Synchronising a smartphone to their suitably equipped vehicle via Bluetooth or USB allows a driver to perform tasks such as playing music, downloading contacts and messages, retrieving live traffic updates and navigation information, as well as making hands-free calls or sending messages.

However, failure to wipe this data from the car before selling it risks inadvertently giving away personal information to any future owners. This information could include personal address book information and even Wi-Fi details.

A study by Which? of more than 14,000 motorists who had sold their vehicle in the last two years found that just over half (54 per cent) had made use of the car’s Bluetooth/USB features via their phone.

The survey results also suggest that one in two (51 per cent) drivers had not tried to unsync their phone before parting with the car, while a third (31 per cent) said they took no action at all to remove their personal information.

Nearly four out of five (79 per cent) of vehicle owners did not follow instructions in the car manual to remove data and return the car to its factory settings before they sold it, despite this being the best way to make sure no personal details were left on the operating system.

Which? is concerned that motorists are not being provided with enough information about exactly what is being collected when they sync their phones or download an app, nor about the importance of eradicating the data.

“If cars are not treated the same as a smartphone, tablet or other connected devices when it comes to data security, motorists risk giving away a treasure trove of information about themselves when they decide to sell their car,” said Harry Rose, editor of Which? Magazine.

“Manufacturers must do much more to prioritise customers’ personal privacy so that drivers fully understand how much data their vehicle could be harbouring and how to delete this information in order to eradicate these risks.”

The same data collection issues could also apply when hiring a car, if the customer chose to take advantage of the Bluetooth features in the vehicle, and also in pool cars shared by several members of a company’s staff. The next person to use the car might inadvertently access someone else’s private information or, worse, deliberately extract and exploit it.

Meanwhile, a separate poll by auto-parts retailer Halfords has demonstrated a concern among UK drivers about the safety of other vehicles on the road, in light of the government’s extension to MOT testing due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Hundreds of thousands of cars, vans and motorcycles which were due for their annual MOT examination automatically had their test dates pushed back by six months, following the decision to move the UK to a lockdown scenario in March. Drivers in Northern Ireland were given a one-year exemption. This was done to ensure correct observation of social-distancing measures for garages and customers.

The Halfords poll revealed that 45 per cent of the 2,000 respondents are concerned about the condition of other vehicles on the road, yet only 2 per cent felt that there might be an issue with their own vehicle. This is in spite of the failure rate for MOTs typically being around 30 per cent.

A Halfords spokesman said the survey “indicates a worrying false sense of security for many motorists”.

Department for Transport (DfT) figures show that in 2018 39 people were killed and 378 seriously injured on Britain’s roads in crashes where a vehicle defect was a contributory factor.

The amount of traffic on Britain’s roads has been steadily increasing in recent weeks, as the lockdown regulations have been gradually eased. It is currently at around 70 per cent of the levels recorded in early February, according to DfT data.

Andy Randall, managing director of Halfords Autocentres, said: “As non-essential retailers now open and people are easing back into work, we are definitely seeing an increase in the number of people getting their cars prepared for more use.

“We know that leaving cars unused causes safety issues and the increase in services carried out by our technicians shows that customers know it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Halfords reported a 14 per cent increase in the number of drivers having their cars serviced at its garages this week, compared with the same period in 2019.

The increase in road traffic has brought with it an increase in accidents, with car crashes increasing by more than a third since lockdown rules were relaxed. Co-op Insurance said it saw a 35 per cent spike in claims between 9 May and 10 June compared with the previous four-and-a-half week period. The insurer suggested the increase could be due to people being out of the habit of driving regularly.

A survey of 2,080 UK adults, commissioned by the Co-op, found motorists reporting that they have been driving more in the past month, with many considering their own cars a safer option than public transport. 12 per cent of drivers said they have been driving, as opposed to using trains or buses, because they do not want to wear a face covering.

Nick Ansley, head of motor insurance at Co-op, said: “As lockdown measures ease we’ve seen a significant increase in collisions on the roads. With concerns about public transport and official advice to consider all other forms of transport such as driving, cycling or walking, it’s clear that even more people are taking to the roads.

“With this in mind, we’re reminding all road users to take extra care to help keep themselves, others and their communities safe.”

Joshua Harris, director of campaigns at road safety charity Brake, said: “The increase in collisions may feel inevitable, but it shouldn’t be and is concerning, especially with the increase in people cycling on the roads.

“We urge people to only drive if essential and be extra vigilant for people cycling and walking.”

Synchronising a smartphone to their suitably equipped vehicle via Bluetooth or USB allows a driver to perform tasks such as playing music, downloading contacts and messages, retrieving live traffic updates and navigation information, as well as making hands-free calls or sending messages.

However, failure to wipe this data from the car before selling it risks inadvertently giving away personal information to any future owners. This information could include personal address book information and even Wi-Fi details.

A study by Which? of more than 14,000 motorists who had sold their vehicle in the last two years found that just over half (54 per cent) had made use of the car’s Bluetooth/USB features via their phone.

The survey results also suggest that one in two (51 per cent) drivers had not tried to unsync their phone before parting with the car, while a third (31 per cent) said they took no action at all to remove their personal information.

Nearly four out of five (79 per cent) of vehicle owners did not follow instructions in the car manual to remove data and return the car to its factory settings before they sold it, despite this being the best way to make sure no personal details were left on the operating system.

Which? is concerned that motorists are not being provided with enough information about exactly what is being collected when they sync their phones or download an app, nor about the importance of eradicating the data.

“If cars are not treated the same as a smartphone, tablet or other connected devices when it comes to data security, motorists risk giving away a treasure trove of information about themselves when they decide to sell their car,” said Harry Rose, editor of Which? Magazine.

“Manufacturers must do much more to prioritise customers’ personal privacy so that drivers fully understand how much data their vehicle could be harbouring and how to delete this information in order to eradicate these risks.”

The same data collection issues could also apply when hiring a car, if the customer chose to take advantage of the Bluetooth features in the vehicle, and also in pool cars shared by several members of a company’s staff. The next person to use the car might inadvertently access someone else’s private information or, worse, deliberately extract and exploit it.

Meanwhile, a separate poll by auto-parts retailer Halfords has demonstrated a concern among UK drivers about the safety of other vehicles on the road, in light of the government’s extension to MOT testing due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Hundreds of thousands of cars, vans and motorcycles which were due for their annual MOT examination automatically had their test dates pushed back by six months, following the decision to move the UK to a lockdown scenario in March. Drivers in Northern Ireland were given a one-year exemption. This was done to ensure correct observation of social-distancing measures for garages and customers.

The Halfords poll revealed that 45 per cent of the 2,000 respondents are concerned about the condition of other vehicles on the road, yet only 2 per cent felt that there might be an issue with their own vehicle. This is in spite of the failure rate for MOTs typically being around 30 per cent.

A Halfords spokesman said the survey “indicates a worrying false sense of security for many motorists”.

Department for Transport (DfT) figures show that in 2018 39 people were killed and 378 seriously injured on Britain’s roads in crashes where a vehicle defect was a contributory factor.

The amount of traffic on Britain’s roads has been steadily increasing in recent weeks, as the lockdown regulations have been gradually eased. It is currently at around 70 per cent of the levels recorded in early February, according to DfT data.

Andy Randall, managing director of Halfords Autocentres, said: “As non-essential retailers now open and people are easing back into work, we are definitely seeing an increase in the number of people getting their cars prepared for more use.

“We know that leaving cars unused causes safety issues and the increase in services carried out by our technicians shows that customers know it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Halfords reported a 14 per cent increase in the number of drivers having their cars serviced at its garages this week, compared with the same period in 2019.

The increase in road traffic has brought with it an increase in accidents, with car crashes increasing by more than a third since lockdown rules were relaxed. Co-op Insurance said it saw a 35 per cent spike in claims between 9 May and 10 June compared with the previous four-and-a-half week period. The insurer suggested the increase could be due to people being out of the habit of driving regularly.

A survey of 2,080 UK adults, commissioned by the Co-op, found motorists reporting that they have been driving more in the past month, with many considering their own cars a safer option than public transport. 12 per cent of drivers said they have been driving, as opposed to using trains or buses, because they do not want to wear a face covering.

Nick Ansley, head of motor insurance at Co-op, said: “As lockdown measures ease we’ve seen a significant increase in collisions on the roads. With concerns about public transport and official advice to consider all other forms of transport such as driving, cycling or walking, it’s clear that even more people are taking to the roads.

“With this in mind, we’re reminding all road users to take extra care to help keep themselves, others and their communities safe.”

Joshua Harris, director of campaigns at road safety charity Brake, said: “The increase in collisions may feel inevitable, but it shouldn’t be and is concerning, especially with the increase in people cycling on the roads.

“We urge people to only drive if essential and be extra vigilant for people cycling and walking.”