An astonishing 91 percent of UK motorists say they have seen an increase in the number of potholes on roads, and with the recent cold snap this is likely to worsen. 

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.

Find out how bad driving habits can cause damage to spare car parts.

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.

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.

Those working between Christmas day and New Year will benefit from quieter commuter traffic research predicts.

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.

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.

A recent survey has revealed that motorists find car parks one of the most stressful things about the festive season.  Find out where to get car parts to replace ones scratched from packed shopping malls.

Of 3,000 drivers surveyed, the biggest worry surrounding Christmas parking was being issued a penalty parking ticked for a late return, this scored 7.2 (where 10 was the most stressful).

The Autoquake research showed the next biggest irritation was other people’s bad parking scoring on average 6.7, with the difficulty of finding a free space scoring 6.5.

“Christmas shopping can be a test of patience,” said Dermot Halpin, Autoquake’s CEO.

“From heavy traffic, to full car parks, to the worry of picking up a penalty ticket if you’re a few minutes late getting back to the car, it’s a festive headache.”

Women were shown to find these situations more stressful with an average score of 7 for finding a free space compared to 5.7 for men.

Parking spaces that are too small caused a stress factor of 6.8 for women and 5.5 for men.

Reversing into a space for females was also quite hard as they scored it as 5.6 with only a 3.8 from men.

Where can I buy cheap car parts?

If you have had to fit into a tight space in an overcrowded car park over the festive period, or have had trouble reversing you may have had certain car parts damaged in the process.

Car parts such as body panels are the most common part of a car scratched or dented in car parks as eager shoppers open their doors too quickly, hitting the car next to them.

Wing mirrors that do not fold in are also usually the first to get scratched by pillars or from other cars’ wing mirrors jutting out.

For those who have trouble reversing into spaces the rear bumper may also need replacing if the distance was misjudged and the back wall hit.

For all these car parts, motorists can purchase them online at various stockists at a good price so they need not worry about digging into their Christmas budget to get their car back on form.

Spare car parts should be a must-buy purchase in the run-up to Christmas if motorists are looking to protect their cars during winter driving.

The festive period is a busy time of year for car breakdown services such as the AA and RAC. Bad winter weather, lots of traffic and congestion mean that many cars simply give up on their drivers, leaving Christmas plans in ruins.

“Breaking down is bad at any time of the year,” says Gordon Morris, Managing Director of Age UK Enterprises.

 “However, as anticipation and excitement of festivities is upon us the event can be even more frustrating at Christmas time.

Family and friends are not always able to help and emergency services are not obliged to respond to break down call outs.”

Get The Best Car Parts

But if you plan your journey well in advance it is possible to minimize any potential disruption to your travel plans and general car and car part maintenance could save you a lot of wasted time and money in the long run.

Buying good quality spare car parts online – even if you do not need them right now – could be a good tip, so that if you do run into motoring problems you have spare car parts to replace damaged ones.

Buy spare car parts from a reputable online supplier of reliable used and new car parts if you want to save money, while also ensuring that you have the quality product you require, too.

Winter Driving Car Tips

Other good tips for motorists should include getting your battery checked before you set out on a long journey, check your tyre tread and pressures, check your brake and fog lights are working properly and Don’t forget to check your oil, water and antifreeze levels before setting off.

Follow these tips for winter driving to ensure that your child is positioned properly in their car seat when you hit the road.

A poll of 1,000 mums has shown that 76.3% of British parents put their children into car seats while they are wearing a thick coat or snowsuit.

According to the UK Department of Transport, 60 to 80% of all car seats are used incorrectly, with harness tension being the single biggest failing. Getting the correct harness tension is even more difficult in winter as it is hard to tell whether you have a good harness fit if a child is wearing a thick coat.

The survey conducted by baby company Morrck with parents of children aged four and under shows that bulky winter clothes can result in car seat harness straps being too loose to be effective.

Worryingly more than half (55.9%) are unaware that this can affect the harness tension, potentially placing their child in danger should they be involved in a road traffic accident.

The festive period is a busy time of year for car breakdown services such as the AA and RAC. Winter driving can be dangerous, too, which is why it is important for you and your family that your car is roadworthy and any faulty car parts replaced.

If you are driving a car that you know could do with some maintenance, but you are put off because of the high cost of garage servicing charges, you can save money by looking for car parts online.

Most car parts such as tyres, wheels, engines, suspension, and body panels can be purchased at discounted prices online, but some online stockists also offer interior parts such as foot mats, seat covers and car carpet, too.

Additionally, the stockists tend to have a bigger supply of car parts for varying makes or model vehicles making it more likely you will find the part you require.

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.

The recent ice and snow has seen a 23 percent rise in car insurance claims as cars struggle on Britain’s slippery roads.

The AA analysed these claims showing the most common snow and ice related accidents occurred within moving traffic, when cars slide into other vehicles, kerbs, barriers, police cars and one car even collided with a wild boar.

Tail-end collisions at traffic lights or roundabouts were common accidents, where cars fail to stop in time crashing into car bumpers, underestimating the effect of ice and snow on stopping distances.

The second highest type of claim was found to be for bumps with unattended parked cars.

“When there is widespread snow and ice, the proportion of claims where the icy conditions are a contributory factor increases significantly,” said Simon Douglas, AA Insurance director.

“Most people are driving more slowly than usual in such conditions so the majority of claims are at a relatively slow speed and damage tends to be less costly to repair.”

Hitting the kerb was the third highest reason motorists have claimed in the snow and ice week, with 43 reported, followed by hitting walls, fences or hedges accounting for 34 claims.

There were 32 claims for hitting lamp posts, road signs, telegraph poles or bollards, 31 ended up in a ditch, while 20 had incidents at home.

Spare Car Parts Following a Collision

If the snow and ice has caused you to have an accident and you require new car parts to replace ones which were damaged, investigate online stockists to get a good deal.

Many people will be strapped for cash this time of year busy buying presents for family and friends, so dishing out money for spare tyres, suspension parts, or even new bumpers, are an expense most people will need to keep to a minimum.