A travel insurance company has advised timeshare owners in the UK to check their vehicles before going abroad.

The insurer warned motorists of the expensive costs which they could face if their car breaks down in foreign lands.

It was found in a study that one in five Brits driving abroad do not check their oil before setting off, with one in seven not testing their tyre pressure either.

Apparently, the average cost of breaking down in Europe is over £550, a figure which could hit thousands of holiday goers.

Andrew Goodsell, the executive chairman from the insurance firm who directed the survey stated that the cost of "calling out assistance and repairing" a vehicle can soon mount up. He also noted that language barriers can also be difficult when "arranging recovery."

Recently, timeshare owners were also advised not to skimp on travel insurance as they risk more, personally and financially, if they do not have any cover in place.