Motorists are urged to check travel news before departing for Christmas journeys to friends and family to bypass traffic hot spots.

According to the AA 18 million motorists are expected to hit the roads during the Christmas getaway, with six percent planning on clocking up more than 500 miles.

Traffic hotspots identified include all sections of the M25 especially around junctions 14 and 15 near Heathrow Airport, and the M1 between London, East Midlands and South Yorkshire is expected to be particularly busy.

“This winter has caused trouble for motorists trying to get home to friends and family for Christmas,” said Stephen Doran, TRACKER managing director.

“It’s also worth remembering that the first days after the Christmas break are the busiest on the roads, as everyone gets back to work.”

How to Keep Your Car Running Over Christmas

According to breakdown provider Green Flag, flat batteries are the number one cause of breakdowns over the Christmas period.

Drivers are reminded to switch off their lights at the end of the day and to remember heaters, windscreen wipers and fog lights all put an increased strain on the battery.

Be prepared for a car which has been sitting idle all Christmas to not start straight away when you next come to turn the engine on.

If your car requires any new car parts following the strain of the bad weather try looking online for suitable replacements.

Online stockists tend to offer discounts for certain car parts making it more affordable to keep your motor running in the New Year when money may be tight.

Car parts which may require replacing are car tyres, suspension parts and even interior parts such as carpets ruined by wet and muddy feet, and steering wheels and dashboards.

The call for winter tyres to be made compulsory continues as British motorists struggle to drive in current weather conditions.

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.

Top quality second hand cars are predicted to sell for high prices in the New Year as availability of stock dwindles.

According to CAP consumers looking to trade used vehicles with well maintained car parts can expect enthusiastic offers from dealers looking for fresh stock.

This is positive news for motorists following other figures from the CAP Used Car Price Index which revealed a fall in second hand car prices compared to last year in December.

Although three year old cars in most sectors have been trading at lower prices this year than their exact equivalents a year before, this gap has reduced in recent months.

“The New Year will be a good time to trade in a high quality used car,” said Mike Hind, CAP spokesman.

“Our research shows that dealers are currently paying very strong prices to keep their stock levels up and that is unlikely to change any time soon.”

In September the market was 6.6 percent lower than last year, while December stands at just 4 percent lower indicating the market has taken a step forward.

The typical small family car now trades at around five percent less than last December and a large family car at just 4.1 percent lower.

The 4×4s however continue their high performance to end the year with the average second hand model worth almost 10 percent more than in December 2009.

Second Hand Car Parts

If you are looking to sell your car and could do with getting as much money for it as possible it may be worth giving it a bit of a makeover before offering it to traders.

You can buy new or second hand spare parts to replace old or worn ones online for affordable prices which will give your motor an instant lift.

The TyreSafe organisation which aims to raise awareness of tyre care and maintenance has welcomed new vehicle manufacturers to the team.

Toyota and Lexus have joined TyreSafe to help engage and educate drivers into good car tyre practice, and have started highlighting the critical role that tyres play in safe driving with a winter weather tyre programme.

This scheme will inform Toyota owners of the safety benefits of fitting winter tyres to help with grip on snow and ice.

“Tyres remain one of the most critical elements affecting driver and occupant safety,” said Steve Settle, Toyota & Lexus customer services director.

“We hope that through our membership of TyreSafe more drivers will pay attention to the condition of their tyres, helping to save even more lives.”

Car Tyre Safety Tips

Before you drive this winter make sure you have checked your car parts and especially car tyres to ensure they will endure the harsh driving conditions.

If your windscreen wipers are broken for example this could significantly affect your vision when either rain or snow cannot be removed quickly or efficiently, which could result in an accident.

Cold weather and getting stuck in traffic can also cause cars to overheat so if your thermometer starts creeping up divert the hot air by turning up the heat inside the car, it should keep the temperature in the engine down until you start moving again.

For car tyres check regularly for tread depth and tyre pressure.  For the tread the easiest way to check you are above the legal limit is to use the 20p test.

The tyre should have a tread depth of 1.6m across the central three quarters of the entire circumference.

If you can see the outer band of the 20p coin when inserting it into a groove then it is illegal and you should have a professional check them.

A new survey shows the most popular Christmas car part accessories are those which increase the comfort of the driver.

At the top of the Christmas list for car parts were satelight navigation systems (sat navs) with 58 percent voting it the most useful car accessory ever in a Vauxhall Aftersales report.

The recent launch of ‘Snow Socks’ by AutoSock which give better tread for car tyres through ice and snow were also shown to be a top contender.

A further 28 percent of votes went to parking sensor kits which help motorists park their cars in even the tightest of spaces.

Automatic distance regulation for vehicles on the move was also a new popular accessory to enhance the ease and comfort of driving in winter.

The self-cleaning and waxing systems took a significant 39 percent of the votes as many Brits show concern over the damage salt from gritting roads can have on paint work.

Concerning future accessories, many respondents were shown to show high enthusiasm for devices which allow vehicles to run on alternative energy sources.

Other accessories on the list included tow bars, child seats, safety packs, and roof boxes with fluffy dice found to be the least useful accessory.

Car Parts for Driver Comfort

If you are looking to buy your car a gift this Christmas to enhance your comfort while driving, or aid your ability to drive safely on hazardous winter roads try looking online for alternatives at discount prices.

There are many car accessories available online to give your car that extra boost to survive the winter such as new bumper parts, new windscreen wipers, car tyres and even whole body panels.

If your car requires some interior work you can buy car seats or covers from online stockists, and carpet to replace worn or old ones which could give your car an immediate lift.

The TyreSafe organisation which aims to raise awareness of tyre care and maintenance has welcomed new vehicle manufacturers to the team.

Toyota and Lexus have joined TyreSafe to help engage and educate drivers into good car tyre practice, and have started highlighting the critical role that tyres play in safe driving with a winter weather tyre programme.

This scheme will inform Toyota owners of the safety benefits of fitting winter tyres to help with grip on snow and ice.

“Tyres remain one of the most critical elements affecting driver and occupant safety,” said Steve Settle, Toyota & Lexus customer services director.

“We hope that through our membership of TyreSafe more drivers will pay attention to the condition of their tyres, helping to save even more lives.”

Car Tyre Safety Tips

Before you drive this winter make sure you have checked your car parts and especially car tyres to ensure they will endure the harsh driving conditions.

If your windscreen wipers are broken for example this could significantly affect your vision when either rain or snow cannot be removed quickly or efficiently, which could result in an accident.

Cold weather and getting stuck in traffic can also cause cars to overheat so if your thermometer starts creeping up divert the hot air by turning up the heat inside the car, it should keep the temperature in the engine down until you start moving again.

For car tyres check regularly for tread depth and tyre pressure.  For the tread the easiest way to check you are above the legal limit is to use the 20p test.

The tyre should have a tread depth of 1.6m across the central three quarters of the entire circumference.

If you can see the outer band of the 20p coin when inserting it into a groove then it is illegal and you should have a professional check them.

Motorists admit to having defective car parts a new study reveals with one in three admitting to having damaged windscreen wipers.

With a new wave of bad weather set to hit Britain’s roads motorists are urged to ensure their vehicles are up to the task of facing this, but Kwik Fit shows over 11 million car drivers are making this harder for themselves.

A dirty road spray could put visibility of the road at jeopardy and 56 percent of respondents admitted they do not check their wiper blades from one year to the next.

“In poor winter weather when conditions are already tough the last thing motorists need is impaired visibility,” said Ian Fraser, Kwik Fit chief executive.

“The extra workload placed on wiper blades this time of year can quickly finish them off but replacing them is cheap, quick and potentially lifesaving.”

There are four main wiper blade faults reported in the survey and the main one is where the blades leave smears on the windscreen, accounting for 16 percent of problems.

A further 4.5 million motorists or 13 percent said their blades made a squeaking sound, and one percent reported the wiper blades scratch the windscreen which risks permanent damage.

One million motorists, three percent, said their blades do not clear water away properly.

The study showed motorists under 25 years old were the most likely to have defective wiper blades with 58 percent reporting a problem.

Drivers aged 65 and over meanwhile were shown to take the best care of their wiper blades with 72 percent claiming they are in perfect condition.

Spare Car Parts

If your wiper blades are not in perfect condition for winter it is important you have them replaced so you give yourself the best chance when tackling ice-ridden roads.

Spare car parts including wiper blades can be purchased online for discounted prices so motorists need not worry about dishing out cash which is usually in short supply around Christmas.

Breakdowns during the cold snap have centred on frozen wipers and battery problems according to latest reports.

If your car struggled in the recent cold weather it may be an idea to change some car parts to ensure it does not breakdown unexpectedly when it may not be convenient to do so.

Battery issues have been the number one fault for call-outs according to the RAC since the start of the bad weather, with over 10,000 batteries fitted in the last two weeks.

Many people found themselves unable to start their cars and also had problems with frozen cooling systems.

“With a temporary end to the cold spell in sight, I would remind drivers to make sure their wipers are not frozen to the windscreen when they turn them on,” commented Alan Wilcock, RAC patrol ambassador of the year.

De-icing Car Parts Tips

Although the cold snap has eased, weather forecasters predict a white Christmas making it even more important motorists are aware of how to defrost vital car parts to commence their festive journeys.

The RAC reported that they had had many call-outs where motorists had blown a fuse or damaged the wiper motor by not releasing the wiper-blades.

To prevent this from happening to you, make sure you spray you wipers with de-icer spay or pour tepid water over them to prevent them from getting stuck.

Spare Car Battery Parts

If cost is a problem this close to Christmas try looking online for spare car batteries to replace your existing one, or any other car part you may require.

Most online stockists hold a variety of different make and model parts so motorists can simply order the part online or over the phone and the part is delivered straight to their front door.

For the fourth consecutive month the number of used cars sold has risen reflecting the tone of the nation seeking out bargains in the current economic downturn.

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association revealed used car finance increased seven percent by value and 11 percent by volume in October, compared with the same time last year.

This rise is believed to be due mainly to the Government’s scrappage scheme which led to a shortage of quality used cars and car parts.

Since this scheme and the 15 percent VAT rate ended, consumers have been forced to search the used car market to replace their motors.

“The continued revival of the used car market reflects a return to ‘traditional’ buying habits as buyers look to manage their budgets by seeking out affordable cars and finance,” said Paul Harrison, Motor Finance head.

New car sales dropped by 11 percent compared to October 2009 although the market had grown by 22 percent in the last twelve months.

The number of people buying private new cars on dealer finance exceeded 50 percent for the first time since July last year.

The business car finance sector remains volatile however the number of cars bought on finance fell by 11 percent in October compared to the same time last year.

Used Car Parts

The public sector spending cuts and the changes to the benefit bands will impact the majority of society renewing further the used car industry as people turn to cheaper options.

Owning a car is expensive enough without having to buy spare parts to replace ones which have become worn down due to the age of the car.

However, if you are unable to afford a new or used car you could try rejuvenating your current one by obtaining cheap car parts from an online stockist.

An Aston Martin is the top dream car for most Brits but many make do with a Ford Focus instead new research reveals.

The survey by Post Office Car Insurance showed 14 percent would choose an Aston Martin if they could afford it, and this rises to 17 percent of men.

While many dream of owning one of these vehicles, the overall cost of not only buying it, but running and maintaining car parts is likely to be unaffordable.

The report looked at what people would opt for instead of their dream car and those who would ideally choose an Aston Martin would settle for a Ford Focus, while the Jaguar the second car of choice would see many people settle for a Volkswagen Golf instead.

The Mercedes SL was the nation’s third dream car with these people more likely to choose an affordable Vauxhall Astra, the Toyota Prius in fourth with the reality alternative the BMW Saloon and the Audi A8 in fifth with a Ford Fiesta the cheaper choice.

“Even in the current economic outlook the nation’s desire of making their dream car become a reality remains strong,” said Gerry Barrett, Post Office car insurance head.

“For those who do make this dream come true, they must remember there are more costs to running a car than just the initial price-tag.”

The high place of the Toyota Prius shows the importance of owning an environmentally friendly car for many, and this was especially true in the North East where one in ten would choose a green car.

Car Affordability

Younger drivers were found to be more optimistic about owning their dream car in their lifetime, with a third of the 18-34 year-old group said they would be able to purchase it one day, and 67 percent believe they will get it before the age of 40.

Those who live in London and the South East of England were the most confident regionally about affording their dream car, with 22 percent and 20 percent respectively.  This is compared to just nine percent in the East Midlands.