More used imports: more breakdowns

A continuing increase in the number of car breakdowns is likely due in part to people buying imported used cars instead of buying new, writes Brian Byrne.

This is a view from AA Ireland, which has reported a 4pc increase in breakdowns attended to in 2018, compared to 2017. The 2017 increase over the previous year was itself 5pc.

The organisation carried out 142,000 rescue assignments in 2018. One in four related to a car failing to start, according to its Annual Breakdown Review.

Some 33,000 of these latter involved faulty batteries, an increase of 3,000 on the previous year.

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