The warning has been issued to anyone who drives a car with alloy wheels.
In the vast majority of cases, alloys are secured to the wheel hub with ‘locking wheel nuts’ – ie, lug nuts designed to prevent theft and which can only be removed by using a special ‘key’.
And Graham Conway, Managing Director at UK lease firm Select Car Leasing, says that if you can’t locate your locking wheel nut ‘key’ in the event of a flat tyre you’re in for an extremely frustrating ride.
He explains: “Your locking wheel nut key is an absolutely vital piece of kit which should always be stowed safely in your car – whether it’s in your glovebox or stowed in a special recess in your boot.
“Without it, there’s no easy way to remove an alloy wheel in order to replace a flat tyre, or to instigate a repair to the brakes or suspension.
“And yet we still hear many instances of motorists being left high and dry when they suffer a breakdown only to realise their locking wheel nut key is nowhere to be found – or is safely filed at home, typically with the vehicle’s handbook, miles away from where you need it!
“If there’s no locking wheel nut key, neither you nor your breakdown service will be able to place a spare tyre on your car in order for you to make it to the nearest garage. Some garages might even turn away vehicles that are presented without a locking wheel nut key.
“My advice is to double check that your locking wheel nut key is in your car, and that you know precisely where it is, unless you want to suffer a breakdown nightmare. That’s particularly important during school half term when you might have the entire family with you.”
Select Car Leasing warns that motorists might be particularly susceptible to a flat tyre at this time of year when farmers begin to cut hedgerows.
Hedge cutting restrictions are in place between 1 March and the end of August to protect nesting birds. But you might see more tractors on the roads with hedge cutting equipment at the beginning of autumn when the ban is lifted.
When Hawthorn are Blackthorn cuttings are splayed onto roads they can present a puncture risk.
While a missing locking wheel nut is not a reason for an MOT to be refused, a garage might be unable to carry out repairs in the event of an MOT failure – which could again leave motorists high and dry, according to Select Car Leasing.
Mr Conway adds: “If you’ve lost or damaged your locking wheel nut key, you can order a new one from your vehicle’s manufacturer.
“You should be able to find a unique key ‘code’ in your owner handbook or service book and a replacement key typically costs around £50 – but can cost in excess of £100 for some vehicles.”