Explore how much car warning lights could cost you to repair on this interactive dashboard

Date Posted 7th October 2019
Read Time 2 min read

Modern cars have clever sensors monitoring the condition and performance of the vehicle’s complex parts. If the sensors detect a problem, your car will communicate this via a warning light.

As a general rule of thumb, an amber warning light means you should seek the advice of a professional mechanic as soon as possible, whereas a red warning light warrants immediate action.

Many lights will appear momentarily when you turn on the ignition and disappear once you move off. However, if the light stays on while you’re driving – such as the press clutch or brake pedal – this could be a sign of a fault which needs checking out.

However, many of us are guilty of ignoring these small symbols, not knowing what they mean or how much it costs to put right.

In fact, on average, it takes British drivers over 8 days to address a dashboard warning light and over 77,000 ignore them altogether according to a recent survey of motorists.

Motorists have a legal obligation to ensure their car is kept in a safe condition, so acting promptly when a warning light comes on could help you avoid a fine or points on your licence. Putting off visiting a mechanic could also invalidate your car insurance.

The cost of fixing an issue may be high for certain faults but in the long run, doing so will save you more than just money.

To give you the low down on what different car warning lights mean, and their average repair bill, Hippo Leasing has created an interactive dashboard which you can explore here!