Those Britons who discover that their car has been vandalised could find themselves coming under financial pressure, it has been suggested.

In research carried out by AA Personal Loans as part of its Deals on Wheels report it was revealed that just under three-quarters (72 per cent) of motorists claim that in the past their vehicle has been deliberately damaged by someone kicking, smashing or keying it. Research from the financial services firm also revealed that those living in the north of England are the most likely targets of car vandalism. Some 74 per cent of drivers from the region claim that their vehicle has been damaged by criminals. Meanwhile, Scottish motorists were shown to be the least likely to see their vehicle vandalised, although some 70 per cent of people in the country say that this has happened to them.

The study also showed that just under half (43 per cent) of respondents have experienced car damage after parking on a residential street. Meanwhile, supermarket and multi-storey car parking areas have been scenes of vehicle damage for 24 and 13 per cent of drivers respectively. On the other hand, outside a school, church or restaurant, a doctor’s surgery and - perhaps unsurprisingly - a police station were revealed to be among the safest places for people to park up.

However, those who find that they have inadequate car insurance may find that they have to pay for the cost of repairs to their vehicle and replacing items by themselves. This may have an impact on their capacity to manage other financial demands such as credit cards, loans and council tax repayments.

Mark Huggins, head of AA Personal Loans, stated: “A car is a serious financial investment and finding it vandalised is frustrating, heartbreaking and of course expensive. If you are paying for your car with a personal loan, the last thing you want is the added financial burden of sorting out repairs so it’s worth thinking about where you park.

“For example, if you are out and about, choose well-lit car parks preferably with good security such as CCTV even if it means a bit of a walk or a higher parking fee. And although it’s not always possible to park off road at home, try to park in a well-lit spot and take simple precautions like folding in the side mirrors to reduce the risk of them being knocked off.”

He went on to urge drivers against leaving any valuable objects out on display within their car. In an attempt to improve the safety of their vehicle, Mr Huggins also advised motorists to invest in security features, such as a steering wheel clamp, which will act as a visible deterrent to thieves.

It was also pointed out that the areas in which a car is kept overnight can make an impact upon the amount of car insurance drivers pay. For those living in a rural part of Britain, AA stated that putting a vehicle in a locked garage can reduce premiums by as much as seven per cent, with such a saving rising to 35 per cent for consumers in inner-city areas.

Meanwhile, those consumers looking for an effective way to purchase a car may find that getting a personal loan is of assistance. By doing so, it may be possible that consumers can buy the vehicle of their dreams quickly and effectively and are left with an affordable level of repayments to make each month. The loan could also help drivers to purchase a comprehensive insurance policy, in addition to security accessories such as steering wheel locks. Getting a personal loan for the purposes of buying a car could be of interest to a significant number of people after a recent Sainsbury’s Finance study showed that some 6.86 million Britons are looking to purchase an automobile between March and the end of August.

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