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.

If the current cold snap continues Britain may run out of road salt to grit ice-ridden roads, making it more important for motorists to check car parts are up to the task of driving in these conditions.

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.

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.

Families planning to take to the roads over the Christmas period are being urged to take necessary preparations to ensure safe travel.

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.

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.

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.

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.

UK motorists were questioned about recent automotive issues in a new survey to gauge public opinion in this arena.

Motoring Matters’ monthly report analysed the frequency, tone sentimentality and consensus of posts made online by the public across a variety of news channel, car part message boards, and motoring forums.

November’s top five discussed or debated issues were:

1                     Rising vehicle labour costs

2                     Big Brother speed cameras due to launch in 2013

3                     Closure of the M4 bus lane

4                     Robowardens

5                     The big freeze causing transport chaos

The first and main point of concern was the rise in vehicle labour costs which have increased by about 5.81 percent in a year.

Franchised dealers charge £90.59 up from £87.19 last year, while independents stand at £55.90, up from £52.69 in 2009.

The new wave of speed cameras are set to hit the roads in 2013 – which will also monitor tax disks, insurance cover and if you are wearing a seat belt or tail-gating someone, along with speeding.

Around 80 percent of those questioned were against this new system claiming it would make Britain closer to becoming a Big Brother like state.

The closure of the M4 bus lane has sparked a mixed view, with some angry about the increased pollution it will cause while others are pleased with the reopening of the 3.5 mile stretch for all vehicles.

The news that traffic wardens will be equipped with new camera headsets and DVLA hand-held computers was also not well received.

The latest snow blast has made many question Britain’s ability to handle these situations when the 3,300 gritters failed to treat the roads in time.

Make Savings with Cheap Car Parts

The cost of motoring is becoming more expensive, so if your vehicle requires a replacement car part to cope with the harsh weather conditions try investigating online stockists who supply them at discounted prices.

A new report shows the top 10 cars that have retained their value best from their original list price three years ago.

The vehicle valuations authority, Glass, revealed the car that had retained the highest value, at the top of the list, was the Volkswagen Tiguan (168bhp) SE 4Motion 5d 0 with a 68 percent residual value, and a £2,394 average annual depreciation of £2,394.

In second place came the MINI 1.6 Cooper 3d, 65.9 percent with a depreciation of £1,462, followed by the Honda CR-V 2.2 CTDi (138bhp) SE 5d, 64.3 percent with a depreciation of £2,356.

“Whilst the nation is in the grip of austerity measures and cost-cutting, it seems that used car buyers are opting to pay the highest prices – relative to original list price – for cars that reflect their chosen lifestyle and image,” said Adrian Rushmore, Glass’s managing editor.

Seven out of ten of the top 10 places were occupied by 4×4s or SUVs which have shown, despite fuel price hikes, that their car parts have performed well in the used car market.

Superminis meanwhile did not feature at all on the top 10 list due to the Scrappage Scheme coming to an end meaning demand exceeded supply so buyers opted for a used model instead.

The average trade value in the top 10 list was £16,500, making the retail selling price close to the £18,500 figure.

Following the top three places the list continued:

4^th Land Rover Freelander 2 GS Td4 auto

5^th Audi Q7 3.0TDI (237bhp) Quattro S Line Tip

6^th Land Rover Discovery 3 2.7 TD (190bhp)

7^th Audi TT Coupe 2.0T FSI (197bhp)

8^th Nissan Qashqai 1.6 (113bhp) 2WD Visia

9^th Land Rover Range Rover 2.7TD Sport (187bhp) S Auto

10^th Audi A5 2.7 TDI (187bhp) Sport Coupe Multitronic