A new survey has revealed some of the dirtiest areas of the inside of our cars, with one particular location harbouring more germs than a toilet seat!

The price comparison website compare the market has conducted a study into a number of key touchpoints within some of the country’s most popular cars in order to discover how clean our cars really are, by comparing swabs with an office toilet seat, the research aims to show how dirty our cars really are.

The research focused on ten areas of a car that are most often used, and found that the car stereo is 371 per cent dirtier than a toilet seat. The gear stick doesn’t fare much better, 331 per cent dirtier. And the study also compared how dirty a family car is compared to a worker’s van, and surprisingly the family car is twice as dirty.

Dan Hutson, head of motor insurance at comparethemarket.com, said: “During the Covid-19 pandemic, it has never been more important to uphold good hygiene standards.

"As our research shows, it is important that people don’t forget to disinfect their cars, as they can harbour far more bacteria than one might expect. It is good practice to clean the inside of cars with chemical cleaning products, microfibre cloths, and a vacuum cleaner.

"Wiping down car surfaces in the same way that you may clean your kitchen or door handles in the home is paramount in order to avoid the spread of germs and bacteria.

“On top of this, dirty cars aren’t just health issues: they can also lead to accidents.

"For example, a dirty windscreen or mess on the dashboard can impair vision and make it harder to see upcoming objects on the road. In fact, in extreme cases, a dirty and untidy car could even invalidate your car insurance if you are in an accident.”

Sell or part ex your car today