Rampaging rodents costing drivers THOUSANDS as RAC issues warning over record callouts from vermin

This is more during the same period than any other year on record, with rats being the main perpetrator.

The pesky rodents will typically chew on fuel hoses, infest engine bays, and shatter headlights.

In second and third place of troublesome vermin causing car chaos, are mice and foxes respectively.

The RAC recorded 106 mice and 41 fox-related callouts from January to November this year.

The record-breaking figure represents a 55 per cent increase from 2018, when 196 incidents occurred.

The figures do not account for when a vehicle has struck an animal.

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RAC patrol Nick Isaac said he discovered a squirrel using a car's air filter to stockpile nuts.

“The car had lost power and had an odd smell. When I lifted the bonnet and revved the engine, the air filter moved like it was being sucked towards the engine,” he said.

“It turned out a squirrel had been taking nuts from a bird feeder and storing them in the air box, restricting air flow to the car.”

Smaller animals often use engine cavities as places to warmly rest. One patrol discovered a Porsche inhabited by a nest of 10 mice.

In another incident, a baby python was also discovered nestled behind a wheel trim.

Alice Simpson, a spokeswoman for the RAC said: “Many of us are used to seeing the occasional rat or mouse on the street, but finding one in your car is not only a nasty shock but often the cause of very unwelcome and expensive damage.

“Unfortunately, incidents like this are more common than drivers might expect, particularly over the winter months when animals look to take shelter from the cold conditions. To reduce the risk of animal damage, check your car if it hasn’t been driven for a week or more.

“The best advice is to make sure no food – for pets or humans – is left inside. Also check for unusual smells in the vehicle and be mindful of any dashboard warning lights that don’t disappear after a minute or two.

“Any foodstuff in garages should be kept in airtight containers or locked in metal bins. Car insurance does cover animal damage, but it’s worth checking before you claim to see if the damage justifies the expense.”