Shocking new research from the AA has revealed that 44 per cent of all cars in the UK are damaged. The data has prompted the AA to issue a safety warning over the hidden dangers of cars with bodywork problems.
It is estimated that over 14 million cars in the UK are damaged, according to a survey of 14,759 drivers carried out by AA Insurance.
Londoners are the most likely to drive a damaged car with 52 per cent of survey respondents being from the UK capital.
The South West (48 per cent) and South East (46 per cent) are the second and third worst areas, followed by Wales (44 per cent) and the East of England (43 per cent).
Of the car owners that had damaged vehicles, eight out of 10 (83 per cent) said their car had minor scuffs and scrapes, while one in 10 had cracked or chipped windscreens or glass.
One in 20 said their car had more obvious bodywork damage, but shockingly three per cent of owners said they drove with worn or damaged tyres. Other blemishes included; broken wipers, lights on the dashboard and missing wing mirrors.
The AA is encouraging drivers to keep their cars in good working order and warning that cars with minor damage may be hiding more than meets the eye.
A damaged bumper, for example, could be hiding significant damage to the bumper’s brackets, impact bar and absorber.
David Coughlan, managing director of AA Insurance Services, said; “Drivers with damaged cars are living on a ‘wing (mirror) and a prayer’, in the hope that the visible damage is not camouflaging something more costly and compromising.
“Damage on cars can be like an iceberg – while on the surface things look manageable, it’s what’s lurking underneath that can really cause problems. Any detriment to the structural integrity of the car could harm its performance if it were involved in a major collision.
“Keeping vehicles in a good condition is important both for the owners’ protection as well as others. We are very worried that drivers are using vehicles with poor tyres, brakes and steering.
“We’d strongly recommend drivers get damage to their cars checked, to provide peace of mind and retain the safety of their vehicle.”
