Diesel vehicle drivers are facing a possible £1,000 bill when they start up after prolonged lockdown, unless they take precautions, warns warranty company Motor Easy.
Duncan McClure Fisher, CEO at MotorEasy said, “Throughout the three lockdowns, we’ve seen a spike in battery and alternator claims as a result of cars not being used as much. Batteries are not getting the chance to charge up like they would on longer journeys and it’s putting the entire system under load.
“We’re seeing a lot of claims for diesel cars in particular, as they’re engineered to take on longer distance driving. If the diesel particulate filters don’t get the chance to warm up from longer journeys, they clog up, and eventually you’ll end up with an engine light flashing and a £1000 bill.”
Key Findings:
- Flat car batteries were the most common car problem in lockdown, with a staggering 41,300 average monthly searches on the web.
- Searches for ‘Charge car battery’ increased by 37% in lockdown months
- UK drivers are more germ-conscious when in lockdown – there was a 25% increase in searches for ‘how to clean car’ than in normal months.