Car insurance holders have been advised to make sure they give their vehicle a regular spring clean.
According to car insurance provider Churchill, failing to do so could have safety implications.
Tony Chilcott, head of Churchill car insurance, said: "Rubbish on the floor such as bottles could roll under pedals, so make sure everything is secure that needs to be in the vehicle.
"Clutter can also be dangerous if it flies around and hits someone if the vehicle suddenly brakes."
He added that the extra weight of unnecessary items in the car could add to petrol costs, while leaving items on display will encourage thieves to break in.
Churchill revealed that a number of unsual items have been recovered from vehicles by its salvage specialists following accidents, including an ATM machine, found in a car involved in a robbery, and a prosthetic leg.
It follows a moneysupermarket.com survey which found that one in six motorists (16 per cent), admit to having driven a car without being insured.




