Icy start to 2010 caused GBP395m in car insurance claims

Recent research from the Association of British Insurers has discovered that the wintry start to 2010 resulted in GBP395m in car insurance (http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/content1?catId=19300223&mediaId=19300227) payouts to motorists, with many of the 268,400 claims due to accidental damage resulting from drivers skidding on icy roads .

Post Office Car Insurance is warning motorists that vehicle damage caused by the sharp winter may continue, even as temperatures rise, due to the potholes created in roads across the UK by the icy conditions. The Asphalt Industry Alliance's latest figures estimate the number of potholes has risen by 32 per cent on the previous year , potentially increasing the chances of motorists having to make a car insurance claim due to vehicle damage caused by poor road surfaces.

In light of these findings, Post Office Car Insurance is offering UK motorists advice on how to save themselves from a costly car insurance claim should their car be damaged, reminding drivers that if a they if they think they have driven over a deep pothole it is important to check the vehicle's tyres as soon as the car has stopped. Post Office Car Insurance recommends checking both the inner and outer tyre for damage.

Post Office Car Insurance also warns drivers of the risks they run should they turn a blind eye to repairs for damaged vehicles. Post Office Head of Car Insurance Richard Pennant-Jones said: "Failing to maintain your car could even result in it being deemed unroadworthy and therefore invalidate your car insurance."