Get to know your car

With many drivers set to pick-up the keys to their new ‘10' registration-plate vehicles on 1st March, drivers are being urged to get to know their new cars before heading out on the road.

A survey by M&S Car Insurance has found that many drivers will take to the road in their new vehicle without fully understanding how the car works. The poll found that only 12% of car drivers will fully read the manual before driving off in a car (new or used) for the first time.

Manual driving:

When driving a car for the first time over a third of drivers (35%) don't read the manual at all beforehand, while 51% of drivers will simply flick through it. The research found that women (40%) are more likely to drive a car without reading the manual, compared to 30% of men.

Driving with confidence:

Almost a fifth (19%) of drivers work out how to use the features of a car, such as the windscreen wipers, hazards lights and CD player, as they drive along. As a result, only 21% of drivers say they feel very confident that they know how everything works before taking a car out for the first time.

Getting a grip on the features:

The research showed that, from a list of 10 common issues, the top five features drivers struggle to get to grips with in a car they are driving for the first time are:

Finding the handle to open the bonnet
Working out how to use the CD player or radio
Finding how to alter the seat position
Locating the headlights switch
Working out how to use the windscreen wipers

David Wells, M&S Head of Insurance, said: ‘Whether it's a brand new car or a used vehicle, most garages should talk you through a vehicle before you drive it away. To avoid taking risks and potentially causing an accident, it is important to take time to familiarise yourself with the features of a car that's new to you.'

Important features understand before setting off in a new car:

Learn how to work the indicators
Find out how to use the windscreen wipers
Know what type of fuel your car takes (misfuelling is a common problem and often expensive to fix) and the location of the petrol cap and how to open it
Locate your hazard lights button
Ensure your seat is in the correct position