‘Serious dent in your finances’ – Brits warned to avoid invisible car wrecker this summer or face £1,200 repair bill
DRIVERS have been warned over an invisible, car-wrecking issue which could see them faced with a £1,200 bill this summer.
Hot weather hotspots could actually be danger zones for motorists, according to one expert.
As temperatures begin to rise and summer rolls in, it seems like common sense to seek out a shaded area to park your car.
Indeed, researches at the CDC over in America suggest that leaving your car out in the sun could see it climb to 20C hotter inside than the ambient temperature.
However, the team from Select Car Leasing have urged caution in this approach thanks to a near-invisible but significant problem.
Graham Conway, spokesperson for Select, warned Brits that leaving their motor under a tree could see them slapped with a hefty bill.
That’s due to the swarm of greenfly set to hit parts of the UK this year.
The insects, which thrive in higher temperatures, produce droppings which can be harmful to your car.
Graham explained: “Greenfly excrete a sticky substance known as ‘honeydew’ that forms a residue when it falls on bonnets and car roofs.
“It can be difficult to remove, taking some serious elbow grease and specialist cleaning products to shift.
“But if left it turns into soot-like black mould spores that are acidic and can therefore eat through your paintwork.
“Repairing this will put a serious dent in your finances, as a respray will set you back up to £1,200 and a decent replacement roof for your beloved soft top costs around £800.”
A whopping 2.5 million greenfly can live in one tree alone so being careful where you leave your car is vital.
However, Graham recognised that it’s hard to completely avoid stopping under tress, especially when shady spots are in short supply.
As such he had some top tips for motorists to deal with the flies.
He added: “It’s worth having a plan of action for if you spot some of this damaging residue on your paintwork.
“Get to work straight away and clean it off.
“Carry some wipes in the glovebox so if you’re out and about you can get rid of as much as possible, then tackle it properly with specialist car cleaning detergents when you get home.”
It comes after a learner driver failed her test for stopping at a red light thanks to a little-known driving law.