The most common reason for a car not to start in winter is due to a dead battery. According to statistics battery problems increase in November, with December being the worst month of the year. The busiest day for a battery to fail, according to the RAC, is on a Monday between 8am and 8.45 in the morning, after a car has been left parked-up for the weekend.

You can avoid a flat battery by following a few helpful tips. If your car suffers a flat battery you can normally get started without having to call and wait for an emergency breakdown service. The following tips will help you avoid a flat battery and give you a guide of how to get started fast if you're left stranded at start up in the morning.

Be very careful not to leave your interior light on in your vehicle overnight ? this is the most common reason for a flat battery.

Ensure your vehicle is serviced before the winter frost arrives.

If you only drive on short journeys with lights, wipers and heater blower on, switch them off before turning your engine off. This allows extra charge to be put back into the battery.

If you drive a diesel vehicle and the engine glow plugs break down your battery will take longer to turn the engine over before starting up. Change your glow plugs at the first signs of failure, saving wear on your battery.

A faulty alternator is also one of the most common reasons for a battery to go flat. If this happens you should not need to replace your battery. Replace your alternator and recharge your battery. Be careful if you use jump leads to start your vehicle in an emergency. Putting a pair of jump leads on the wrong way round can damage your alternator.

Think about buying a booster and starter charger. It can boost start a low battery from the mains in about 15 minutes and re-charge a flat battery four times faster than most ordinary battery chargers.

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