11 simple car jobs and fixes you're putting off which could land you with a big fine

Faulty bulbs, worn tyres and cracked mirrors may seem like minor problems to some drivers, but if left ignored, these small defects could lead to serious punishments.

The good news is that penalties and points on your licence can be avoided by making regular yet simple maintenance checks.

Here, in this car maintenance guide, we look at some of the problems that might arise when you haven’t given your car the attention it deserves and how to prevent them from affecting your bank balance.

Replacing worn tyres

Fine: £2,500 (per tyre), potentially £10,000 in total

Penalty points: 3 (per tyre), potentially 12 in total. Drivers can receive three penalty points for each illegal tyre. Anyone who accumulates 12 or more penalty points within three years can also be disqualified from driving.

According to the Highway Code, the minimum tread depth for cars is 1.6 millimetres around the circumference of the tyre and through the central three quarters of tread width.

If you’re having trouble measuring tread depth, you can use the 20p test. Simply insert a 20 pence piece into a groove in your tread and if you can’t see the outer band on the coin, your tyre is above the legal limit. 

Strictly speaking, you could be punished per worn tyre but if you keep an eye on your tread things shouldn’t end up so expensive. Whatever you do, make sure you don’t start a journey with tyres like this risk taker in Scotland.

For more help checking your tyre tread depth and a handy video explainer, you can visit our tyre tread depth and tyre safety checks page. 

How to fix the problem

There’s only one way to fix a worn tyre and that’s to replace it. Second-hand tyres are fine if they meet the minimum tread depth and other legal requirements. 

If you’re unsure about what to check for, take a look at our tyre buying guide.

Inflating or deflating tyres to the correct pressure

Fine: £2,500 (per tyre), potentially £10,000 in total

Penalty points: 3 (per tyre), potentially 12 in total – 6-month disqualification for repeat offences within 3 years 

Your tyres will be deemed illegal if they’re under or over inflated, and with good reason too. 

Under inflated tyres are less responsive to changes in direction, which can prove dangerous when turning, especially at higher speeds. Over inflated tyres have less grip on the road, making it more difficult to slow down when applying the brakes. 

In some cases, too much air in your tyres could lead to a blowout. A sudden rupture can happen without warning and make steering your car incredibly difficult. Remember, blowouts don’t always happen while inflating a tyre, they can strike suddenly because of overloading or aged tyres.

It's also important to look out for slow punctures. Even if you’re in the habit of inflating your tyres regularly, a slow puncture could see pressure levels fall below legal limits.

How to fix the problem

Fixing your tyre pressure is one of the most straightforward maintenance tasks of them all. You can check your pressure at most petrol stations and inflate or deflate your tyre according to your vehicle handbook.

For more information on how to inflate or deflate your tyres or what to look out for to find a slow puncture, read our checking your tyre pressure page.

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Replacing blunt or broken windscreen wipers

Fine: Up to £2,500

Penalty points: 3 penalty points – 6-month disqualification for repeat offences within 3 years.

^{Note: If defective wipers make the vehicle dangerous to drive, a motorist could face a fine of up to £2,500, three penalty points and a driving ban.}

The Department for Transport (DfT) explains that all windscreen wipers ‘must be properly adjusted and maintained in efficient working order’. Failure to do so could impair your view of the road and lead to dangerous driving scenarios.

It may seem like a minor inconvenience to some but if your wipers aren’t clearing your windscreen properly, you could be charged with ‘using a vehicle in a dangerous condition’. The serious offence comes with a £2,500 fine and 3 penalty points. If you’re found to commit the offence (or one similar) twice within 3 years, you may be disqualified from driving for a minimum of 6 months.

How to fix the problem

The best way to avoid a fine for faulty windscreen wipers is to replace them. You can find out how to check and replace your windscreen wipers with the help of RAC Patrol Ben Aldous.

Our handy wiper blade finder lets you enter your reg or car’s make and model to find and buy the right blades for your vehicle.

Do you need windscreen repair?

Topping up washer fluid

Fine: £100

Penalty points: 3 points

Your windscreen washer system needs to be kept in working order so that you can maintain a clear view of the road. Under Regulation 34 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, vehicles required to have windscreen washers must have a system capable of cleaning the area swept by the wipers, and the washers must be maintained in efficient working order.

This means it's important to keep your washer fluid topped up, particularly before long journeys and during winter when dirt, salt and road spray can quickly reduce visibility.

Driving with an empty washer bottle isn't automatically careless driving. However, if you cannot adequately clean your windscreen and your view of the road becomes obscured, you could be committing an offence. In more serious circumstances, using a vehicle whose condition presents a danger could result in further penalties.

If your car has no washer fluid, you could be charged with careless driving, an offence where police have the power to issue an on-the-spot fixed penalty notice for £100 and 3 penalty points.

How to fix the problem

This one’s easy, simply pop your bonnet, find the washer reservoir, and unscrew the cap to top up the fluid levels. You can buy screen wash ready-mixed, or you may have to dilute the liquid according to instructions on the packaging.

Find out more about how to check your windscreen wash. 

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Replacing a broken or missing registration plate

Fine: Up to £1,000

If you’re driving around with a cracked number plate, or one covered by mud or snow, you could be hit with a potential £1,000 fine by the police. The same applies if you’re towing a caravan or trailer without an extra number plate fixed on the back or sides.

How to fix the problem

If there’s mud, snow or ice obstructing the view of your number plate, simply clean it away. While you’re at it, you might want to wash the rest of your car too, our guide on how to wash a car twice as well in half the time can help.

Alternatively, if your registration plate is missing or damaged, or you plan on towing a vehicle, you’ll need to buy a new plate. If you can’t fix a registration plate on the back of your trailer, fix it to both sides instead.

It could be a good opportunity to buy a personalised number plate, but make sure you get yours from a registered number plate supplier.

Replacing a broken wing mirror

Fine: Up to £2,500

Penalty points: 3 penalty points – 6-month disqualification for repeat offences within 3 years

Wing mirrors play an important role in keeping us safe. They allow drivers to see other road users behind them without having to turn their heads, but it’s their position at the side of cars that makes them vulnerable to damage.

A police officer may decide that driving with a broken wing mirror counts as ‘using a vehicle in a dangerous condition’. The offence comes with a £2,500 fine and 3 penalty points will be added to your licence.

GOV.UK's general roadworthiness guidance requires drivers to check that mirrors are clean and the vehicle is safe to drive.

How to fix the problem

Sometimes a loose wing mirror can be popped back into place. For more substantial damage, it’s best to take your car to a professional. An RAC Approved Garage or RAC Mobile Mechanic will be happy to help with repairs.

Repairing or replacing windscreen chips

Fine: Up to £2,500

Penalty points: 3 penalty points – 6-month disqualification for repeat offences within 3 years

Damaged windscreens can have a serious impact on your safety. Minor scratches and small chips can lead to dazzle and glare that impairs your view of the road and if left ignored, the damage can spread.

The Highway Code says that drivers should have a full view of the road ahead and glass should be maintained in a good condition. The rules divide windscreens into a Zone A and Zone B, which you can see below. Damage of 40mm in size anywhere on the windscreen will lead to an MOT fail, while 10mm of damage in Zone A will also lead to an MOT fail.

If a police officer decides you’re using a vehicle in dangerous condition, you could face a £2,500 fine and 3 points on your licence. If you end up in an accident while driving with a cracked windscreen, you may be liable and charged with a more serious offence. 

How to fix the problem

The quicker you act the better. An epoxy or acrylic adhesive can be used to fill small chips for a relatively cheap price, whereas larger signs of damage will require a replacement windscreen.

The best approach is to seek the help if you do need a repair from an RAC Approved Garage as soon as possible. Read our guide for more advice on how to deal with damaged windscreens.

Clearing out rubbish/littering

Fine: £150+

Not all motorists take the steps they need to make their car last longer. Some car interiors can become temporary homes to old coffee cups, takeaway bags, and anything else you might discard on your travels.

Apart from being unsightly, the rubbish could see you slapped with a fine when you open a door. If you’re deemed to have littered from your car as items fall from your footwell or door pocket for example, you could be hit with a £150 fine.

Rubbish-filled interiors can be a hazard too, as items in the footwell or near the windscreen can affect your ability to drive safely. A problem that was brought to light by a lorry driver who failed to see a cyclist from behind his cluttered dashboard.

How to fix the problem

Grab a black bag and get to work. By using a microfibre cloth to remove dirt and crumbs from floor mats and protective sprays on dashboard plastics you can reduce the likelihood of cracking or discolouration to your interior too.

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Replacing lightbulbs

Fine: £100

Penalty points: 3

^{Note: UK police can take action over defective vehicle lighting and may issue a vehicle defect rectification notice, while more serious cases can result in prosecution.}

Lightbulbs in headlights, brake lights and any other part of your car can blow at any time. Most frustrating of all, drivers can be completely unaware of the faulty bulbs until they’re pulled over by the police.

You should check your lights and bulbs regularly and ask somebody to help. You’ll need to run through a sequence that covers all your lights and should replace any that aren’t working properly.

The police can give you a £100 fine and 3 penalty points on your licence – they may also issue a ‘vehicle defect rectification notice’, giving you 14 days to show that you’ve fixed the problem. If you’re in an accident while driving with defective lights, you could be blamed for the incident and given a much more serious charge.

How to fix the problem

Replacing bulbs may sound straightforward but it can be tricky to find the right bulbs for the job, and disconnecting bulbs may prove tricky too. If you find a faulty bulb and you’re unsure about how to replace it, you can always contact an RAC Approved Garage and ask if they offer a bulb fitting service.

If any of your lights are obscured by dirt, you’ll need to clean them. Our headlight restoration guide can even help make your lights appear brighter. 

Checking exhaust emissions

Fine: £1,000+

Every year, around 40,000 deaths in the UK are attributed to poor air quality. It’s no wonder that the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is a hotly debated topic. 

Even if you haven’t bought an electric car, as the owner of a conventional combustion engine vehicle, you can still play your part to keep pollution levels low. If you don’t, your car may be deemed unroadworthy and fail an MOT.

There are a few tell-tale signs to look for to find out if your car is giving off more harmful emissions than it should:

• a change in vehicle noise, a rattle underneath your car or a pungent smell of fumes could suggest a problem with your catalytic converter
• excessive or dark smoke leaving the exhaust - our guide to engine smoke can help identify the problem
• diesel particulate filter warning lights turning on 

Driving a car that doesn’t comply with the air pollutant emissions standards it was designed to meet carries a £1,000 fine.

How to fix the problem

You might be able to fix a faulty diesel particulate filter by going on a long drive. If the warning light remains on and the problem persists, you’ll need the help of a mechanic.

Similarly, if you hear strange noises or notice unusual smoke leaving your exhaust, you should contact a professional. An RAC Approved Garage is a great place to start.

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Clearing snow- or mist-covered windscreens

Fine: £2,500

Penalty points: 3 penalty points – 6-month disqualification for repeat offences within 3 years

The police regularly pull over motorists who decide to hit the road without clearing their windscreen. Some cases are far more extreme than others, like the driver from Dundee who was with almost their entire car covered in a thick layer of snow.

Rule 229 of the Highway Code explains that ‘you MUST be able to see, so clear all snow and ice from all your windows’. You should even remove all snow that might fall off your car into the path of other road users.

If you’re judged to be ‘using a vehicle in a dangerous condition’ you can be fined £2,500 and issued 3 penalty points.

How to fix the problem

Before setting off, make sure you have a clear view through your windscreen and other windows. If they are misted up, use your car’s demister and air conditioning to clear the condensation, rather than wiping the glass and leaving smears.

If the windscreen is covered in ice or snow, use a proper ice scraper and de-icer. Clear snow from the rest of the car too, particularly the roof, lights and mirrors, so it cannot fall or blow off and obstruct your view or other road users.

Never use boiling or very hot water to clear an icy windscreen, as the sudden temperature change could damage the glass. Ensure your wipers are free from ice before switching them on to avoid damaging the blades or wiper mechanism.