How dirty car could cost YOU £100: Drivers warned about fine risk

How a dirty car could cost YOU £100: Messy drivers warned filthy windscreen, muddy mirrors or cluttered dashboard may land you with police fine and three points

• Halfords expert warned that drivers could be fined £100 over mess
• Too much litter could see drivers slapped with three penalty points
• Drivers can be fined for having a dirty windscreen or mirrors view is obscured 

Most motorists will be prepared to admit that their car is not as clean as it could be. 

Whether its empty drinkers containers and discarded sweet wrappers on the inside, or a filthy windscreen on the outside, the average driver probably has a few skeletons in the cleanliness closet. 

But an expert has warned that drivers could be fined £100 if they don’t keep both the interior and exterior of their car in at least a reasonable condition. 

Whilst there is no specific fine for having a messy car interior, too much litter could see you slapped with a penalty and three penalty points if you are found to be driving without due care and attention. 

Most motorists will be prepared to admit that their car is not as clean as it could be. Above: A rubbish-filled car with only the driver’s seat clear is seen in the US

Inside pizza box hoarder’s filthy one-bed flat piled high with stinking waste: Shocking images show rooms crammed with £35,000-worth of empty takeaway boxes, used toilet roll and chicken bones

Last year, a 17-year-old learner driver was left in floods of tears when her examiner failed her for having tiny pencil rubber filings on the carpet underneath the passenger seat of her instructor’s car.

In 2021, images were shared of a car in Clywd, Wales, that was so dirty that an MOT tester refused to work on it. 

Jamie Louram, from Halfords, said: ‘Whilst there is no fine for having a messy interior, clutter if bad enough can also fall under the careless driving rule leading to a fine of up to £100.

‘As a general rule, keep your car clutter-free to avoid any dangerous situations such as things getting stuck under the brake pedal or blocking your view.

‘If you do tend to err on the side of messy when it comes to your car, a bin is a great solution.’

As for the outside of your car, drivers can be fined for having a dirty windscreen if it obscures their view, and the same goes for wing mirrors. 

You can also receive a £1,000 fine if the digits on your number plate are not clearly displayed. 

Mr Louram added in the Express: ‘It’s crucial to check that your mirrors are clean and clear every time you use your car, as anything that may obstruct your vision will make it dangerous to drive.

‘Any kind of dirt or grime on the windscreen can be incredibly dangerous as it can impact your view of the road ahead.

‘In some instances having a dirty windscreen could be seen as careless driving and land motorists with a fine of up to £100 and points on the license if an accident occurs as a result.’

Shortly before Boris Johnson became Prime Minister in 2019, images emerged of his messy car – a Toyota Previa GX. 

In 2021, images were shared of a car in Clywd, Wales, that was so dirty that an MOT tester refused to work on it

Shortly before Boris Johnson became Prime Minister in 2019, images emerged of his messy car – a Toyota Previa GX

Its interior was seen filled with empty coffee cups, plastic bags from Ikea and Sports Direct and discarded clothes.

Its interior was seen filled with empty coffee cups, plastic bags from Ikea and Sports Direct and discarded clothes. 

A copy of children’s book Tintin and the Blue Lotus, written in French, could also be seen between the back seats alongside other books in a Marks and Spencer bag.

The seats in the petrol vehicle, believed to have been built in the mid 1990s, also had mud stains and were showing some wear and tear from years of use.

The outside of the car was also in need of a wash, as the metallic blue Toyota is covered in leaves, dust and bird droppings.

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