It is important for motorists to check their vehicles before they head off to work for the first time after Christmas.
This is according to Mondial Assistance, which finds that call volumes to its breakdown line increase on December 28th and January 4th.
"Most breakdowns at this time of the year are due to flat batteries rather than mechanical failure," said Lee Taylor, automotive director at Mondial Assistance in the UK.
He suggested that motorists switch on their car's engine at least once over the festive season just to make sure the vehicle does not seize up completely.
"This will help to avoid the dreaded flat battery, which alone is responsible for 30 per cent of all breakdowns during this time of year," Mr Taylor stressed.
He also urged people to check their car insurance policies to see whether they include breakdown cover and if not, to make sure it is taken out before the cold, wintery weather conditions set in.
Mondial revealed that it deals with 40 per cent more breakdowns than usual on December 28th and January 4th, mainly because people return to work on these days for the first time after their Christmas holiday.
This follows recent research from Kwik-Fit which found that 13.6 million people have not checked their car batteries in the last six months, making it the least-checked part of a vehicle.
Coolant levels are also being neglected, the poll found, with 11.8 million drivers not looking at them at least once over the last six months.
Customer services director at Kwik-Fit David White commented: "Regular checks are easy to make and will help keep motorists safe and on the road.
"There's a big safety risk too as an empty screenwash, worn-out tyres or wiper blades can easily lead to an accident."
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