Hot Weather Driving: Keeping You and Your Car Safe

In hot weather, park in the shade, keep an eye on coolant and tyre pressures, carry water, and never leave children or pets in a parked car. A few minutes of preparation protects you, your passengers and the car.

How do I keep my car cool when it is parked?

• Park in the shade or in a covered car park where you can

• Use a reflective windscreen sunshade to protect the dashboard and keep the cabin cooler

• Before setting off, open the doors or windows for a minute to let hot air out

• Once moving, use the air conditioning, and switch to recirculation once the cabin has started to cool

What should I check before a journey in hot weather?

• Coolant: check the level when the engine is cold. Low coolant is a common cause of overheating.

• Tyres: check pressures when the tyres are cold, and look for cracks or bulges. Hot roads and under-inflation make blowouts more likely.

• Air conditioning: if it is not blowing cold, it may need a service.

• Battery: heat can shorten battery life, so look out for slow starting.

Our car maintenance checklist covers the regular checks.

What should I not leave in a hot car?

Inside temperatures can climb far higher than the air outside. Take these with you or keep them out of the sun:

• Aerosol cans, such as deodorant, air freshener or de-icer

• Phones, laptops, power banks and vapes, as lithium batteries can be damaged by heat

• Medicines, which may stop working properly if they get too hot

• Fizzy drinks and glass bottles

• Plastic-framed sunglasses left on the dashboard

What should I do if my engine overheats?

1. Pull over somewhere safe and switch off the engine.

2. Let the engine cool down. Do not open the coolant cap while it is hot, as it can spray scalding liquid.

3. Once it is cold, check the coolant level and look for leaks.

4. If you are not sure it is safe to continue, call your breakdown provider.

If the temperature gauge rises while you are driving, switching the heater to hot with the fan on full can draw some heat away from the engine until you can stop.

Is it safe to leave a pet or child in the car for a few minutes?

No. A parked car can become dangerously hot very quickly, even with the windows open a little. Dogs can suffer heatstroke in a short time, and owners can be prosecuted under animal welfare law. Our guide to dog-friendly cars has more ideas for travelling with dogs.

Common questions

Do electric cars cope with hot weather?

Yes. EVs manage battery temperature automatically, though using the air conditioning will reduce range a little. Pre-cooling the car while it is plugged in helps.

Should I drive with the windows down or the air conditioning on?

At low speeds, open windows use little energy. At motorway speeds, the extra drag from open windows can use as much fuel as the air conditioning.

What should I keep in the car on a hot day?

Water, a sun hat, sun cream, a phone charger and any medicines you need, especially for longer journeys.

Need a check before a summer trip?

Our service centre in Barnsley can look at your car before a long journey. Call 01226 574321.

Updated October 2026.