17th November, 2021

It may sound tempting, but think again before starting your engine whilst you scrape your windscreen on frosty winter mornings - as you could be breaking the law, or tempting a passing thief.

You’d be surprised that if you’re parked on a public road at the time you’ll be committing an offence under Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, for not being in control of your car *(Legislation.gov.uk).

Leaving your car empty with the engine idling also gives passing thieves the perfect opportunity to drive off with your vehicle and will almost certainly invalidate your insurance claim.

As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, police forces up and down the country issue the same warnings to motorists.

Such rules apply at any time of the day or year – and motorists are generally advised to switch off if it looks like they’re going to be waiting for more than a minute to deter thieves and to even help tackle emissions.

We know how easy it can be to leave your vehicle unoccupied – even just for a minute. So here are a few handy tips to keep in mind:

1) Locking your vehicle – and checking you haven’t left any windows or the sunroof open – is a habit worth forming, as it greatly reduces the chances of being targeted by an opportunist thief.

2) It might sound obvious, but keep your keys safe, out of view when at home, and away from your front door as thieves have been known to fish for them with a stick and hook through the letterbox.

3) Criminals are on the look-out for vehicles where the wing mirrors are still out because it’s a tell-tale sign that the vehicle has been left unlocked. So, if your vehicle has wing mirrors that fold in automatically when locked, make sure you lock it properly.

4) Thieves like to use electronic devices to jam the electronic signal from your key fob to lock your vehicle, so you should always manually check your vehicle has locked before walking away.

5) It’s always advisable to avoid parking in dark and secluded areas. It’s worth an extra five or ten-minute walk if it means your vehicle is left in a well-lit and busier street.

6) Fitting a secure steering wheel, gear lever or clutch pedal security device can give your vehicle added protection.

Nobody wants to find that their vehicle has been stolen – especially not in the expensive build up to the festive season.

We hope that by following the above tips, the chances of your vehicle being stolen this winter will be reduced.

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** Please note that the above information has been gathered through secondary research. The information provided is not based on our opinion. You should seek further guidance and information before making an informed decision.