Be nervous! Breakdowns threaten Xmas drivers

Thousands of Fords, Vauxhalls and Volkswagens will break down on Christmas morning – you have been warned.

The bods at Warranty Direct have been crunching their numbers and have concluded that almost 25,000 Christmas lunches are going to be delayed simply because so many automobiles break down at this time of year.

Not going, cold turkey

Warranty Direct reckons over a single third (36.5%) of vehicles from all tends to make and models break down every single year. Slap a bit of extrapolation on that quantity, and that means around 11 million vehicles break down in the UK each year – or 30,000 each day

Which includes Christmas day! And if there’s an average of 3 folks in every, it amounts to a lot of cold turkey dinners.

Par for the Corsa?

Vauxhall Corsa drivers are the most most likely to be impacted on the massive day, says Warranty Direct. There are 1.1 million of them registered in the UK, which means close to 1,200 could break down.

It does not really feel extremely festive, but WD has compiled a handy table of the vehicles most likely to break down on Christmas morning…

Make and model	Quantity of registered examples	Annual Breakdown rate (%)	Predicted number of breakdowns by model
Ford Focus	1,450,876	24.5	974
Ford Fiesta	1,345,298	16	590
Vauxhall Corsa	1,160,610	36	1,145
Vauxhall Astra	1,099,916	33.6	1,013
Volkswagen Golf	960,418	32.6	858
BMW 3-Series	647,428	38.1	676
Renault Clio	614,082	31	522
Volkswagen Polo	582,473	32.6	520
Ford Mondeo	509,007	33	460
Peugeot 206	470,576	29.5	380

Higher beamers

The numbers don’t appear excellent for BMW 3-Series drivers, as the motor has the highest annual breakdown price at 38.1%.

David Gerrans, Warranty Direct managing director, said: “A large quantity of households count on to travel to see relatives on Christmas day sadly, breakdowns could outcome in thousands of cold turkeys.

“The winter is typically tougher on several electrical and mechanical components, which can enhance the possibilities of a breakdown. The only choice is to be vigilant when it comes to upkeep.”

So there’s yet yet another thing you need to get ready ahead of Christmas. Fortunately, we’ve put with each other a fast video covering the main items you need to check prior to Thursday.

Of course breakdown cover goes a extended way too, as some problems cannot be predicted or prevented.

You’re probably sick to death of online shopping at this point, but our breakdown cover channel will get you sorted in next to no time, and give you the peace of thoughts in realizing that, if the worst does take place, you can nevertheless get where you’re going ahead of the sprouts are all soggy and the plonk has gone flat.

Have a look for your self right here.

Be nervous! Breakdowns threaten Xmas drivers

Driving @ Xmas – keep-safe checklist

Connected: Christmas travel update

Christmas is coming, and the targeted traffic jam is getting fat.

Millions of us take to the roads to check out pals and family more than Christmas and the New Year – and the last issue we want is a breakdown or mechanical strife, or to be unprepared for one of the numerous difficulties the weather or the roads can throw at us.

With that in thoughts, here’s a checklist to assist make certain hassle-cost-free motoring more than the festive season.

Verify, mate…

If you’ve any long journeys planned, make positive your vehicle is prepared:

• verify the pressure and tread of your tyres


• top up your screenwash.


• verify your battery – if it is a lot more than 5 years old, you need to most likely replace it


• top up your engine oil


• verify your wiper blades.

Carry a kit

Make positive you’re prepared for each eventuality by carrying an emergency kit. Consist of:

• warm blankets


• hot drinks and snacks


• high visibility


• charged mobile telephone


• shovel


• torch


• wellingtons


• policy documents and emergency make contact with numbers.

Take out breakdown cover

Christmas is expensive sufficient with no having to be concerned about steep garage get in touch with-out fees if anything goes incorrect with your car. Complete breakdown cover begins from around £30 a year so is effectively worth contemplating.

Plan your route

Check for any road operates or delays Ahead of you leave house. Here’s our Christmas travel update.

Check the weather

Check weather reports prior to you leave property. If the weather is bad and the guidance is not to travel, delay your journey until it is safe.

Fill up just before you go

Make certain you have got a full tank of fuel just before you set off. Filling up at a local garage is most likely to be less expensive than stocking up on the motorway.

Take entertainment

A long journey can seem a complete lot longer if you’ve got modest young children clambering for your interest in the back. Take lots of factors to maintain them entertained – magazines, audio-books, iPads and transportable DVD players must all buy you a few hours of peace.

Rest when you want to

If your journey is going to take you many hours, keep in mind to take regular breaks. If you can, share the driving with an additional loved ones member, so you can each take it in turns to rest.

By no means drink and drive

Never ever ever get behind the wheel of your car if you have had a drink. Even just 1 drink can impair your judgement, so book a taxi for your journey house prior to you go on any nights out. And do not assume you’re protected to drive the morning right after if you have had a huge one the night ahead of – probabilities are you’ll still be more than the limit.

Driving @ Xmas – keep-safe checklist

Driving @ Xmas – stay-safe checklist

Associated: Christmas travel update

Christmas is coming, and the traffic jam is obtaining fat.

Millions of us take to the roads to check out close friends and family more than Christmas and the New Year – and the last issue we want is a breakdown or mechanical strife, or to be unprepared for a single of the several troubles the climate or the roads can throw at us.

With that in thoughts, here’s a checklist to assist make certain hassle-free of charge motoring over the festive season.

Verify, mate…

If you have any extended journeys planned, make positive your car is prepared:

• verify the pressure and tread of your tyres


• leading up your screenwash.


• verify your battery – if it’s far more than 5 years old, you must possibly replace it


• best up your engine oil


• verify your wiper blades.

Carry a kit

Make positive you’re prepared for every single eventuality by carrying an emergency kit. Consist of:

• warm blankets


• hot drinks and snacks


• higher visibility


• charged mobile telephone


• shovel


• torch


• wellingtons


• policy documents and emergency contact numbers.

Take out breakdown cover

Christmas is expensive enough with no getting to worry about steep garage contact-out charges if some thing goes incorrect with your auto. Comprehensive breakdown cover begins from around £30 a year so is nicely worth considering.

Program your route

Verify for any road performs or delays Before you leave property. Here’s our Christmas travel update.

Check the weather

Check weather reports before you leave house. If the climate is negative and the suggestions is not to travel, delay your journey until it is safe.

Fill up prior to you go

Make sure you’ve got a complete tank of fuel prior to you set off. Filling up at a local garage is likely to be cheaper than stocking up on the motorway.

Take entertainment

A long journey can seem a whole lot longer if you have got small kids clambering for your interest in the back. Take lots of issues to keep them entertained – magazines, audio-books, iPads and transportable DVD players need to all acquire you a handful of hours of peace.

Rest when you need to

If your journey is going to take you many hours, keep in mind to take standard breaks. If you can, share the driving with yet another household member, so you can each and every take it in turns to rest.

Never ever drink and drive

In no way ever get behind the wheel of your automobile if you’ve had a drink. Even just one drink can impair your judgement, so book a taxi for your journey home ahead of you go on any nights out. And don’t assume you’re safe to drive the morning following if you have had a big 1 the night just before – probabilities are you will nonetheless be over the limit.

Driving @ Xmas – stay-safe checklist