Can I change my car's wheel if I've lost the locking wheel nut key?
A. Locking wheel nuts aren't usually part of the manufacturer's original equipment. As a rule in the UK, they are fitted during the vehicle's pre-delivery preparation as a measure to combat alloy wheel and tyre theft, a problem that used to be widespread in Britain. A car left on bricks with its wheels missing was once a relatively common sight, but this practice has been all but stamped out since the introduction of wheel security devices. In fact, they are so effective that when the supplied removal device, or 'key', is misplaced, it can become a real challenge to get the wheels off.
• Car Clinic: Help! The battery in my electric car is flat and I'm locked out
All AA patrols are equipped with and trained to use specialist locking-wheel-nut removal tools. These kits contain a number of different fittings to get around the security devices, but it's a skilled job that takes time to master and execute at the roadside. It also usually results in irreparable damage to the locking nuts or devices. This is why we urge all drivers to check before a journey they have their locking wheel nut keys stored safely in their cars.
• Car Clinic: Does a car's colour affect its resale value?
There's another issue. While one of our patrols will endeavour to remove the locking device, carrying out that operation on the hard shoulder of a motorway or a busy A-road isn't usually possible, so the first course of action would be a recovery to a safe location, adding delay to the whole process.
Car Clinic: How can I tell how old my tyres are?
My advice, if you know you've lost your wheel nut key, is to visit a reputable garage or tyre retailer to have the locking devices professionally removed and replaced with new ones, complete with the removal tool or key. New security kits usually come with two keys, so you can keep one in the car and the spare at home.Greg Carter, technical expert, the AA
Post your motoring questions below or send to carclinic@sunday-times.co.uk
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
I paid £80 for my mother's birthday cake but it arrived looking nothing like I had ordered
A woman has revealed how her mother's birthday was ruined after she received an £80 cake that looked nothing like the one she had ordered. The doting daughter, from the UK, took to TikTok to share a snap of the dessert alongside a snap of the cake she had ordered. The bakery had advertised an elegant white cake, with tulips around the outside and a simple plain top of fondant icing. However a cake with a cream base, with purple roses dotted on the side and huge reams of purple buttercream frosting on the top arrived instead. Taking to social media, the Brit asked: 'Is it rude that I am disappointed? I wanted this cake for my mum's birthday. I paid £80'. 'I didn't ask for one as big. Nor is it anything like the photo!' 'Am I in the wrong? I don't want to be/sound rude!' Many rushed to the comments to say she should complain and 'request a refund'. One person said: 'Get that charge disputed first of all that's appalling.' To which the posted replied: 'I don't want to seem rude as the woman seemed so nic, but... that is in no way shape or form what I asked for.' Another added: 'Oh my god, sue. Genuinely try everything to get your money back it's not what you agreed on at all. Someone else said: 'This is crazy, not even one aspect is like the picture. Even the white top layer is too yellow!' A fourth added: 'Refund. It doesn't in anyway represent the product shown. The only similarity is that's it's a cake. 'You wouldn't go into a car dealership and buy yourself a Porsche and be happy when they deliver a Peugeot. They're both cars but...' Many suggested there might have been a mix up with the cake orders, while others wondered if the post was 'rage bait.' Many rushed to the comments to say she should complain and 'request a refund', while others thought it was a joke One person said: 'First i'd make sure there wasn't a mix up with orders. Still bad, but if that isn't actually your cake, would explain the huge difference.' Another said: 'This better be satire.' Someone else added: 'It's amateurish, garish and awful take it back and ask for your money back.' Another added: 'Are you rage baiting me..' It comes after a 'shattered' bride revealed her wedding day was 'ruined' after receiving her £300 cake. The British newlywed took to her TikTok account @brunarobertson to share snaps of the three-tier cake, which looked nothing like she had imagined. The woman revealed the cake was 'the most important part' of the big day and she felt devastated when it was delivered it in three pieces. The bride claimed the baker who dropped off the cake even told them to 'put it together' themselves, which added to the stress of the important day. She revealed her 'heart sunk' and she still cries looking at the cake in her wedding snaps. The woman revealed the cake was 'the most important part' of the big day and she felt devastated when it was delivered it in three pieces The video, which racked up over 56,000 views, was captioned: '£300 down the drain but I hope our photographer will make the cake look a little more decent in photos.' Writing over the snaps of the cake, the fuming bride added: 'Nothing can hurt me... I will never forget how my cake lady nearly ruined the most important day of my life, this cake cost me £300. She delivered it late and in three pieces and just told us to 'put it together.' 'This is how she delivered... I still cry looking at these pictures because I had an image of our cake and us cutting it, to me it was the most important part of the ceremony and she absolutely ruined it. 'When I got to the venue and I saw the cake, my heart literally sunk and I wanted to cry, it was too late to do anything about it as the guests were walking in - she really ruined the cake part. 'Every time I walked past that cake I felt rage and sadness, like that cake put me in a foul mood on my wedding day! She continued: 'The cake is not at all what I imagined, it was falling apart!' Luckily the bride's aunt did her best to assemble the cake and add some aesthetic decorations. The bride added: 'This woman is someone I will always carry in my heart, £300 down the drain & I was honestly shattered!' Many rushed to the comments to sympathise with the bride, with some offering support. One person wrote: 'Jesus Christ, I never ever would I allow a bride or family member to stack one of mine. So sorry.' The bride replied: 'My auntie is a cakebaker, she came from Scotland from the wedding, she tried her best to save the cake!' Another added: 'Dispute the charge with your bank and send them evidence. You'll get your money back.' Someone else wrote: 'Oh my goodness this makes me so sad. I hope the rest of your day was beautiful. I'd be asking for a refund'. A fourth added: 'As a cake decorator myself, this is totally not acceptable. Did you ask for a refund? I would be taking this further if not. So sorry she ruined your big day.'
The Independent
36 minutes ago
- The Independent
Chris Evans' CarFest moving to Silverstone for 2026
CarFest, an annual music and motoring festival founded by radio presenter Chris Evans, is moving to the Silverstone circuit for 2026. The event, which usually takes place at Laverstoke Park Farm in Hampshire, was set up by Virgin Radio UK host Evans, 59, in the 2010s to showcase live music and motoring track shows. From next August, the event moves to Silverstone, the Northamptonshire motor racing circuit that is home to Formula One's British Grand Prix and where scenes from Brad Pitt's F1 movie were filmed. Evans said: 'This move opens up possibilities we've never had before, more space, more cars, more ways to surprise and delight our audience and most importantly, an opportunity to raise even more money for UK children's charities. 'The heart of CarFest will always be the same, with charitable fundraising and entertainment, providing unforgettable experiences for all ages, at the core of our mission. As one of the UK's premier entertainment destinations, Silverstone gives us the perfect stage for the next chapter in our story.' He said: 'I wanted to share this incredibly exciting news today, so anyone who wants to join us and say farewell to the amazing home we have had at Laverstoke Park Farm has the opportunity to join us for one last amazing party there this coming weekend. 'Together, we can deliver an even bigger and better event while raising vital funds for charity.' This year's line-up includes music from rock band The Boomtown Rats and Scottish outfit Travis and talks with a number of chefs, wellness experts and more. Silverstone chief executive Stuart Pringle said: 'Silverstone has evolved into a year-round destination for world-class events, and we are thrilled to be working with CarFest for next year's event. 'For more than a decade, CarFest has inspired a devoted community of fans, becoming a true highlight of the British festival calendar. As the ultimate summer celebration, blending music, motors, food, family fun, and unforgettable experiences, CarFest is a perfect fit for Silverstone.' CarFest has run annually since 2012, with the exception of 2020, when it was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic. The 2026 CarFest at Silverstone will take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, August 27-30, with tickets and further details to be announced soon. CarFest 2025 is taking place between August 22 and August 24 at Laverstoke Park Farm.
Auto Express
36 minutes ago
- Auto Express
Three car garage: One new 75-plate car or three used cars for £75k?
The latest registration change is on the way, with many buyers ready to place an order for a brand new 75-plate car. If you're very flush, you might have 75 grand to spend – a budget that could bag a brilliant Porsche Macan GTS, or a Toyota Land Cruiser with a fiver in change. But what if you want to assemble a perfect three-car fleet instead? We've set a £75k budget that covers all of the bases. Every three-car garage needs a do-it-all car. One that can cross the country at the drop of a hat, and do it in supreme comfort and using the bare minimum of fuel. One with space to carry a sofa, or a fridge, or just five tall people and a St Bernard. One that can be used all year round with ease. The Skoda Superb Estate is our Estate of the Year for good reason, and it's all of the above and plenty more besides. We found a 74-plate model, in top-spec L&K trim with four-wheel drive and a 193bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine with less than 8,000 miles, for just over £34k – a whopping £15k under list price. Advertisement - Article continues below If you've just missed this Skoda Superb Estate by the time you get here, you can find more great buys by clicking the link below... Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Used Skoda Superb Estate deals EVs are at their best when they're small – zero tailpipe emissions around town in a car that's dinky enough to squeeze through narrow gaps and into tight parking spaces is a winning formula. And the BMW i3 is one of the smartest around. Even 12 years on from its debut, it boasts one of the finest small car interiors of all-time, while performance is punchy and it's got more than enough range for a weekly commute. If you can charge at home, running costs will be tiny, too. For a little over £10k, we found a tidy 2020 example with 40,000 miles. If this BMW i3 has already found its new home, there are plenty of others available right now... Used BMW i3 deals Life is better with a convertible, and there's no replacement for displacement. Smash these two mantras together, and you're left with a Ford Mustang; in open-top form, it's all the easier to appreciate the sound of that glorious 5.0-litre V8 growling ahead, with its quad tailpipes burbling behind. It's not the very sharpest drop-top to drive – although it's not half bad around corners – but few offer such a high feelgood factor. There are even back seats and a roomy boot. In this trio, it perfectly fills the brief of the Sunday driver and road trip car, and all for just over £28k. If this Ford Mustang Convertible was snatched up too quickly for you, there are several more available through our Buy a Car service... Used Ford Mustang deals Head to the Auto Express used car search page and let us know which cars you'd park in your £75k three-car garage in the comments section below… Find a car with the experts Best coupes on sale 2025 We pick out the cream of the current coupe crop Best cars & vans 23 Jul 2025 Ford Mustang review Famous Ford Mustang nameplate gets a more aggressive look for its seventh generation In-depth reviews 18 Jul 2025 Best estate cars to buy 2025 A good estate car delivers practicality, space and low running costs - here are the 10 best estates on sale in the UK today Best cars & vans 8 Jul 2025 Estate Car of the Year 2025: Skoda Superb Estate The Skoda Superb Estate is the 2025 Auto Express Estate Car of the Year with the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports and Volkswagen Passat commended Forget Netflix, Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription Forget Netflix, Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription Owners can now subscribe to boost the power of their car… for a fee Shock new mid-size Range Rover to get EV power and stunning design Shock new mid-size Range Rover to get EV power and stunning design Mid-size SUV will end the four-year wait for a new JLR model and our exclusive images preview how it could look New Jaecoo E5 is a Range Rover lookalike with a very attractive price New Jaecoo E5 is a Range Rover lookalike with a very attractive price Chinese newcomer's first electric SUV is also a rival to the award-winning Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric
