Zurich Reports On Foul Times Birds Can Cause Drivers

Although having a bird foul on their car is an unpleasant matter for any motorist to experience, having this happen could be just the start of monetary difficulties, a new report indicated.

In research carried out by Zurich Insurance it was revealed that about nine out of ten (89 per cent) drivers have seen their vehicles used as a target by birds over the past 12 months, with some four per cent of these claiming to have suffered car damage every day. And as well being aesthetically unattractive, the firm reported that bird droppings can be costly to remove. It was indicated that 38 per cent of motorists who have been the unfortunate target of birds have seen their car become permanently damaged, with dull spots on paintwork and discolouration among the impairments suffered. Meanwhile, 13 per cent report that upon attempting to remove droppings their paintwork has been scratched.

Overall, bird lime – the technical term for droppings – were indicated to cause some 57 million pounds in damage for British drivers every year.

Those who find that they are constantly having to pay for repairs to their vehicle could encounter problems in managing other motor-related expenses such as MOT, insurance and petrol. Such monetary difficulties could also extend to areas including loan payments and credit cards.

Furthermore, it was claimed bird lime can have a lasting financial impact for drivers. Some 13 per cent state the value of their vehicle has dropped by over 200 pounds due to such damage, while 14 per cent report that their car’s worth has dropped by more than 400 pounds.

Mike Quinton, managing director for direct & partnerships at Zurich Insurance, said: “Being hit by bird lime may be relatively commonplace but can be costly to repair and seriously devalue your car. Unfortunately, very few birds have insurance to claim from and your own insurance is unlikely to cover it, so the best way of avoiding having to pay for damage is to act quickly and remove the offending item as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, bird control expert Guy Merchant claimed that the spring and summer months are the most likely time motorists will be a target of bird droppings as it is the breeding season “for large populations of the pigeons and sea gulls who make their homes in trees and the rafters of residential and commercial buildings, which is also quite often where we park our cars as well”. He stated the combination of summer and the influx of birds at this time of year can prove to be costly for motorists “as the hot weather bakes the excrement into paintwork and if left untreated, causes major damage to the exterior of cars”.

For consumers looking for an effective way to pay for repairs to their vehicle, applying for a low cost loan might be recommended. The financial assistance that a quick loan offers could also provide borrowers with a means of meeting other motor-related expenses such as insurance. Indeed borrowing might be especially helpful for those facing a rise in cover expenses after Confused recently reported that a 21-year-old Manchester woman driver could see insurance costs on her 1.3 litre Ford Fiesta rise by 895 pounds should she receive six points on her licence.

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