Why the AA Was Called to 137,000 Incidents in Two Months and How to Avoid Being Next

The AA attended 137,000 breakdown callouts related to vehicle problems in January and February 2026 alone. As the UK enters summer, that figure is set to rise again. Summer is not the mild season for cars that many drivers assume: it is when tyres fail at the highest rate, when batteries that struggled through winter finally give out under the strain of air conditioning, and when overheating engines become a genuine roadside emergency. The AA estimates that a car breaks down on UK roads every four minutes during peak summer travel periods.

With millions of drivers planning summer road trips, and fuel prices currently running at 159.5p per litre for petrol and 185p for diesel following the disruption caused by the Middle East conflict from February 2026, the cost of an avoidable breakdown has never been higher. A recovery call-out from a major breakdown service typically costs between £150 and £300 without membership, and repair bills for problems that could have been caught during a pre-trip check frequently run into the hundreds.

Why Summer Is the Most Dangerous Season for Tyres

Tyre failures are the single most common cause of summer breakdowns in the UK. Heat causes the air inside a tyre to expand, increasing pressure. A tyre that was correctly inflated at 10 degrees Celsius can be overinflated by three to five psi at 30 degrees Celsius, which increases the risk of a blowout, particularly on motorways where sustained high-speed running generates additional friction heat.

The legal minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre’s width around its entire circumference. A tyre below this depth fails its MOT and carries a fine of up to £2,500 per tyre plus three penalty points per offence. The quick check is the 20p coin test: insert a 20p into the tread groove; if the outer band of the coin is visible, the tyre is at or near the legal minimum and should be replaced immediately.

Tyre pressure should be checked when the tyres are cold, meaning the car has not been driven for at least two hours or has travelled fewer than two miles. The correct pressure is not the maximum pressure printed on the tyre sidewall but the manufacturer’s recommended pressure found in the driver’s handbook or on a sticker inside the fuel filler cap or door jamb. For many standard family cars, the recommended pressure is between 32 and 36 psi, but it varies significantly by vehicle and load. Checking and adjusting pressure takes less than five minutes at any petrol station with an air compressor.

The Battery Problem That Summer Reveals

A dead or failing battery is the most common cause of breakdown callouts year-round, accounting for approximately 39 per cent of all AA callouts. In summer, two factors converge to make battery failures more likely. First, batteries that were already weakened by the cold start demands of winter often limp through spring without obvious signs of trouble, only to fail when the increased electrical load of air conditioning, cooling fans, and in-car entertainment tips them over the edge. Second, extreme heat accelerates battery degradation by increasing the rate of internal chemical reactions that cause the battery plates to corrode.

The average car battery lasts between three and five years under normal conditions. A battery that is four or more years old and has been showing signs of slow starts or requiring jump-starts should be replaced before a long summer trip rather than after. Battery testing is free at most national tyre fitting chains including Kwik Fit, National Tyres, and Halfords, and takes less than 10 minutes. A replacement battery for a standard family car costs between £80 and £150 fitted, compared to the £150 to £300 cost of a breakdown callout if it fails at the roadside.

Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle owners face a different concern. EV battery degradation is accelerated by sustained exposure to temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, which reduces the available range. The Volvo EX30 recall issued in May 2026, affecting 10,500 vehicles over a risk that charging above 70 per cent in high temperatures could trigger a thermal event, is an extreme example of a broader principle: in hot weather, following manufacturer guidance on charging limits is not optional.

Engine Cooling: The Check That Takes 60 Seconds

Engine overheating is the third most common cause of summer breakdowns and one of the most expensive to repair. A cracked cylinder head caused by an overheated engine can cost between £1,500 and £4,000 to fix, depending on the vehicle. The coolant reservoir check that prevents this outcome takes 60 seconds and costs nothing.

The coolant reservoir is a translucent plastic tank, usually located near the radiator at the front of the engine bay, with MIN and MAX markings on the side. The level should be between those markings when the engine is cold. Low coolant indicates either a leak or consumption that needs investigation. Never open the coolant cap when the engine is hot: the pressurised system will spray scalding fluid. If the temperature gauge on the dashboard rises towards the red while driving, turn on the cabin heater immediately to draw heat away from the engine, pull over safely at the first opportunity, and wait at least 30 minutes before checking under the bonnet.

Engine oil should also be checked with the dipstick before any long journey. The oil level should be between the MIN and MAX marks, and the oil on the dipstick should be translucent amber rather than black and gritty. A car that is low on oil or overdue for a service will run hotter and is at significantly greater risk of a failure under motorway conditions.

What to Carry in the Car This Summer

The Highway Code recommends that drivers carry a basic emergency kit when travelling long distances. For summer journeys, the minimum practical kit includes a warning triangle (compulsory in many European countries if you are travelling abroad), a hi-visibility vest, jump leads or a compact lithium jump-starter pack, a bottle of engine coolant, a tyre inflator, and a small first aid kit.

Drivers planning European travel should also carry headlamp beam deflectors (required in all right-hand-drive countries), and should check whether their breakdown cover extends to continental Europe. Standard UK breakdown policies typically exclude European recovery or limit it to a fixed distance from the ferry port. European breakdown cover can be added to most major policies for an additional premium of £25 to £60 for a two-week period, but it must be arranged before departure. The RAC and AA have both reported a significant number of UK drivers stranded in France and Spain in recent summers who assumed their domestic policy covered them.

Drivers who do not currently hold breakdown cover membership should consider the cost comparison carefully. Annual membership with a major provider costs between £100 and £180 for national roadside cover including recovery. A single call-out without membership costs between £150 and £300. For the summer period alone, the insurance arithmetic of membership versus pay-per-use favours membership for any driver planning more than one long trip.

Motorway Rules for When It Goes Wrong

If a breakdown occurs on a motorway or smart motorway, the procedure has changed since the All Lane Running smart motorway programme was expanded. On traditional motorways with a hard shoulder, pull on to the hard shoulder, switch on hazard lights, exit the vehicle via the nearside (left) door, and stand behind the barrier as far from the carriageway as possible. Never stand between the vehicle and moving traffic.

On All Lane Running motorways where there is no hard shoulder, Emergency Refuge Areas (ERAs) are provided at intervals of roughly 1.5 miles. If you cannot reach an ERA, stop the vehicle as far to the left as possible, switch on hazard lights, call 999 and tell the operator your location from the nearest motorway junction or blue marker post, and remain in the vehicle with your seatbelt on unless there is a fire risk. Highways England’s technology will normally detect the stopped vehicle and close the lane using overhead gantry signs within minutes. However, the government’s road safety consultation that closed in May 2026 included proposals to retrofit more physical ERAs on existing All Lane Running sections, suggesting the policy on smart motorway safety is still evolving.

Sources:

• RAC: How to avoid a summer breakdown
• AA Motoring News
• RAC Fuel Watch: Latest UK petrol and diesel prices
• Motoring Assist: Summer driving tips