Car Maintenance Tips for Car Safety Week

Doug Strachan of Age Co Car Insurance said:

“Motorists covered a record number of miles on the UK’s road network last year*. For a third (33%)** of later life drivers, breaking down and having to call for assistance is what they are most concerned about when driving and, with this in mind, it is important to ensure your car is in tip top shape before setting off.

“It’s Car Safety Week this week, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of proper car maintenance, reminding us all to think about giving our cars a once over, especially in light of the recent cold snap.”

Car maintenance tips for motorists to consider:

Put your mind at ease and give your car a once over before setting off on a long journey:

• ­Check tyre tread and pressure - deeper tread depth, such as 3mm, will give you better grip. The correct pressure can usually be found on the inside of the front doors of your car.
• Clean your lights and check they are working properly - dirt can prevent lights from giving a full glow (you can do this by facing a garage door and placing your foot on the brake pedal or turning on your headlights).
• ­Check and top up your oil, water and screen wash.
• Check your battery is in good condition and fully charged.
• If you are unsure about any of the above, consider asking a reputable garage to carry out the checks before you travel.
• Make sure you have full visibility from the driver’s seat and items such as ice on the windscreen do not obstruct your view.
• Check that your car insurance and breakdown cover is up to date, including making yourself aware of any excess fees.
• Check the most up to date weather forecast before you set off.
• If you have a mobile phone, check it is fully charged before leaving and has the number of a breakdown cover service stored in case of an emergency.

Age Co Car Insurance is administered by Ageas Retail Limited and provided by a limited panel of insurers.^^
Age Co Motor Breakdown Insurance is provided by Call Assist Ltd.

* Figures sourced from Provisional Road Traffic Estimates Great Britain: October 2014 – September 2015 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/475125/provisional-road-traffic-estimates-great-britain-oct-2014-sep-2015-report.pdf

** Research commissioned from One Poll on behalf of Age UK Enterprises. Total sample size of 2,000 of the 60+ age group. Fieldwork was undertaken 30/01/2015 – 13/02/2015.

^^ Details are available on request.

Age Co Car, Breakdown and Home Insurance are arranged and administered by Ageas Retail Limited. AgeCo Limited is a trading subsidiary of Age UK (registered charity no. 1128267). Both AgeCo Limited (Financial Services Register no. 311438) and Ageas Retail Limited (Financial Services Register no. 312468) are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. AgeCo Limited registered office: One America Square, 17 Crosswall, London, EC3N 2LB (registered in England and Wales, no. 03156159). Ageas Retail Limited Registered office: Ageas House, Hampshire Corporate Park, Templars Way, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO53 3YA (registered in England and Wales, no. 01324965).

Call Assist Ltd is registered in England and Wales. Registered Company No: 3668383. Registered Office address: Axis Court, North Station Road, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1UX. Call Assist Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register No: 304838

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