The RAC has warned that one of the busiest days for breakdowns for the whole of 2025 is only a week away. The company, which specialises in roadside assistance and insurance, says one day at the start of the new year will see them receive more reports than any other time.
It says Monday, January 6, which for many is the first working day after the Christmas holidays, is often a “non-start” for thousands of drivers as their cars have been left idle over the festive break meaning they have been left with an unexpected flat battery. It explained how breakdowns increase during the winter months when cooler temperatures put a greater strain on batteries due to the “increased use of the heater, lights, and heated screens and seats”. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter.
RAC breakdown spokeswoman Alice Simpson said: “The first working day after Christmas is typically the busiest of the year for our patrols attending drivers suffering the ‘flat battery blues’. The first day back at work after the Christmas the break is often bad enough but it can be thoroughly depressing if nothing happens when you go to start the ignition. Cars left unused over the holidays, such as second vehicles left parked up, are often a breakdown statistic waiting to happen.
“Luckily a flat battery is easily avoidable if drivers take their cars for a good run during their Christmas breaks. Electric vehicles are just as vulnerable as combustion engines because they also rely on 12-volt batteries so it’s important to drive them occasionally and keep them charged above 20% in winter conditions. Colder weather slows down the chemical reaction in vehicle batteries plus they have to work harder in the winter months due to greater use of the heater, lights, heated screens and seats as well as windscreen wipers. The starter motor also has to work harder to turn over the engine in the cold so if your car is particularly slow to start then the battery could be about to fail.”
The RAC has shared their following top tips to avoid a flat battery on its website:
- Drive every vehicle in your household before Monday, January 6, especially if you’re going to rely on that car for your return to work. Don’t just turn it over – go on a drive that gets the engine up to a proper operating temperature and the battery well charged before you really need it.
- Cherish every volt – turn off everything electrical in your car once you’ve switched the engine off and disconnect all equipment such as dashcams to give the battery its best chance of starting.
- If you’ve had battery problems at all throughout 2024 think about getting it tested and, if needed, replaced before the new year.
- Protect your car from the elements – cooler, damper conditions through winter put more strain on a battery so use the garage if you have one.
- Drive electric vehicles occasionally and keep them above a 20% state of charge. A high-voltage battery should not be left below this point for extended periods of time, especially in cold weather, as this can harm its health.
Ms Simpson added: “Drivers in any doubt about the health of their battery – especially those that are older and weaker – can book a diagnostic test on their doorstep. Rather than trying to find a garage that is open during the holiday period drivers can book an RAC Mobile Mechanic to test their battery at home or work and even install a new one in the worst-case scenario.” Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news. You will receive updates from us daily.