Car experts have issued a warning about the items that pose the highest risk of heat exposure dangers when left in vehicles. These items can lead to stains, smoke, fire and mould damage, with potential repair costs reaching up to £4,000.
According to auto insurance specialists at Uswitch, 38 per cent of motorists only clean the interior of their cars once every two months. This lack of regular cleaning could exacerbate the damage caused by these items. The most costly damage could come from smoke and fire, with repairs for such damage averaging at £1,764 in a worst-case scenario.
As temperatures rise, so does the demand for cold drinks. However, leaving a carbonated drink can in your hot car could cause it to explode, staining your upholstery.
Vapes are another item that drivers should be wary of leaving in their cars during hot weather. The heat can cause the liquid in the electronic device to thin and potentially leak from its tank onto your vehicle’s interior.
According to Uswitch, stain damage could cost motorists an average of £1,250 to fix in a worst-case situation, reports the Express.
But it’s not just carbonated drink cans and vapes that drivers need to worry about. Aerosol and deodorant cans, gas lighters, and mobile phones all pose a risk of causing smoke and fire damage within a vehicle through flames or explosions.
Even if your smartphone doesn’t catch fire or explode, leaving it inside your car could cause it to short out.
Mould can wreak havoc in your car, ruining the upholstery and leaving a nasty stench.
It’s often caused by drivers leaving behind food, damp clothing, or wet towels for too long. In severe cases, mould damage can set motorists back an average of £1,250, as per Uswitch.
Uswitch Car Insurance expert Leoni Moninska explained: “Car insurance only covers interior damage brought on by unforeseen events, like getting into an accident or someone breaking into it.”
She added: “For any damage you are responsible for, you will need to pay for any repairs out of your own pocket.”
Leoni also warned: “This includes the damage to your vehicle’s interior caused by items prone to damage from heat exposure.”
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