This spring bank holiday was the hottest on record.  While the sun may be perfect for enjoying a few mojitos on the garden there’s one thing it’s not good for – driving. 

With temperatures recorded as high as 34.8°c at Kew Gardens in London this weekend, there’s sure to be a few overheated drivers getting behind the wheel over the coming days. 

To help keep you cool on the road this summer we have a science-backed method that will cool your car down in seconds. 

Scientific hack for keeping your car cool in hot weather 

The simple yet effective method works like this. Open the passenger side window and rapidly open and shut the driver’s-side door two or three times, using bulk flow and fluid dynamics the wafting motion of the door will pull cooler air through the cabin. 

For extra cooling, open both windows on the passenger side to allow more cool air through the car.  

To avoid injury, make sure to park in an area clear of traffic and check the path isn’t being used by pedestrians. 

5 more tips for keeping your car cool in summer 

If standing in the street and fanning your door isn’t for you, here are 5 more tips to keep your car cool in hot weather. 

Blankets may seem like something you only use in winter, but you can use them in sunny weather to keep your seats cool.  

Leaving blankets on the seats while the car isn’t in use can absorb heat and keep your driving experience cooler. 

When you’re ready to start your journey, simply throw the blankets in the boot and you’re good to go. 

Consider keeping a bottle of water in the car to cool down your steering wheel, gear stick and seatbelt buckles. In the hot weather, the water will evaporate quickly, taking much of the heat with it. 

Remember to dry off the the steering wheel before setting off to ensure you can get a good grip of it. 

Leaving your windows open a crack will help to ventilate the inside of the cabin while the car is not in use, keeping it much cooler. 

Make sure to only leave the windows down less than the width of a person’s arm to deter thieves and check the weather forecast for rain. The last thing you want to come back to on a hot day is a wet car seat! 

Did you know it only takes about 60 seconds for carbon dioxide to disperse once you open the door? If you leave your car for around a minute before getting in, you’ll be sure to have a much cooler start to your journey. 

If you have leather seats, cotton seat covers can be a great way to prevent heat building up. Leather seats can take around two hours to fully cool down but the cotton alternative is much faster. Covers can be found on Amazon for as low as £14.

Scientific method that instantly cools down your car – plus top tips for keeping your car cool

Scientific method that cools your car down in seconds

Cotswold Motor Group is a long-established automotive retailer representing BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad. The business operates multiple dealers and dedicated bodyshops across the South West. 

As a premium retailer, Cotswold Motor Group must meet the needs of customers facing unexpected costs for high-value repair work, while strengthening customer experience and building long-term trust. 

Bumper’s PayLater enables customers to split the cost of repairs into interest-free monthly payments. The option to pay monthly enables customers to manage larger, unexpected repair costs while supporting workshop conversion and retention.  

By presenting the flexible payment option to customers during key touchpoints, Cotswold Motor Group saw significant improvements across several key metrics. When comparing Bumper vs non-Bumper jobs last year, the group saw: 

Service Manager, Mike Day, said: “The option to split the cost has increased our sales and added another method for us to better support our customers. We can now have more open conversations that mean we’re helping them in a way that fits their specific needs.  

“That’s the approach we’ve always taken at Cotswold Motor Group and Bumper allows us to excel in that.” 

Kristina, a Cotswold Motor Group customer, said: “Bumper allowed me to complete urgent but unplanned repairs to my MINI Cooper S. I was very grateful for the option to spread payments over three months with 0% interest, avoiding the need to prioritise or defer urgent maintenance. I can plan ahead by spreading the payments over three months.” 

For more information about Bumper’s payment options built specifically for automotive, reach out to our payment experts on 

Cotswold Motor Group: Flexible Payments for High-Value Repairs 

Cotswold Motor Group | Bumper Case Study

The Jaecoo 7 has become the UK’s best-selling car in March 2026, knocking the Ford Puma off the top spot. 

The only car to exceed 10,000 sales last month, the Jaecoo 7 saw 10,064 new registrations, compared to 9,193 for the Ford Puma. 

Other top-selling cars in March were the Nissan Qashqai (8,718), Kia Sportage (7,310) and the Vauxhall Corsa (6,315). 

The Ford Puma has been the best-selling car for the last 3 years, but now faces a significant threat from Chery, the Chinese giant responsible for the Jaecoo 7.

The new sales figures mark a wider trend of drivers shifting from legacy manufacturers to newer Chinese brands, which now account for more than the market’s overall growth. 

Another Chinese car maker gaining ground is BYD. Combined, BYD and Chery’s year-to-date registrations are ahead of Volkswagen – usually the UK’s leading brand.

Chinese car knocks Ford Puma off best-selling top spot

Drivers in England will soon face fines for parking on pavements due to new powers issued to councils by the government.  

Currently, pavement parking is banned in London and Scotland, but local authorities in the rest of England can only place restrictions on certain streets. 

Now, ministers are making plans to outlaw pavement parking in the rest of the country. 

Pavement parking can make it difficult for pedestrians with mobility issues or parents with prams to walk on the path without going into the road. The new plans are intended to make streets safer for all road users. 

Fines for pavement parking in London are typically around £100. The new rules will give councils the power to set their own penalties. 

Local Transport Minister, Lilian Greenwood, said: 

“Clear pavements are essential for people to move around safely and independently, whether that’s a parent with a pushchair, someone using a wheelchair, or a blind or partially sighted person. 

“That’s why we’re giving local authorities the power to crack down on problem pavement parking, allowing more people to travel easily and safely and get to where they need to go.” 

The new powers are expected to come into in 2026.

Drivers could soon face fines up to £100 for pavement parking

Since the start of the conflict in Iran, the cost of fuel has increased across the UK, with Northern Ireland the worst-affected area for both petrol and diesel. 

 February, the cost of diesel in the region has jumped by 38%, and petrol has risen by 21%. 

The North West, Wales, and the North East are also among the worst-affected areas for both increases in petrol and diesel. 

Regions worst affected by petrol increases 

Regions worst affected by diesel increases 

 February when Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz due to US and Israeli airstrikes. 

Normally used to ship 20% of the world’s oil supply, the stoppage has caused wholesale oil prices to soar which is now impacting drivers at the pump. 

Since the start of the conflict, the cost of filling up a typical 55-litre car has risen from £73.05 to £86.05 for petrol and £78.31 to £104.31 for diesel.

The UK areas hit hardest by fuel price increases

Octopus Energy and Andersen EV have partnered to give drivers six months of free home EV charging. 

Delivered through Octopus Energy’s Intelligent Octopus Go tariff, the offer applies to anyone purchasing an Andersen charger from 1 March 2026. 

The offer could save EV drivers around 4,370 miles of free driving during the six-month period – the equivalent to an estimated £221 in savings. 

Octopus Energy’s smart EV tariff takes advantage of off-peak rates and renewable-led off-peak electricity. 

The launch aligns with the March ‘26 registration plate change to support new EV owners setting up home charging for the first time. 

The promotion covers Andersen EV’s full charger lineup, including Andersen A3, Andersen A2, and Andersen Quartz (compact model). 

Richard Sephton, Head of EV Partnerships at Octopus Energy, said: "Andersen is accelerating the EV transition by bundling the cost-saving power of Intelligent Octopus Go into its charger range.  

“By offering this as a bundled solution, EV drivers will unlock hundreds of pounds in annual savings that smart tariffs provide, delivering a premium charging experience that pays for itself." 

The news follows a promotion by the government to 

increase EV charger grants from £350 to £500

 covering almost of the cost of a typical installation. 

UK energy provider announces 6 months of free EV charging

The government has announced an increase in its EV charge point grant for renters, flat owners, businesses and households without a driveway. 

Until March 2027, drivers could save half the typical cost of an EV charger installation with the government’s grant, which has now increased from £350 to £500. 

The change will allow EV owners to access cheaper electricity rates at home or at work for as little as 2p per mile – the equivalent of Birmingham to London for £3.50. 

Increased access to charging at homes and businesses is part of a wider plan to gear drivers up for the upcoming “EV revolution”.  

The latest figures show access to domestic charging can save EV owners up to £1,400, compared with standard petrol vehicles. 

Schools will be eligible for a grant of up to £2,000 per socket, helping to build on the 3,700 sockets already installed. 

Another government scheme aimed at increasing adoption, the £2 million Electric Car Grant, has previously helped 55,000 drivers save thousands when purchasing a new electric vehicle. 

Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister, Keir Mather said:  

“We’re taking action to make EV ownership the affordable choice for everyone – not just those with driveways. Bigger grants mean families, flat owners, renters and small businesses can now install a charger for almost half the usual cost, with home charging costing as little as 2p a mile. 

“Combined with our Electric Car Grant which has saved over 55,000 drivers thousands off the price of a new EV whilst boosting sales for carmakers, and record funding for our national public charging network, we’re backing the EV revolution for drivers, businesses, and industry.” 

Alastair Shephard

Content Writer