Is leaving a car unattended while it's de-icing illegal?
I regularly go out early in the morning and start the engine of my car to de-ice the windows and mirrors. Because the car has keyless start and is parked on a private driveway I can then get out and lock the doors and when I do this the horn beeps twice. I go back inside my house and wait until the windows are clear because diesels take quite a while to heat up. Am I really breaking the law and potentially invalidating my insurance by doing this?
Asked on 26 March 2018 by Auto Steve
Answered by
Tim Kelly
You are not breaking the law on private property, but if you are on the road you need to be present if in charge of a running vehicle: www.highwaycode.info/rule/123
You are possibly invalidating your insurance. If you left your keys in the vehicle, then you would definitely be invalidating your insurance. With keyless ignition, it is a very grey area. The contract of insurance requires you to make sure your car is "secure". Having done that - and you have - it should be covered. The issue with keyless cars, are the devices that can be used to boost the signal from the car to your key. As the car is already running, you have done half of the work for a thief. There are various tricks that can be used to gain access to the vehicle whilst the engine is running while locked. This then becomes a very sketchy area. The best advise is to not do it, or sit in the car.
You are possibly invalidating your insurance. If you left your keys in the vehicle, then you would definitely be invalidating your insurance. With keyless ignition, it is a very grey area. The contract of insurance requires you to make sure your car is "secure". Having done that - and you have - it should be covered. The issue with keyless cars, are the devices that can be used to boost the signal from the car to your key. As the car is already running, you have done half of the work for a thief. There are various tricks that can be used to gain access to the vehicle whilst the engine is running while locked. This then becomes a very sketchy area. The best advise is to not do it, or sit in the car.
Similar questions
Are rear-wheel drive cars easier to drive in winter conditions if the engine is also rear fitted e.g. as in a Smart?
How can I stop my car door sticking to the rubber seals on cold and frosty mornings?
Given that the cold winter days are settling in, my attention turns to the frustrations of going outside to scrape the frost off the windscreen and then sit in a cold car until the engine warms up. Is...
Elsewhere on 
