British motorists are being warned the big freeze could cause increased car part failures with the cost of an average repair bill reaching £408.

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 statists reveal the number of people owning four or more top-end cars is on the increase.

According to Aviva – car insurance provider, some of their clients own more than 30 high quality cars showing owning multiple motors is no longer something only the A list do.

They showed that these car collections are often more cared for like a treasured piece of art rather than for transport, as staff are employed to look after them for their owners.

The average vehicle mileage is 5000 miles a year for these multiple car owners motors, which is two thirds of the national average.

“The popularity of owning a collection of high value cars is growing among the wealthy of the population generally – it is not simply the preserve of A-list footballers and pop stars,” said Scott Leonard, Aviva high net worth underwriting manager.

“High value cars can be assets that appreciate in value too – some classic cars with famous prior owners have changed hands for millions of pounds.”

This rise is in part thought to be due to investors looking to find new ways to invest their money in the current economic climate as collectable cars hold their resale value.

A typical prestige car amounts to a value of £350,000 which is just over 69 times the value of the average new family car.

Top 10 Prestige Cars

The top 10 prestige cars quoted for in 2010 are:

Porsche

Bentley

Aston Martin

Ferrari

Jaguar

Mercedes

Range Rover

Maserati

Lamborghini

Rolls Royce

Buy Prestige Car Parts Online

If you collect high value cars and require a replacement car part to ensure it retains its value, try investigating online stockists.

The types of spare parts available on the internet range from second hand parts to top end replacement parts for cars such as Porsches and Bentleys.

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.

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.

New research proves the name Chelsea Tractor is more accurate than previous thought as this area of London has the highest proportion of 4×4s anywhere in the UK.

Over 2.5 million motorists were surveyed across the UK and showed although there are many 4×4s in rural areas of Scotland – the majority were found in leafy urban areas in London and the Home Counties, according to Diamond.

Chelsea is at the top of the list with motorists only driving on city roads for shopping trips or the school run, this area accounted for 17.8 percent of the number of 4×4s vehicles in the UK.

This was followed by Kensington, London with 17.4 percent and Banchory, Aberdeenshire, 17.0 percent, while areas in Kent and Surrey also featured several times on the top ten list.

“You’d expect farmers to be among the most likely to drive a 4×4 but the variety of other jobs in the list emphasises how popular 4×4s have become away from what they were originally deigned for,” said Elwyn Gedrych, Diamond managing director.

“Many people see them as a status symbol, and some people perceive them to be safer for passengers.”

Haulage contractors are most likely to own this type of vehicle followed by bank directors in second place and in third are farmers.  Property developers, stockbrokers and publicans also featured in the top ten occupations of those who own a 4×4.

The research also showed men were more likely than women to own a 4×4, with the most popular the Range Rover followed by the Land Rover Freelander and Honda CRV.

4×4 Car Parts

If you own a 4×4 and require spare car parts try looking online as most online stockists hold a variety of different parts available for motorists immediately.

Most Range Rover, Land Rover and Honda 4×4 parts are available online and often at good prices.

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.

British car lovers have admitted they will be buying a Christmas present for their car this year in addition to their family and friends.  Find out where to buy quality car parts at half the price.

Research has shown an astonishing one in 10 motorists buy their car a Christmas present every year, Manheim Auctions revealed.

A fluffy dice is one of the most popular gifts along with a new air freshener or interior car parts such as a set of feet mats.  While some drivers were shown to treat their car to a good clean or pay for a valet service.

“Some drivers are just mad about their cars and use Christmas as the time to spend a little bit of money on their motor,” said Craig Mailey, Manheim Auctions’ marketing director.

“If it means more people are taking care of their cars, ensuring they’re well looked after, it can’t be a bad thing.”

Car Parts Online

Research by First Direct has shown Christmas this year is set to be a struggle financially for many of the population, with a third of their customers admitting they will go into their overdraft in December to fund the presents they will buy.

Keeping costs to a minimum and saving where you can is important in the current economic climate, and even those extravagant motorists splashing out on their cars this Christmas can make savings on the parts they purchase by looking online for cheaper alternatives.

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.

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.

British motorists are being warned to prepare for the current cold snap before setting off on journeys, but new research shows many have no clue how to check important car parts.

Just under half of the driving population were found by The Co-operative Insurance to have experienced some kind of breakdown with their vehicle.   A further one in 100 had broken down over 10 times.

Worryingly though the majority are unaware of how to check important car parts such as brakes, for which 59 percent cannot check they are working properly, and 49 percent do not know how to change a tyre.

Top of the list is checking brake fluid, which 68 percent of motorists are unaware of how to do, followed by 66 percent who cannot change a fuse and 62 percent unable to check water coolant levels.

“Breaking down can be a stressful event for motorists,” said Grant Mitchell, The Co-operative’s head of motor insurance.

“With the current cold snap; motorists would be advised to check that they have adequate breakdown cover.”

The rest of the top ten motor maintenance mystifiers were: Changing a windscreen wiper, which 55 percent cannot do; 49 percent cannot check the tyre tread depth; 35 percent are unable to check tyre pressure; 29 percent cannot test oil levels, and 27 percent do not know how to top up windscreen wash.

Check Car Parts Are Working Properly

The most common cause of breakdowns according to the data is a flat tyre, accounting for 16 percent, 12 percent are due to flat batteries and electrical faults account for 10 percent.

It is important to learn how to check these vital car parts to prevent a breakdown from happening or to deal with one quickly and efficiently if you are stranded on the road.

If you are having trouble checking these car parts take it to a specialist who may be able to show you how to do it, and if any car parts need replacing you can look online for cheap spares.

Many classic cars will be getting ready for their winter hibernation to ensure the harsh cold British climate does not ruin important car parts.

“I’ve come across countless examples of vehicles that have deteriorated more through improper storage than if they’d been driven through a damp British winter on salt-covered roads,” said Mike Williams from Beaufort Restoration Service.

Owners are urged to plan ahead and take the following steps to ensure their motor is fit for driving the next time it hits the roads.

How to Look After Your Car During the Winter

When a car is unused for a number of months certain car parts may become damaged and be less likely to work the next time you want to drive it.

Before you start the engine for the first time after a period of rest take a look at the general condition of the car and any signs of rust or leaks from certain car parts.

While you are inspecting the car you can charge up the battery and clean out battery posts to get rid of any dust or dirt that has accumulated.

Make sure you leave about a quarter of a tank of petrol in the car and not to leave it empty as this may cause rust to form.  It is not recommended to fill up too much however, as petrol deteriorates as it evaporates which it may do over a long period where it is not used.

You should check the oil levels and fill up if necessary, it is also possible oil may have leaked through to the engine cylinders – you may be required to give these a clean before starting the engine.

Take the time to treat the interior upholstery if you have leather seats as it is best to have them prepared for summer when they may become cracked due to the heat.

Lastly, when you start the engine walk around the car and look closely for any leaks and listen to the sound of the engine and how healthy it sounds.  It is important to take the time to do these maintenance checks before you start to drive again to ensure all car parts are working to a high standard for safe driving.

Follow these top tips on how to cut the cost of running a car.

Owning a car and keeping it on the road can be extremely expensive, especially given the current economic climate and the general public’s fears for our economic futures. Find out how to keep the cost of running a car down with our top tips.

October saw UK motorists see a 1p increase in fuel duty, while the increase in VAT in January will see a further 2.5p increase on the price of a litre of petrol.

Research shows that almost a third of all households struggle to find extra money to pay for an unexpected bill each month, and the main cause of these unexpected bills is car trouble.

Recently published research from Warranty Direct found that the average labour rate for franchised car dealers is now £90.59, per hour, with independent garage costs standing at £55.90 per hour.

A good money-saving tip for cutting costs, if you can, is to do minor repair work yourself, such as replacing a faulty brake light, or wing mirror, as it will save you plenty of money in unnecessary labour costs.

Good quality second hand or used car parts are also available to purchase online, too, at discounted prices, saving you considerable money in the process.

“Owning a car is not a luxury, but a necessity for many people as they need a vehicle to travel to work. Therefore when things go wrong with a car, it can be costly,” says Gareth Jones, Online Marketing Manager at Moneyexpert.com, who believes that despite the costs involved, there are a number of ways for consumers to cut costs on the road.

“Everyone knows that shopping around for the best deal on your car insurance is a must and is something that can be easily done online.”

Moneyexpert also advise consumers to shop around for the very best deal on their car finance, if they need to borrow money for a new car purchase. The amount of interest you pay and the length of time the loan is for will influence how much you are actually paying for the car. Also, compare car loan providers online to get the best deals.