Drivers ignorant of their own cars

• Half of drivers don't know how to change wheel
• One in 10 doesn't know how to open bonnet
• Women know their cars less well than men

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Nine million people don't know their way around their own car, according to a survey by breakdown firm Green Flag.

11% of motorists don't even know how to open the bonnet, while 13% don't know where the dipstick is. A further 13% don't know how to full up windscreen washers, and 22% have no idea how to check tyre pressures.

If you think that's concerning, 8% of drivers would not know what the low-oil warning light was if it came on, and 3% have no idea of what the low fuel signal looks like.

If their cars were to break down, many drivers wouldn't know how to get it running again - 49% of drivers don't know where their car's spark plugs are, and 44% don't know how to attach jump leads for a jump-start.

2.5 million drivers (8%) don't know where their car's spare wheel is - assuming they knew how to change it, which 49% don't.

Women know their cars even less well
Women fared less well than men in the survey - 30% don't know how to check their car's tyre pressure, 65% couldn't fit a spare wheel and 61% don't know where the spark plugs are.

Men aren't exactly bright sparks, either, though. One in twenty male drivers has never opened the bonnet to examine the engine, 4% don't know where the dipstick or screen wash is, and 22% can't locate the engine's spark plugs.

Other statistics
Here are some other statistics thrown up by the survey:

• 30% don't know their car's engine size;

• One in 10 don't know how old their car is;

• 14% couldn't remember their car's registration number;

• The worst city for drivers' ignorance of their own cars was Cambridge. Chelmsford, Newcastle, Bristol and Nottingham were next in line.