions on the roads this winter.

They showed only three percent had bought and fitter winter tyres, explaining why the country has experienced high breakdown levels recently.

If you have not checked your car before taking to snowy and icy roads take the time ensure everything is in good working order.

If you require any replacement parts such as spare tyres, windscreen wipers, bumpers or even engine and suspension parts all these can be purchased online.

These online stockists hold a large supply of quality car parts for varying make and model cars, so you will always find what you are looking for.

They also come at discounted prices most of the time so you need not worry about money at this time of year, when most people’s purses are stretched to the limit in preparation for Christmas.