Car battery sales surged in January

Car and van insurance policyholders may be among the rising number of Britons who have had to invest in new vehicle batteries during the freezing winter.

According to HiQ fast fit network, increasing numbers of drivers coped with faulty batteries in recent weeks, with sales of the power sources surging.

The firm has reported 36 per cent more vehicle breakdowns in January compared with December last year and 32 per cent more than were seen in January 2009.

It has revealed it believes January to have been the busiest month in its history for battery-related problems and has issued a number of tips for car insurance policyholders to follow in a bid to avoid such events.

"Battery malfunctions are very common, particularly during the cold weather that we have been experiencing," commented HiQ's marketing manager Geraldine McGovern.

"We would encourage motorists to avoid keeping car lights and headlights on for a long time when not necessary."

She added that drivers can help reduce weakening of their battery by turning the vehicle's air conditioning system off when not needed.

The firm has also announced it will offer motorists free battery checks that will look for rust and corrosion, which may cause problems in starting the car and result in loss of electrical contact.

"If any powdery layers can be seen forming around the battery terminals, then action should be taken," Ms McGovern went on to say.

The winter of 2008 saw over three million motorists suffer a flat battery that needed regular charging or replacing, according to figures from Kwik-Fit.

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