Drivers who 'drive too closely' risk £210 charge in common mistake

Drivers have been warned driving too closely to one type of vehicle in the UK snow storm could leave them £210 worse off. Graham Conway, Manager of Select Car Leasing, warned drivers should avoid travelling too closely to gritters.

The warning comes ahead of amber weather alerts for parts of the UK this weekend - and Mr Conway says a common error could cause serious damage to their vehicle. He warned UK motorists and road users: "The stones can flick up off the road surface and scratch paintwork. If you are driving directly behind a gritter when it is spreading, this can be much worse.

"If it does cause scratches and small dents in the paintwork, or if there are any existing imperfections, the salt can seep in and lead to corrosion and rust if not cleaned off." He advised: "It’s also a good idea to wash your car as often as possible to get rid of any salt residue on the bodywork. Concentrate on wheel arches as they are a hotspot for the accumulation of grit.

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"Don’t forget to give your tryes a good clean as well. They will pick up lots of salt and grit, then throw it up underneath the vehicle which can cause longer lasting damage to unseen parts." The average cost to repair a chip in your car's paint ranges from £60 to £210, Checkatrade warns.

Luxury or high-end models often require specialized paint and parts, which can increase the cost, and workshops in urban or affluent areas often charge more. Innovative techniques such as paintless dent removal (PDR) can be more cost-effective for certain types of damage.

The average cost to repair a car paint chip in the UK is between £60 and £210, depending on the number, size, and significance of the chips, though.