Drivers urged to check under bonnet ‘every 7 days’ | Tech News

Motorists are being urged to check under their bonnets each week as rodent injury is on the rise within the UK. According to the RAC, drivers are submitting more car insurance coverage claims for vehicle injury attributable to mice and rats than earlier than. 

Analysis discovered there was a 28% rise in car insurance coverage claims in 2024, with the average declare as high as £2,494. However, knowledge from Aviva reveals that in a single case, repairs exceeded an eye-watering £24,000, with the vehicle written off due to in depth inside and exterior injury. RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson confused that incidents are “more common” than highway customers could count on, with motorists urged to check for any indicators of animals this autumn and winter.

Alice defined: “Many of us are used to seeing the occasional rat or mouse on the street, but finding one in your car is not only a nasty shock but often the cause of very unwelcome and expensive damage. Unfortunately, incidents like this are more common than drivers might expect, particularly over the winter months when animals look to take shelter from the cold conditions.

“To reduce the risk of animal damage, check your car if it hasn’t been driven for a week or more. The best advice is to make sure no food – for pets or humans – is left inside. Also, check for unusual smells in the vehicle and be mindful of any dashboard warning lights that don’t disappear after a minute or two. Any foodstuff in garages should be kept in airtight containers or locked in metal bins.”

According to the RAC, rats and mice can chew by car wiring and eat car seatbelts in a main security risk. 

RAC patrols have additionally reported seeing animals hiding in car air filters, which means highway customers have to check their motors totally. Motorists ought to give you the option to declare for any injury in opposition to their car insurance coverage coverage, with animal destruction principally coated as half of the settlement. 

Alice added: “If you suspect your vehicle has sustained animal damage, whether that’s chewed cables, clogged air filters or a nibbled diesel priming bulb, you should contact a reputable mobile mechanic or use the RAC’s Approved Garage Network to find a local garage that provides quality repairs.

“Car insurance does cover animal damage, but it’s worth checking before you claim to see if the damage justifies the expense.”