Driving Home for Christmas Safely

The festive season is officially underway, and it's a time for spreading joy and cheer. But for many, this festive season can also impact driving – whether that’s filling your boot with presents or even hanging a bauble from your mirror. 

In fact, a previous survey from Group 1 Automotive found that 16% would decorate their cars depending on the season, the equivalent of 8 million drivers*. 

From twinkling lights to reindeer antlers, Christmas car decorations can add an extra dash of festive charm. However, it’s crucial to ensure that any decorations don’t compromise safety on the road – for both yourself and other drivers.

Below, the team at Group 1 Automotive shares the do’s and don’ts of festive car decorations, potential penalties for unsafe practices, and some car packing tips to ensure your car is safe and secure during the festive season.

Whether you're spreading Christmas cheer with gifts or bringing home the perfect Christmas tree, we’ve got you covered with practical advice to keep your journey safe and merry.

Decorating Your Car For Christmas

While it's not technically illegal to decorate your car, putting lights, window stickers, and other Christmas car decorations on can cause some issues for yourself and other road users. 

These accessories can potentially obstruct your view, leading to dangerous driving, and can also be a distraction to other drivers on the road.

According to the Highway Code, drivers found to be using a vehicle in a dangerous condition may be charged with a £2,500 fine and three penalty points. So it’s key that if you’re decorating a car for Christmas, you’re doing so in a safe way.

As such, we’ve listed 5 things you shouldn’t do when decorating your car for Christmas:

1. Exterior car accessories

There are many car accessories available to purchase with some festive additions, including elf legs that stick out the boot of your car, reindeer antlers for your roof, and wreaths you can add to your grille.

However, it’s important to be extra careful with exterior car decorations. If they aren't properly secured and fall onto the road, they can obstruct other vehicles and cause problems for motorists. Obstructing other drivers with your Christmas car decorations can result in a fine of £100 and three penalty points added to your license. 

2. Car window stickers

Another popular addition is festive window stickers, such as snowflakes, reindeer or snowy scenes. 

However, be aware of the placement of these stickers and decals. Obstructing the view from your windshield can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and three penalty points.

3. Colourful headlights

Many drivers may be tempted to switch out their headlights with festive colours, such as red or green, to really get into the Christmas spirit. 

However, driving regulations state that front headlights must be either white or yellow, while rear lights must be red at all times – with blue, red, and green lights reserved for emergency vehicles only. If you are found with unlawful headlight colours, drivers can face a fine of up to £1,000.

4. Decorated registration plates

In theory, adding a touch of festive charm to a registration plate seems like a nice idea, but it’s important to leave your plate untouched so it is visible to cameras and other road users.

Deliberately obscuring your registration plate can lead to a fine of up to £1,000, depending on the circumstances.

5. Adding LED lights inside your car

We all love twinkling lights on our Christmas tree, but if you plan on adding any LED lights inside a car, you must avoid any flashing features.

To steer clear of fines or points, festive drivers should ensure that any extra lights on their cars are not distracting to themselves or other drivers and are not blue (as mentioned above). 

If your Christmas car decorations are found to be distracting for other drivers or even for yourself – in the most serious cases – this can lead to a fine of up to £1,000 and even a driving ban.

Christmas Car Packing Tips

There are many reasons why we may need to use our cars to transport festive goodies, including one Christmas staple – the tree!

So, can you put a Christmas tree on top of your car? It’s perfectly legal to transport your Christmas tree home by car, but it’s important to secure it properly to avoid potential fines.

Be sure to check your car’s manual for the maximum load capacity and use strong ropes or straps to fasten the tree securely to the roof of your vehicle so it doesn't move during the journey. This not only protects your own vehicle but also ensures a safe trip on the road for other drivers.

Besides trees, many people will transport gifts to and from family and friends’ houses this festive season. Read below for 4 ways you can safely transport gifts this Christmas:

1. Make multiple trips

While driving back and forth may seem like a hassle, this is the safest way to transport gifts if you have a lot to take with you. 

Another alternative is to use two cars if a friend or family member can drive and help you transport your gifts. If you buy your presents online, you could also opt for a gift wrap option when checking out, meaning they can be delivered straight to their destination. 

2. Pack the car carefully

Cramming presents in the boot may seem like the easiest way to fill the car, but if you don’t pack properly, you can actually waste valuable space.

While footwells should remain clear for easy access in emergencies, smaller gifts can be placed underneath the front seats, glove compartments, and inner door cubbies.

If you're really short on space, you can also get a roof box. You’ll need to fit some roof bars onto your car, which can have an external storage box attached – perfect for packing more presents.

3. Don't pack heavy

Knowing the weight your car can hold is crucial for those transporting larger, heavier gifts. Before your journey, check your car owner’s manual to find out your maximum carrying weight. You can also visit Gov.uk for extra guidance.

You should also check your tyre pressure if carrying more in your car than usual to be sure you have enough air in your tyres before setting off. 

To maintain a low centre of gravity in your car and minimise weight over the wheels – reducing friction and wear on your tyres – you should position heavier gifts closer to the front and centre of the vehicle and at the bottom of any piles of presents. 

If you overfill your car and exceed your weight limit, you may face a £50 fixed penalty offence.

4. Don’t block the rear-view window

Whilst it’s not illegal to block the rear-view window of your car as long as you have clear visibility in your rear-view mirrors, it’s not the safest way to travel – especially on icy winter roads. 

When checking the roads behind you and parking in tight spots, it's important to check your rear-view window, so try to avoid blocking your view if possible.

If you’re found to have overpacked your car to the point where it becomes dangerous, you can be fined up to £2,500 and have three penalty points added to your license.

So, to ensure you have a merry Christmas and aren’t facing the naughty list, it’s better to be safe and check that you’re not going to accidentally put yourself or others in a dangerous situation. 

*based on Gov data showing 50 million people have a driving licence in Great Britain