Approximately 40 to 50 million Brits rely on their car every day. Despite this, many drivers lack simple knowledge about their vehicles, with recent research from Group 1 Automotive finding that a huge 93% of drivers don’t know the dashboard signals that could appear in their vehicles.
Whether it’s a strange light appearing, or an unknown sound coming from the car, there are plenty of issues that can arise with our cars that we may not always know how to solve.
To discover the topics that are confusing us the most, Group 1 Automotive have answered the 5 of the most commonly Googled car questions, below:
What do I do if I’ve lost my car keys? (1,500 searches a month)
We’ve all misplaced something at one point or another, but losing your car keys can easily send you into a panic. In order to sort the problem as quickly as possible, there are a few options you can turn to:
- First, try contacting a locksmith. They may be able to help you create a new key or reprogram a key fob depending on the make and model of your car. In the best-case scenario, they may even have a blank key that matches your vehicle, ready for you to use.
- You can also refer to your local dealership, where you can purchase a set of replacement car keys. Or, contact your local garage, who may be able to reprogram a new key for you. This isn’t always guaranteed, but it’s an easy option which may save time.
Why does my car alarm keep going off? (1,500 searches a month)
There are a few different reasons why your car alarm may be randomly going off, but it’s often a simple fix.
Some of these reasons include environmental factors, such as rain or wind triggering the sensor, as well as key fob issues, and an electrical fault.
The most common reason for this however, is due to a faulty sensor or wiring in the vehicle. If you are unsure of the reason, or feel like this is a technical issue, contact a mechanic to assess your vehicle.
How to start a car with a dead battery? (350 searches a month)
Your car battery dying is one of the most common car problems that can occur, but it doesn’t make it any easier to experience.
If you have jump leads on hand, you can use these to power the vehicle back up. But if you don’t have these available to you, it’s best to contact your local body shop or repair centre for help.
What to do after a car accident? (350 searches a month)
Being involved in a crash can be a traumatic experience – no matter how big or small it may be – but there are a few key steps to follow to ensure proper safety:
- First, check yourself and any passengers inside the car for injuries. If anyone is injured, seek medical attention immediately, and if it is safe to do so, pull away from any oncoming traffic. If you can’t move to a safe place, call emergency services immediately.
- Next, exchange your information with any other drivers that were involved in the accident. This includes names, phone numbers, addresses, vehicle registration details and insurance information.
- It’s also important to take this time to gather evidence if it’s safe to do so. Take some pictures of any damages to your car, as well as the other car(s) involved. This can also help when submitting an insurance claim later.
- Finally, notify your car insurance company. Provide them with full details of the accident, including the other driver’s information and any evidence (photos or witnesses) that you gathered at the scene.
Why does my car shake when I brake? (200 searches a month)
Believe it or not, cars shaking when braking is another of the most common car issues, and there could be a few different reasons why this is happening. This can include worn brake pads or rotors, tyre issues, or brake calliper issues.
- If you can spot visible damage to your tyres, this may well be the issue. In this case, contact your local garage to arrange a tyre replacement, or if you have some on hand, change them yourself if you can.
- To fix more complicated issues, simply contact your local garage or repair shop for assistance. They will be able to fully assess your vehicle, and let you know of the damages.
