MOTORISTS are only just learning of a strange new hack that experts claim can be key to defrosting a car windscreen.
With the UK mornings beginning to cool down, drivers across the nation are keen to find easier and quicker ways to defrost their windshields ahead of the morning commute.
This age old problem could soon been solved with the use of a popular Halloween decoration that’s often left lying around our homes at this time of year.
That’s because according to the team of experts over at Motor Match, leftover pumpkin could be the answer to your frosted-over car windows.
According to the experts, “the secret lies in the starch content found in pumpkins”.
To make sure the hack works, be sure to “chop up the skin and rub the inner layer on your windscreen” for quick defrosting.
Motor Match’s expert said: “Starch acts as a barrier between the ice and the glass, preventing it from refreezing quickly.
“The starch, in vegetables like pumpkin and potato, is a natural ice-melting agent.
“When applied to your frost-covered windscreen, it can help break down the frost, and make scraping it off much easier.
“It’s a simple and cost-effective method that can make your winter mornings run more smoothly. Just remember to keep some leftover pumpkin aside for those frosty days.
“This method is particularly useful for those who want to minimise their environmental impact. It’s a sustainable way to deal with frost, reducing the need for chemical de-icers that can harm the environment.”
So, if you have any leftover pumpkin from Halloween, you can put it to good use.
It comes as Rachel Reeves has been warned a fuel duty hike in the Budget would come at the “worst possible time” for drivers.
With clocks going back on October 27, a deadly combo of freezing temperatures and early darkness will make engines work harder and guzzle more fuel.
This ramps up increased driving costs in winter by a shocking 20 to 48 per cent as the impacts of colder conditions combines with potential fuel duty increases, according to the AA.
A recent survey of their members reveals 35 percent of petrol and diesel drivers expect to lose at least five miles per gallon this winter, while 10 percent fear they’ll lose as much as 10 miles.
The gloomy picture comes amid fears the Chancellor may increase fuel duty by as much as 7p next week to help fill a £40bn black hole in the country’s finances.
Meanwhile motorists have been warned to renew their licence when they turn 70 to avoid risk of being fined.
The rule will require drivers at 70 to renew their licence every three years with a penalty of community service or even six months in prison.
Charity Age UK gave further details in a blog post.
It wrote: “When you reach the age of 70, your driving licence expires – but this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to stop driving.
“If you want to continue, you just need to renew your licence. You’ll need to renew it every three years after that. Renewal is free of charge.”
If motorists are spotted without a licence they could be slapped with a brutal £5,000 fine.
How to get cheap car insurance
CAR insurance is an essential cost that you hope to never use but will need to cover the costs of theft or damage to your vehicle.
It’s a legal requirement to have car insurance, and going without it could land you with a £300 fine, six penalty points on your licence and even a criminal conviction.
But there are several ways to slash your premiums.
Pay upfront
Insurers give you the choice of paying for insurance monthly or upfront.
Paying monthly spreads the cost of your cover but the insurer adds interest charges which means the average motorist pays around ten per cent more overall.
If you pay for your car insurance annually you don’t pay any interest.
A typical motorist can save up to £225 a year by paying in one go, according to comparison site MoneySuperMarket.
Increase your excess
The excess is what you agree to pay each time you need to make a claim on your policy.
You can usually choose your own excess when setting up a policy and it can be as low as £100 and as high as £500 or more.
The higher your excess, the lower your premium and vice versa.
This means you could bring the cost of your insurance down by agreeing to pay more if you do need to make a claim.
But before you hike your excess, make sure you would be able to pay in the event that you do need to make a claim.
Tweak your job
Certain jobs are seen as more risky than others for insurance purposes.
Making small but accurate changes to your job title can save you money.
For example, swapping your role from “chef” to “caterer” can save you £20, comparison site GoCompare found.
And changing your role from “fast food delivery driver” to “delivery driver” could save you £40.
But lying about your job could invalidate your policy so make sure any changes are legitimate and accurate.
Shop around
Not all comparison sites have the same range of insurers so to get the best price it’s a good idea to check two or three from Go Compare, Comparethemarket, MoneySupermarket and Confused.com.
Insurer Direct Line is also not on comparison sites so check its prices directly.
You can also get a free cash bonus by going via a cashback site such as Topcashback or Quidco.
Save the date
Renewing your car insurance sooner rather than later could save you some cash.
New cover becomes more expensive the closer you get to the renewal date.
But you can buy your car insurance up to 29 days before the policy start date and ‘lock in’ the price you’re quoted on that day.
A typical driver can save up to £265 buying new cover at least 27 days before their current policy ends, according to Go Compare.
