Presents and tinsel: Over a fifth of Brits hide presents in their vehicles

New research from insurer, Aviva, reveals that motorists are using their cars for more than just travel, doubling as hiding places for Christmas presents, overflow pantries, and even extra spaces to decorate.

According to the research, over a quarter of Brits (27%) leave Christmas presents in their vehicle whilst they continue shopping and more than one in five (23%) use their vehicle to hide gifts. In addition, 6% of drivers leave Christmas food in the car for an extended period of time.

Whilst using a vehicle for storage may seem like a convenient solution, leaving presents in cars can be tempting for opportunistic thieves, with 6% of drivers reporting that they have had Christmas presents stolen from their vehicles.^[1] Leaving food in your vehicle could also attract unwanted guests. In fact, recent Aviva data shows that claims for rodent damage in vehicles spike in December and January, with the average claim amounting to £2,494.^[2]

The research also shows that almost one in ten (9%) Brits decorate their car for the festive period. ^[1] However, it is vital that decorations do not obstruct the driver’s vision or do not breach regulations about the use of lights in vehicles.

Hannah Pinches, Director of Motor Claims, comments: “While cars may seem to be handy storage solutions, it’s a good idea to be wary of the types of items that we leave in our vehicles.

“Be mindful of leaving presents, especially high value gifts, in plain sight as this can be tempting for opportunistic thieves and any claim may not be covered. If you need to leave presents in your car, store them in the boot or glovebox, so you don’t attract unwanted attention. If it’s of high, or even sentimental value, it could also be worth bringing with you or taking it home straightaway.

“Likewise, if you extend Christmas decorations into the car, make sure that all decorations are secured, avoid hanging items like tinsel over the rear window, and do not use blue or red lights as this can be confusing or distracting for other road users.”

Aviva’s top tips to help protect your vehicle this festive period:

Protect your purchases: Where possible, keep high value items with you when shopping, or ideally aim to collect these as your final shopping stop before heading home. It’s also worth checking your policy as there may be limited cover for personal possessions left in cars. Consider taking out personal belongings cover on your home insurance, which is usually an optional add-on, as this can protect your possessions while you’re out and about. Importantly, if you’re leaving shopping in the car, make sure to place it out of sight in a concealed luggage compartment or a closed glove compartment. Some high value items, such as jewellery or watches, may need to be specified on your policy to be covered, so check your policy if you’re making more expensive purchases.

Ensure that you retain good visibility: If you’re planning on decorating your vehicle, be sure that decorations are not positioned in a way that could obstruct the driver’s view, control of the vehicle, or include lights that could distract other drivers on the road – all of which are legal requirements.

Avoid using lights to decorate a vehicle: The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations state that there should be no red lights at the front of the vehicle, no white lights at the rear of the vehicle (except for reverse lights), and no blue lights should be used at all as these are reserved exclusively for emergency vehicles. Drivers who have the incorrect colour of lights could face a fine under The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989.

Avoid overloading: With lots of people heading out to celebrate over the festive period, 11% of drivers admit to carrying more passengers than seats available, despite being illegal.^[1] Overloading a vehicle is a serious risk and not only does it put passengers at risk, as they are unable to correctly wear a seatbelt, it could also restrict the driver’s view of the road. Drivers who transport additional passengers than legally permitted for the vehicle could face charges for dangerous driving, and their insurance may be invalidated.

Maintain your vehicle and prepare for your journey: According to Green Flag an estimated 105,000 breakdowns occurred in the week leading up to Christmas in 2024 (18^th – 24^th December)^[3] This equates to around 10 breakdowns every minute, with call outs peaking on the 23^rd December when there was almost one breakdown every four seconds.  It is always worthwhile making time to check your vehicle is working as it should before setting off on a journey.

1. Check your tyres: It’s recommended to have a tyre tread depth between 3-4mm - around the thickness of a pound coin - to help to improve steering and braking in your car. It’s equally important not to over-inflate your tyres, which can increase the chances of slipping on the roads.
   
2. Check your car lights: Make sure that all your lights - such as headlights, brakes, fog, rear and indicator lights - are clean and in working order. Not only are faulty or dirty lights dangerous as they impair your vision and could cause a collision, but driving with inadequate lighting is actually illegal according to the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations (1989) and could lead to you facing a fine. Many car manuals have instructions for changing lights, but if you’re unsure or not able to change them yourself, head to a mechanic or your local garage.
   
3. Have an emergency kit in your car: December weather can bring all sorts of surprises, so it’s important to be prepared should your journey not go to plan. Consider keeping an emergency kit in your car in case of a breakdown, which can include things like a blanket and waterproof clothes. It’s also good to keep your mobile phone charged and to use hazard lights, as well as a warning triangle to alert other road users to your presence.

-ends-

References:

_{1 - Research conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 nationally representative consumers (18+) from 21.11.25-24.11.25. [↑]}

_{2 - Aviva motor claims data relating to rodent damage from 2023 - 2024. [↑]}

_{3 - Green Flag internal data 2024 weighted to market share (18.12.24 - 24.12.24). [↑]}

Enquiries:

Alice Constable        +44 (0)7350 398942

Amy Penn        +44 (0)7385 011200