Motorists could be hit with a £200 repair bill or making a major error in hot weather this weekend. The UK’s heatwave is set to continue with temperatures soaring on Saturday and Sunday.

The warm weather will encourage many people to grab their summer essentials such as sun caps and suncream. However, accidentally spilling suncream on car seats or upholstery could be a major blow with hefty bills likely. According to experts, the oily substance is notorious for leaving nasty stains on vehicles with specialists warning that it could “be a nightmare to remove”.

Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing stressed road users could struggle to get rid of stains in a major blow.

He said: “When the temperature rises, sun cream is a must, particularly if you’re out and about in the car, as harmful UV rays can penetrate both windscreens and side windows.

“But sun cream and car seats are also a recipe for stains that can be near-impossible to remove.

“Sun cream is, by its very nature, water resistant so that it doesn’t disappear from your skin at the first sign of sweat or moisture.

“But because it’s resistant to water, sun cream also repels common interior car cleaning products. If it’s left too long on vehicle upholstery, you might struggle to get rid of the stain at all.”

Select Car Leasing warns road users may even be forced to get their vehicle professionally cleaned which usually carries an expense of around £200.

In some extreme cases, motorists may have to reupholster their seat to remove the satin which could cost a lot more.

Fitting new materials is likely to set individuals back between £80 to £500 per car seat in a blow to cash-strapped road users.

One potential hack is to simply use baby wipes - with a pack of wipes costing just £1.

Graham added: “Prevention here is better than cure - if you accidentally slap sun cream on your car seats, try and remove it with a cleaning wipe as soon as you can.”

However, taking sunscreen inside a hot car on warm days may not be such a good idea in the first place. 

Mr Conway explained: “You should avoid leaving a bottle of sunscreen in your car’s glovebox.

“While it might be convenient when it comes to applying protection before you set off on a journey, some of the active ingredients in sunscreen actually break down when exposed to high heat from sitting in your car, rendering it less effective.”