The good news is that penalties and points on your licence can be avoided by making regular yet simple maintenance checks.
Here, we look at some of the problems that might arise when you haven’t given your car the attention it deserves and how to prevent them from affecting your bank balance.
Fine: £2,500 (per tyre), potentially £10,000 in total
Penalty points: 3 (per tyre), potentially 12 in total – 6-month disqualification for repeat offences within 3 years
According to the Highway Code, the minimum tread depth for cars is 1.6 millimetres around the circumference of the tyre and through the central three quarters of tread width.
If you’re having trouble measuring tread depth, you can use the 20p test. Simply insert a 20 pence piece into a groove in your tread and if you can’t see the outer band on the coin, your tyre is above the legal limit.
Strictly speaking, you could be punished per worn tyre but if you keep an eye on your tread things shouldn’t end up so expensive. Whatever you do, make sure you don’t start a journey with tyres like this risk taker in Scotland.
For more help checking your tyre tread depth and a handy video explainer, you can visit our tyre tread depth and tyre safety checks page.
There’s only one way to fix a worn tyre and that’s to replace it. Second-hand tyres are fine if they meet the minimum tread depth and other legal requirements.
If you’re unsure about what to check for, take a look at our tyre buying guide.
Fine: £2,500 (per tyre), potentially £10,000 in total
Penalty points: 3 (per tyre), potentially 12 in total – 6-month disqualification for repeat offences within 3 years
Your tyres will be deemed illegal if they’re under or over inflated, and with good reason too.
Under inflated tyres are less responsive to changes in direction, which can prove dangerous when turning, especially at higher speeds. Over inflated tyres have less grip on the road, making it more difficult to slow down when applying the brakes.
In some cases, too much air in your tyres could lead to a blowout. A sudden rupture can happen without warning and make steering your car incredibly difficult. Remember, blowouts don’t always happen while inflating a tyre, they can strike suddenly because of overloading or aged tyres.
It's also important to look out for slow punctures. Even if you’re in the habit of inflating your tyres regularly, a slow puncture could see pressure levels fall below legal limits.
Fixing your tyre pressure is one of the most straightforward maintenance tasks of them all. You can check your pressure at most petrol stations and inflate or deflate your tyre according to your vehicle handbook.
For more information on how to inflate or deflate your tyres or what to look out for to find a slow puncture, read our checking your tyre pressure page.
Fine: £2,500
Penalty points: 3 penalty points – 6-month disqualification for repeat offences within 3 years
The Department for Transport (DfT) explains that all windscreen wipers ‘must be properly adjusted and maintained in efficient working order’. Failure to do so could impair your view of the road and lead to dangerous driving scenarios.
It may seem like a minor inconvenience to some but if your wipers aren’t clearing your windscreen properly, you could be charged with ‘using a vehicle in a dangerous condition’. The serious offence comes with a £2,500 fine and 3 penalty points. If you’re found to commit the offence (or one similar) twice within 3 years, you may be disqualified from driving for a minimum of 6 months.
The best way to avoid a fine for faulty windscreen wipers is to replace them. You can find out how to check and replace your windscreen wipers with the help of RAC Patrol Ben Aldous.
Our handy wiper blade finder lets you enter your reg or car’s make and model to find and buy the right blades for your vehicle.
Fine: £100
Penalty points: 3 points
Section 34 of the Road Vehicles Regulations 1986 says that cars must be fitted with a windscreen wiper and washer capable of cleaning your windscreen at all times.
The rule ensures that drivers have a clear view of the road to minimise the chances of road traffic accidents. If your car has no washer fluid, you could be charged with careless driving, an offence where police have the power to issue an on-the-spot fixed penalty notice for £100 and 3 penalty points.
This one’s easy, simply pop your bonnet, find the washer reservoir, and unscrew the cap to top up the fluid levels. You can buy screen wash ready-mixed, or you may have to dilute the liquid according to instructions on the packaging.
Find out more about how to check your windscreen wash.
Fine: £1,000
If you’re driving around with a cracked number plate, or one covered by mud or snow, you could be hit with a £1,000 fine by the police. The same applies if you’re towing a caravan or trailer without an extra number plate fixed on the back or sides.
If there’s mud, snow or ice obstructing the view of your number plate, simply clean it away. While you’re at it, you might want to wash the rest of your car too, our guide on how to wash a car twice as well in half the time can help.
Alternatively, if your registration plate is missing or damaged, or you plan on towing a vehicle, you’ll need to buy a new plate. If you can’t fix a registration plate on the back of your trailer, fix it to both sides instead.
It could be a good opportunity to buy a personalised number plate, but make sure you get yours from a registered number plate supplier.
