Almost 5 million UK drivers are unprepared for winter car conditions, research finds
Only one in five (19%) car owners check their car battery ahead of colder weather, leaving many at risk of breakdowns
New research from Go.Compare Car Insurance has revealed that millions of UK drivers are failing to prepare their vehicles for winter, with many skipping essential maintenance checks that could keep them safe on the road.
While the arrival of colder weather prompts many households to prepare their homes, Go.Compare’s latest findings suggest that this care isn’t being extended to cars. The research found that just 19% of drivers check their battery before winter, despite cold conditions being one of the biggest culprits behind battery failure.*
In fact, around one in ten aren’t planning on carrying out any checks (9%), equating to 4.8 million Brits.** Just over a third (36%) of drivers said they’ve checked or plan to check their tyres, while only one in seven (14%) will put a breakdown or emergency kit in their car this season.
The comparison site warns that these oversights could leave motorists vulnerable to breakdowns during the colder months, when flat batteries, frozen screens, and slippery roads are more likely to strike.
|
Vehicle maintenance task |
% of Brits who have done or plan to do the task before autumn/winter |
|
Check your tyres |
36% |
|
Put an ice scraper in the car |
26% |
|
Top up your antifreeze |
26% |
|
Check wiper blades |
25% |
|
Check the oil level and change it if necessary |
23% |
|
Switch to a windscreen wash that won't freeze |
20% |
|
Check your battery |
19% |
|
Put a breakdown/emergency kit in the car |
14% |
|
Change your tyres |
14% |
|
N/A - I don't plan to do/I haven't done any checks |
9% |
Tom Banks, expert at Go.Compare Car Insurance, says: “Preparing your car for the winter weather isn’t just about preventing a breakdown; it’s about helping you drive safer in more challenging conditions. With poor visibility, icy roads and longer stopping distances, simple checks, such as topping up antifreeze and checking the tread on your tyres, can make a big difference.
“Keeping an emergency kit in your car is also a good idea, should the worst happen. A blanket, a pack of biscuits, a bottle of water and a spare power bank could help you out more than you think if you’re stuck on the roads.”
For more tips on driving in the winter, head to Go.Compare’s winter driving guide.
Contact Information
Rubie Barker
Notes to editors
*The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,002 UK Nationally Representative Consumers. The data was collected between 22.09.2025 - 24.09.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.
**8.74% of the nationally representative sample said they don’t plan to carry out any checks. The 16+ 2022 ONS population figure is 55,190,347. Therefore, 8.74% of 55,190,347 equates to 4,823,636.
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Go.Compare is a comparison website that enables people to compare the costs and features of a wide variety of insurance policies, financial products and energy tariffs.
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When it launched in 2006, it was the first comparison site to focus on displaying policy details rather than just listing prices, with the aim of helping people to make better-informed decisions when buying their insurance. It is this approach to comparing products that secured the company an invitation to join the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) in 2008, and it is still the only comparison site to be a member of this organisation.
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More information can be found here www.gocompare.com or here https://www.futureplc.com/brands/.