Nine in 10 Brits don’t realise this common habit could void their car insurance
- 68% of drivers surveyed admit to illegal behaviour behind the wheel
- One in 10 drivers surveyed use a mobile device while stationary with the engine on
- 90% of Brits don’t realise some everyday habits could be illegal
According to new research from Go.Compare Car Insurance, most motorists surveyed are unaware that many everyday driving habits could land them in trouble with the law and invalidate their insurance.*
When asked about their regular behaviour behind the wheel, nearly seven in ten (68%)** admitted to doing at least one activity that could fall under driving without due care and attention. This offence can carry 3–9 points and a fine, as well as leading to a driver’s own -damage car insurance claim being refused if it results in an accident.
Survey respondents were also asked which actions they believed to be illegal, whether or not they had done them. A staggering 90% did not realise that hanging an air freshener from the rear-view mirror could be an offence in certain circumstances***.
These may seem like minor habits, but the law is strict. Anything that obstructs your view of the road, such as items hanging from the rear‑view mirror, can be an offence.
|
Driving action |
% who DON’T know it can be illegal*** |
|
|
1 |
Hanging an air freshener from the rear-view mirror |
90% |
|
2 |
Swearing at other drivers |
86% |
|
3 |
Smoking while driving |
84% |
|
4 |
Driving after taking cold and flu medication |
84% |
|
5 |
Charging passengers money for giving them lifts |
84% |
|
6 |
Flashing your headlights |
84% |
|
7 |
Driving with extremely loud music on |
84% |
|
8 |
Rubbernecking (slowing down to stare at accidents) |
81% |
|
9 |
Exiting the car while stopped on a single yellow line |
80% |
|
10 |
Getting distracted by Apple CarPlay/Android Auto |
78% |
Based on the comparison site’s figures, the most committed habits by drivers surveyed that can be illegal were:
- Eating or drinking while driving (22%)
- Flashing headlights (18%)
- Swearing at other drivers (17%)
- Hanging an air freshener from the rearview mirror (16%)
One in ten also admit to using a mobile device while their vehicle is stationary with the engine running (10%), which is still illegal as the handheld phone ban even applies in traffic. There is a narrow exemption only when you’re making a contactless payment at a fixed payment terminal (e.g., a drive‑through window) while the vehicle is stationary - outside of that specific scenario, using a hand‑held device remains illegal
The data suggests a significant disconnect between habit and legality. For example, while 18% of drivers regularly flash their headlights at other road users, 84%*** don’t realise this can breach the Highway Code if used to convey a message rather than to warn of your presence.
Tom Banks, expert at Go.Compare Car Insurance said: "The driving laws we have in place are designed to keep everyone safe on the roads, so it is worrying that so many people do not know what is and isn’t allowed. What many drivers don’t realise is that if you are involved in an accident while performing one of these 'minor' actions, your insurer could argue you weren't in full control of the vehicle.
“If you’re found to be driving without due care and attention, you could face points and a fine - and your claim for damage to your own car may be refused. It’s important to stay clued-in on the Highway Code. I‑f you’re unsure about a rule, take five minutes to check before you drive.
“To stay safe and avoid insurance issues: keep your phone in a cradle or put it away, ensure the windscreen and number plate are clear, and avoid anything that distracts you from driving.”
To learn more about what car insurance covers visit here.
//ENDS//
The full data:
|
Q6. Which of the below actions do you regularly do whilst driving, if any? (Select all that apply) |
|
|
Driving Habit |
% of Motorists surveyed |
|
None of the above |
31% |
|
Eating or drinking while driving |
22% |
|
Flashing your headlights |
18% |
|
Swearing at other drivers |
17% |
|
Hanging an air freshener from the rear-view mirror |
16% |
|
Using a mobile device to pay at a drive-through |
12% |
|
Driving with snow on the roof of your car |
10% |
|
Using a mobile device while stationary with the engine on |
10% |
|
Driving with extremely loud music on |
9% |
|
Using your mobile phone as a sat-nav in an unfixed position |
9% |
|
Driving without sufficient washer fluid |
7% |
|
Smoking while driving |
7% |
|
Driving with the windshield not fully cleared of ice and / or snow |
7% |
|
Driving after taking cold and flu medication |
6% |
|
Driving in flipflops |
6% |
|
Driving too slowly |
6% |
|
Driving while overtired |
6% |
|
Driving with a dirty number plate |
6% |
|
Rubbernecking (slowing down to stare at road accidents) |
5% |
|
Driving with an unrestrained dog in the vehicle |
5% |
|
Using a mobile device while in motion |
4% |
|
Getting distracted by Apple CarPlay/Android Auto |
4% |
|
Middle lane hogging |
4% |
|
Having the interior light on inside the vehicle while driving |
4% |
|
Honking your vehicle's horn at night |
4% |
|
Exiting the car while stopped on a single yellow line |
4% |
|
Driving barefoot |
3% |
|
Parking in a parent & child space, when you don't have a child in the car |
3% |
|
Driving with a cracked, chipped or broken windscreen |
3% |
|
Driving while wearing headphones |
3% |
|
Driving with faulty lights |
3% |
|
Charging passengers money for giving them lifts |
3% |
|
Splashing pedestrians |
2% |
|
Sleeping in your car while drunk |
2% |
Q7. Considering the Highway Code and driving laws in the UK, which of the following, if any, do you believe are illegal? (Select all that apply)
|
Driving action |
% of Brits who believe it's illegal |
|
Driving with faulty lights |
55% |
|
Driving with a dirty number plate |
45% |
|
Driving with the windshield not fully cleared of ice and / or snow |
43% |
|
Using a mobile device while the engine is running |
40% |
|
Driving with a cracked, chipped or broken windscreen |
38% |
|
Driving with an unrestrained dog in the vehicle |
36% |
|
Using your mobile phone as a sat-nav in an unfixed position |
33% |
|
Sleeping in your car while drunk |
33% |
|
Driving barefoot |
33% |
|
Using a mobile device while stationary with the engine on |
31% |
|
Eating or drinking while driving |
31% |
|
Honking your vehicle's horn at night |
31% |
|
Driving while wearing headphones |
30% |
|
Middle lane hogging |
30% |
|
Splashing pedestrians |
30% |
|
Driving in flipflops |
29% |
|
Driving while overtired |
28% |
|
Driving too slowly |
28% |
|
Driving with snow on the roof of your car |
25% |
|
Parking in a parent & child space, when you don't have a child in the car |
24% |
|
Having the interior light on inside the vehicle while driving |
23% |
|
Getting distracted by Apple CarPlay/Android Auto |
22% |
|
Exiting the car while stopped on a single yellow line |
20% |
|
Driving without sufficient washer fluid |
20% |
|
Rubbernecking (slowing down to stare at road accidents) |
19% |
|
Smoking while driving |
16% |
|
Driving after taking cold and flu medication |
16% |
|
Charging passengers money for giving them lifts |
16% |
|
Flashing your headlights |
16% |
|
Driving with extremely loud music on |
16% |
|
Swearing at other drivers |
14% |
|
Using a mobile device to pay at a drive-through |
10% |
|
Hanging an air freshener from the rear-view mirror |
10% |
|
None of the above |
8% |
Notes to editor:
* The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 Nationally Representative UK Respondents (aged 18+). Of those surveyed, 1418 were respondents who drive. The data was collected between 14.01.2026 - 16.01.2026. 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.
To find out the habits Brits do while driving, the 1,418 respondents who drive were asked ‘Which of the below actions do you regularly do whilst driving, if any?’. All 2,000 respondents were asked ‘Considering the Highway Code and driving laws in the UK, which of the following, if any, do you believe are illegal?’ to establish their understanding of the rules.
**31% of drivers surveyed said they had never done any of the actions listed and 0.6% answered ‘Prefer not to say’, meaning 68% admitted they do one or more of these actions regularly.
***Reverse percentage of those who selected the option as being illegal
Contact Information
Rubie Barker
Notes to editors
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