Drivers urged to make 'quick' two-second check every autumn morning

Drivers urged to make 'quick' two-second check every autumn morning Drivers heading out on chilly autumn mornings have been urged to add one tiny precaution to their routine As autumn mornings become colder and darker, motorists face a number of changes to their usual driving routine. But one simple habit could make a surprising difference to the safety of animals sheltering around parked cars. With daylight arriving later, many commuters and parents on the school run will be getting into vehicles that have been sitting outside overnight. For cats looking for somewhere protected from cold weather, the space around a parked vehicle can provide an appealing place to hide. The RSPCA warns that cats may shelter underneath cars or crawl beneath bonnets and into wheel arches during colder weather. It advises drivers to tap the bonnet and check around the wheels and tyres before starting the engine. Cats Protection gives similar advice, saying cats can sometimes nestle inside a warm car engine or underneath a parked vehicle. Its guidance recommends making some noise, checking underneath the car and allowing cats time to move away before starting the engine. Natalie Surtees, COO and co-founder of Tedaisy Insurance Group, the company behind Perfect Pet, said: "As the nights get colder, cats naturally look for somewhere warm and out of the weather. A parked car ticks every box. It keeps off the wind and rain, and there are lots of snug little gaps a cat can squeeze into. "Most drivers never give it a second thought, but that's exactly why it's worth making a quick check part of your morning routine at this time of year." The warning is not limited to traditional petrol and diesel vehicles, either. Department for Transport figures show there were more than two million licensed zero-emission cars in the UK at the end of June 2026, meaning the precaution is increasingly relevant to electric-car drivers too. Natalie added: "It's easy to think that because there's no hot engine, cats won't bother with an electric car. But a car doesn't need to be warm to be appealing. Shelter is often what a cat is really after. "Electric cars are also much quieter than petrol or diesel when they pull away, so a cat dozing underneath gets far less warning than it would from an engine starting up." The expert recommends making the check quick rather than turning it into another lengthy job before work or the school run. She said: "Give the bonnet a firm tap, have a look around the wheels and tyres, and then wait a few seconds before you drive off. That gives any cat plenty of time to hop out." Meanwhile, the RSPCA also recommends providing cats with warm, cosy places to rest during colder weather, while Cats Protection suggests keeping outdoor cats indoors overnight where possible. For cat owners in England, there is another autumn task worth remembering, as owned cats must be microchipped by 20 weeks and their details kept up to date. The government introduced compulsory microchipping in England in June 2024, with owners potentially facing a fine of up to £500 if they fail to comply.