Drivers heading back to work on Monday 5th January are being urged to check their cars after the RAC warned that cold weather and vehicles left unused over the festive period could lead to a spike in flat battery breakdowns.
The motoring organisation said the first working Monday after the New Year is consistently one of the worst days of the year for breakdowns, as cars that have been left idle for long periods suffer battery failure.
The risk is expected to be higher this year due to recent low temperatures, which reduce battery efficiency and increase the likelihood of failure, particularly in older units.
RAC data showed that on the first Monday of 2025, flat batteries accounted for 24% of all breakdowns attended by its patrols.
Battery-related faults remain the single biggest cause of RAC callouts, with hundreds of thousands recorded each year.
Nick Mullender, mobile servicing and repairs team leader at the RAC, said: “A flat battery at the start of the new year is more than enough to drain away the last of the Christmas spirit.
“If you’re one of the millions of drivers taking to the roads on Monday, make sure you’ve given your car a really good run in the days beforehand, even if it’s just to fill up with fuel.
“This advice is particularly relevant for families with two or more vehicles who only use one over the festive period, or anyone returning from a holiday abroad where their car has been left parked up.
“The combination of a long break where vehicles aren’t used and the recent cold weather is a perfect recipe for the ‘flat battery blues’.
“There’s no exception either when it comes to the type of car you drive. Electric vehicles face the same risk as internal combustion engines because they also depend on 12-volt batteries for starting.
“To avoid problems, motorists should take them for occasional drives and keep the high-voltage battery charged above 20% during winter.”
The RAC said drivers can reduce the risk of battery failure by keeping vehicles under cover where possible, ensuring all electrical systems are switched off at the end of journeys, and avoiding leaving accessories such as dashcams plugged in overnight.
Batteries older than four years are particularly vulnerable in cold conditions, while short engine starts without a proper drive can worsen the problem rather than resolve it.
Motorists who do experience battery failure can arrange for a replacement to be fitted at home through the RAC’s mobile servicing network, avoiding the need for a recovery.
