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.

The onset of freezing temperatures is causing havoc on Britain’s roads making it important motorists adapt their Christmas travel plans.

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.

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.

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.

Parents are being urged to get their children to monitor their bad driving habits which can cause damage to car parts and even accidents.

RoadSafe recommends asking children to rate their parents driving on car journeys to help them get out of bad habits, and to get children more aware of car safety measures for when they eventually drive.

Research has shown that when children learn to drive they are more likely to take risks if they have witnessed their parents do so.

Road accidents are the biggest cause of death among children and young people in the UK, making it vital parents do everything in their power to monitor their own driving so they influence their children correctly.

In 2009 more than ten 17-24 year old drivers were killed weekly in car crashes in the UK.

“Encouraging children to assess your skill and behaviour behind the wheel may sound like asking for trouble, but it is a good exercise for the family,” said Adrian Walsh, RoadSafe spokesman.

“They may not be old enough to drive but the sooner you get children interested in safe road use and driving, the better.”

Bad Driving Habits

RoadSafe found the following were the most common dangerous driving habits many motorists fail to correct, which could 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.

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.

UK petrol prices have reached a record high with petrol stations charging 121.76p per litre and 125.73p per litre for diesel.  Find out how to save money on car parts to reduce your motoring costs.

At the beginning of the year petrol prices stood at, on average, 109.88p per litre for petrol and 11.52p per litre for diesel.

Petrol is now 11.88p per litre more expensive and diesel is 14.21p per litre more expensive than a year ago.

“It comes at a particularly bad time for drivers who have struggled with appalling winter weather and often see their fuel drain away while stuck in snow-bound traffic jams,” said Edmund King, AA president.

A 50 litre of petrol now costs an extra £5.94 than a year ago and £7.11 more for diesel, with the extra monthly cost of petrol for a two-car family amounting to about £25.23.

Motorists are set to struggle further with the increase in fuel duty and VAT to increase this price more in the New Year to 124p per litre for petrol.

Buy Cheap Car Parts

If your motoring finance is struggling to cope with the increasing cost of petrol, and buying car parts to replace damaged or worn ones is too much of a strain on the purse try looking online for cheaper alternatives.

The early winter snow has caused many British cars to take a significant strain to cope with those conditions, some have over-heated, tyres may require replacing on others, while windscreens and windows may also have become scratched.

If your car could do with a winter makeover to help it cope with the rest of the bad weather to come in the New Year you can acquire quality car parts from online stockists who can send you the part straight to your home.

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

The Government has announced a renewed commitment to investigate MOT tests and whether their frequency should be reviewed.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists, in support of the review, said it is essential the underlying reasons for relatively new cars failing MOT tests should be investigated prior the MOT test frequency is changed.

Around 21 percent of cars around three years old have car parts which fail MOT test data shows, with a total cost to UK motorists of £464 million a year.

Questions the review will look into include investigating why the European standard four year first-test requirement sees better results than the UK’s three years.

In the UK it is only garages that carry out the test and then supply the car parts and labour to rectify the faults.

This is in comparison to some European countries where testing and rectifying procedures are separated – and this poses the question of whether this procedure could benefit the British MOT policy.

Neil Greig, IAM director of policy and research asked whether the high failure rates could be down to motorists failing to maintain their cars properly.

Spare Car Parts

If you have an MOT test coming up you can acquire cheap car parts in good condition off online stockists beforehand.

These parts can be purchases online via the stockists’ website or by phoning up and ordering them to be delivered straight to your front door.

Spare car parts which could fail the MOT include car tyres with less than the legal minimum amount of tread depth, or exhaust parts causing the levels of exhaust fumes to be inefficient.

Other parts which may become damaged from constant use are suspension parts due to pot holes, which are a common problem on Britain’s roads due to the recent weather expanding gaps when the water in a hole freezes.