Skipping simple car check could cost millions of drivers 'up to £10,000'

Skipping simple car check could cost millions of drivers 'up to £10,000' Every driver needs to make sure they follow this rule People who drive on roads across the UK need to be aware of this important rule, which could cost them £10,000 if they are caught out. It is avoidable if people complete one of two simple checks on their vehicles before it gets too late. Online tyre retailer Blackcircles claim that more than a quarter of drivers have bought a second-hand car without checking tyres, a habit that could cost them £10,000 and put points on their licence. Every driver runs the risk of wearing down their tyres to these dangerous levels over time, but making this check could save an affordable car deal from turning into something expensive that may cost you your licence. James Harding, a tyre specialist at Blackcircles, said: "Worryingly, many motorists don’t regularly check the condition of their vehicle's tyres and are unaware of the consequences they could face if they don’t meet the legal requirements. Having illegal tyres not only poses a risk to the driver of the vehicle but also to other motorists and pedestrians. "If your car has a tread depth lower than the legal requirement of 1.6mm, the amount of grip the vehicle has on the road is reduced, hindering the vehicle’s ability to come to a hard stop, risking an accident. As well as posing harm to yourself and others, having illegal car tyres could also land you with a hefty fine and penalty points on your licence." What does the law say about tyre depth? In the UK, the legal minimum tyre tread depth for cars, vans, and light trailers is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread, continuously around the entire circumference of the tyre. If caught by the police, this fine can stack depending on how many tyres fall short of the legal requirement. Motorists can be fined up to £2,500 per illegal tyre, so taking a chance with four tyres could result in a fine of up to £10,000. The consequences don’t stop there. Each tyre under the limit adds three points to your licence. Assuming that drivers are stopped with a clean licence, four tyres instantly add 12 points, which can lead to a driving ban. Ensure our latest driving headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings How can I test for this? There are specific small tools, known as tread depth gauges, that can provide an accurate measurement of the total depth to the millimetre. People can buy these tools for £10 or less on Amazon, Argos or Halfords. For a cheaper alternative, people could try the 20p method. It uses a coin to roughly check whether the tyre tread is below the legal limit without investing in a dedicated tool or taking it to a garage. To do this, insert a 20p coin into the main tread grooves and see if the outer band of the coin is visible. Because of the uniform guide around the coin, it can show if the tread may be below the legal limit and should be checked with a proper gauge.