British drivers celebrating Christmas could be slapped with huge £2,500 car insurance bill

New data has found that more than a quarter of Britons plan to leave Christmas presents in their vehicle as they continue to shop.

A further 23 per cent said they would use their vehicle to hide gifts, and six per cent would even leave Christmas food in their cars for "an extended period of time".

While the car may seem like an obvious and safe place to leave gifts and food until the big day, six per cent claim they have been targeted by thieves when doing this.

Leaving food in vehicles can also have a disastrous impact on drivers' car insurance costs, especially if rodents enter the car.

Recent research from Aviva shows that claims for rodent damage in cars tend to spike in December and January, with the average claim soaring to £2,494.

Hannah Pinches, director of motor claims at Aviva, warned drivers to avoid putting themselves in a situation where they risk being burgled or facing huge costs this winter.

She said: "While cars may seem to be handy storage solutions, it's a good idea to be wary of the types of items that we leave in our vehicles.

"Be mindful of leaving presents, especially high-value gifts, in plain sight as this can be tempting for opportunistic thieves and any claim may not be covered."

She advised motorists to take precautions if they are planning on leaving gifts or food in their vehicles to avoid "attracting unwanted attention".

The expert said drivers should store anything in the boot or the glovebox to make it appear to any opportunistic thieves that the car is empty.

If any of the presents are of high or sentimental value, it may be best for the driver to either take home straight away, or take it with them while they continue shopping.

The research also showed that one in 10 Britons admitted to adding decorations to their cars to celebrate the festive season.

However, Ms Pinches warned that decorations must not obstruct the driver's view of the road ahead, or interfere with any other road user.

She suggested that Britons avoid hanging items like tinsel over the rear window. Drivers should also avoid hanging lights in or on their cars, as it can be distracting for others.

The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations state that no red lights must be used on the front of the vehicle, while white lights should only be used for reverse lights.

Blue lights are completely restricted for private motorists as they are reserved exclusively for emergency vehicles.

Anyone breaching these rules could face a fine of £50, with police taking these matters seriously, as seen in the case of a motorist in Poole last month.

The vehicle was displaying red lights in the front and other colours at the rear, prompting the police to pull the driver over and inform him of the rules he was breaching.