Just 3% of new cars in the UK now come with a back-up wheel in the boot as standard, increasing the number of breakdowns, the RAC has warned.

A ‘minuscule’ number of new cars sold in the UK now come with a spare wheel as standard

Its analysis of more than 300 car models across 28 brands found just eight (2.6%) have a spare as standard, with half of these only available on specific variants of the same model. And, with a couple of exceptions, it is predominantly larger, heaver-duty vehicles that come with a spare wheel.

This dramatic decline of the spare wheel is having a stark effect on RAC breakdown callout volumes, with patrols going out to nearly 200,000 jobs last year where drivers experienced a puncture but found they had no spare wheel.

That’s up from around 165,000 four years earlier – around a 21% increase.

It’s largely due to tougher emissions legislation that’s led carmakers to do all they can to slash weight – a spare wheel can easily add up to 20kg to the overall weight of a vehicle.

But it’s also due to the advent of electric vehicles, with cars needing to use the space previously taken by the spare wheel to accommodate battery packs.

RAC Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis said: “In the past, a driver could have reached for the spare wheel in the boot but this new analysis shows that these are now pretty much a thing of the past, with a minuscule number of new cars sold in the UK coming with one as standard.

“It’s understandable therefore that drivers are increasingly calling on us to help them out of a tight spot, and it’s a trend we fully expect to continue as electric vehicles are even less likely to come with a spare. Fortunately, we’re continuing to innovate to ensure our members get the best service possible should they breakdown as a result of a puncture, having just rolled out a four-stud version of our pioneering multi-fit spare wheel that’s carried by every single one of our patrols.”

In many cases, drivers ordering a new car can still buy a spare wheel – whether that’s a full-size one or the more common lightweight ‘space saver’ type – as an optional extra. This could potentially be a wise investment in the case of a puncture.