Drivers in the dark over features

New research from Gocompare.com Car Insurance has found a glaring lack of knowledge amongst motorists when it comes to their car’s features.

Almost half of the 2,000 British motorists questioned said that they were unable to identify their car’s dashboard warning lights.

The study found that the majority (60%) of drivers haven’t read their car’s manual. However, many motorists could do with brushing up on their knowledge, as nearly half (48%) admitted to not knowing how to use all their car’s features. This includes more than a quarter (28%) who don’t know how to use their fog lights, despite the darker and gloomier winter nights creeping in.

Matt Oliver, car insurance spokesperson at Gocompare.com, said, ‘Thanks to modern technology, cars are now packed with all sorts of complex electronics and sensors that can help drivers to better understand how their vehicle is behaving.

‘But while manufacturers are developing new ways to help cars to talk to their drivers, it seems that their efforts are falling on deaf ears.

‘None of us buy a new car to sit down and read the manual, but spending some time familiarising yourself with the various features and warning lights could help to save you money and inconvenience.

‘Understanding your car’s warning lights can help you identify issues early, which means avoiding more serious problems in the long run, saving you money on more costly repairs.

‘Similarly, should an accident result in your car being written off, your insurer may take your car’s service history into account when calculating its pre-accident value, meaning that a poor service history could leave you out of pocket.’