Brits warned they risk paying £100s for surprising damage caused by household items left in cars in April heat-wave
MOTORISTS have been warned they risk paying thousands of pounds in damages if they leave household items such as vapes in their car during a heatwave.
British drivers were stunned to find out that they could be coughing up to £4,000 if they are caught slacking at the wheel.
According to numerous reports, the second half of April is shaping up nicely for the first warm spell of the year with temperatures potentially reach as high as the mid-20s or more.
But the balmy weather also poses a risk to Brit motorists with cluttered cars.
Experts at Uswitch Car Insurance have now revealed the most common items drivers should not leave in their car because they pose the highest risk to the dangers of heat exposure.
As the warm weather rolls on, this handy advice can help you stay cool and save money.
Smoke and fire damage could cost UK motorists the most, with repairs costing up to £1,764 to fix.
It isn’t a good idea to leave a can of hairspray or deodorant in the car during hot weather.
The canister’s internal pressure increases to the point of explosion at approximately 48°C, which raises the possibility of a fire.
Meanwhile, it could cost you around £1,250 to fix damage caused by your vape.
Although also posing a risk to the battery overheating, if a vape is left in a car in hot weather, you also run the risk of returning to a pretty big mess.
The increased temperature will cause the liquid to thin, which can leak from the tank into your car.
During warm spells the temperature in your car can rise to almost twice what it is outside – which could threaten the safety of your mobile device.
Your phone has a safe internal temperature it needs to maintain, but if it’s left in a hot environment for an extended period of time, it could end up shorting out, catching fire, or even exploding.
And this could set you back close to £2k if you are unlucky enough.
Cleaning gels and fizzy drinks could also cost you over £1,000 to clear up.
Although they’re a popular TikTok cleaning hack, most cleaning gels have a melting point.
Leaving the gel in a hot car can cause the ambient temperature to exceed this melting point, turning the gel runny and sticky and making it likely to stain the interior of your car.
Likewise, it goes without saying that carbonated cans left in a hot car can often burst.
This could result in an expensive mess, as leakage could stain the upholstery.
Food left in a hot car has the potential to accelerate and promote bacterial development.
Unpleasant smells are then released, which may remain in the interior of your car.
Complete cleaning and smell-removal treatments may be necessary to get rid of these odours, which can cost up to £1,250.
Uswitch Car Insurance expert, Leoni Moninska, said: “Car insurance only covers interior damage brought on by unforeseen events, like getting into an accident or someone breaking into it.
“For any damage you are responsible for, you will need to pay for any repairs out of your own pocket. This includes the damage to your vehicle’s interior caused by items prone to damage from heat exposure.
“Damage caused by stains can be costly to fix. Depending on the severity, on average, Brits could be forced to pay up to £1,250 for reupholstered front and rear seats due to intense stain damage.
“Damage caused by smoke and small burns can, on average, cost up to £1,764 to fix. This includes odour removal from the car interior, smoke damage cleaning costs and potential reupholstering costs.”
She continued: “In some cases, if a fire does occur, this could result in your car being written off completely and you having to buy a new one yourself.
“And finally, any mould damage to a vehicle’s interior can result in average UK valet fees of £150, depending on the damage. In worst case scenarios, damage can also result in reupholstering costs which could be as much as £1,250.
“To avoid this, we suggest that drivers be mindful of the weather and clean out their car daily of any potential hazards that could cause damage from heat exposure.”