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Where did I put my phone? It’s a question many of us ask ourselves daily. But, for an estimated one in five UK drivers, the answer could be ‘on the car roof’.
And it’s not just mobile phones. According to recent research, in the last 12 months over six million of us have pulled away with something accidentally left on our car rooftop. That’s an estimated £213 million worth of belongings.
Not only is it frustrating, but it can be dangerous too. Falling items may damage your car or present a hazard to other drivers.
Research by Churchill was followed by an innovative experiment, which demonstrated that, on average, it takes less than fifteen seconds for something to fall from the car roof once the vehicle has started moving. Mobile phones (without a case) lasted just 2.6 seconds, while takeaway drinks, keys, and bags of shopping lasted around 4 to 5 seconds before falling to the floor.
What are the most common items left on car rooftops?
- Mobile phones, perhaps unsurprisingly, are the most common item to be left on a car rooftop, with over one million drivers leaving their phone on their roof in the last year.
- Takeaway teas or coffees come next, with 18 per cent of those surveyed leaving their precious beverage on the roof before driving away, only to see it sloshing down the window in the rearview mirror a few seconds later.
- Bottled cans or drinks make up for around 16 per cent of rooftop car losses.
- Bags of shopping account for 15 per cent.
- Pairs of glasses are in fifth place, at 14 per cent.
Other common items include kids’ toys (11 per cent), wallets (11 per cent), keys (9 per cent) and supermarket meal deals (6 per cent). One driver even admitted driving away with an entire joint of beef on their rooftop.
Some items have more staying power
It’s not all bad news. If you spot your mistake quickly, and pullover carefully and safely, then you may be able to save your item from certain doom.
Mobile phones in cases fare much better than phones without a case. Those without a case last an average of 2.6 seconds before sliding to their fate. While phones in cases, particularly rubberised ones, are less likely to fall altogether. In fact, in Churchill’s tests, phones in rubberised cases stayed put for an impressive distance of 2.5 miles, at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour.
Takeaway sandwiches also clung on for a similar amount of time, putting a whole new spin on the notion of fast food.
Wallets were the third most likely item to be successfully rescued from a car rooftop, lasting an average of two miles before falling to the floor.
Of those items that do slip, amazingly, not all of them smashed. 31 per cent of those surveyed said they found their phone intact, while 25 per cent of those who reported losing their glasses got them back without any damage.
Why do rooftop losses happen?
Being in a rush is the most common reason for leaving an item on the roof, according to around 33 per cent of drivers.
Forgetting the item is there accounted for 28 per cent of losses. Putting the item down while looking for car keys also accounted for another 28 per cent, while being distracted by children was given as the reason by about 20 per cent of those surveyed.
What are the consequences?
Apart from returning home without your shopping or, worse, without a child’s favourite toy, there are other potential consequences to driving off with an item left on your rooftop. When the item does fall, it could damage your vehicle or cause a serious hazard to others on the road.
Nicholas Mantel, Head of Churchill Motor Insurance, said “Leaving items on the roof of your car isn’t just an inconvenience when they fall off, it’s a serious safety concern. Not only can it cause damage to your vehicle or belongings, but it also poses a risk to other road users. Whether it’s your mobile phone, a coffee cup, or even a joint of beef, unsecured items can lead to accidents and disruptions on the road. Always check the roof before setting off and if you do leave an item and you hear it fall, be sure to take a cautious approach for retrieval.”
How to prevent rooftop losses
So, how can you prevent car rooftop losses from happening to you? If you’ve ever driven off with an item on your car roof, here are our top tips to help you break the habit:
Use a “no roof rule”
Make it a personal rule: never put anything on the roof, even "just for a second." This breaks the habit entirely rather than relying on memory.
Create a consistent routine
Always use the same sequence when entering or loading the car (e.g., keys in hand → open door → place items inside → then get in). Routines reduce forgetfulness.
Place items in front of the door handle
If your hands are full, put things on the ground by your door instead of the roof. You’ll have to pick them up to open the door, which avoids driving off without them.
Give yourself reminders
Stick a small “check roof” sticker on your steering wheel, dashboard, or inside your driver-side door. It acts as a visual cue before you drive.
Start a “last check” habit
Build a mental checklist for leaving - keys, wallet, phone, bag, roof. Run through it every time you get in the car, before you start the engine.
Put essential items with others
Clip or attach things like keys or phones to your bag, so you can’t walk away or drive off without noticing.
