Drivers are actively putting themselves at risk of having serious accidents on the road as new research seen by GBN has found that the high cost of repairs has pushed millions of drivers to consider skipping their car servicing.
New data has found that almost a third (29 per cent) of motorists are thinking about taking drastic actions to avoid paying hundreds or even thousands of pounds to repair their cars when they go and get them serviced.
A further 17 per cent of Britons said they would consider skipping servicing their car if they think their vehicle seems fine, despite the potential risks they could be facing.
Trends were most common amongst those between 25 and 44 years old, with 37 per cent saying they would consider skipping a service. However, this drops to just 17 per cent for those over the age of 55.
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Experts are urging drivers to avoid ignoring issues with their vehicles, even if they are concerned about the cost
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Drivers had a range of excuses for not getting their vehicles checked including a lack of time (15 per cent), forgetting (10 per cent), having a previous bad experience (seven per cent) or even having a lack of trust in garages (six per cent).
With the ongoing cost of living crisis, motorists may be more likely to cut back on vehicle services because they prioritise other aspects of motoring like insurance or car tax.
It comes as garages around the country prepare for a busy period in March with millions of drivers looking to get their cars serviced.
Speaking exclusively to GBN, Jonny Combe, CEO of PayByPhone, said the was a massive gap in knowledge between what drivers were paying and how much they thought standard repairs cost.
He added: “Motorists are setting aside just £212 on average, versus actual costs which can reach nearly £400. It means vehicle maintenance can create unexpected financial pressure.
“In fact, over a quarter (29 per cent) of motorists have considered skipping a service due to high costs. From a road safety perspective, nearly a quarter (23 per cent) have actually skipped a service due to costs – a potential indication of the current cost of living challenges.”
Under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Government, the Department for Transport proposed to change the date of the first MOT test in a bid to help motorists with their finances.
It suggested that the Government could increase the date at which a first MOT is required for most vehicles from three years to four years.
One of the main arguments for the proposed change was that there have been major improvements in vehicle safety technology since 1960, when the MOT test was first introduced.
The proposal was ultimately rejected given there were “significant concerns” around road safety from the 4,400 responses. It added that any potential savings made by motorists would be limited by the extra cost of potential defects.
Combe highlighted how younger drivers were more proactive about vehicle maintenance costs with 17-24-year-olds budgeting £232 on average compared to £208 for over 45s.
Despite this, the same age group is the most likely to ignore car issues for financial reasons, potentially because of the overwhelming burden of car insurance rates, which often cost them thousands of pounds a year.
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Many drivers are putting off getting their car serviced because they do not think anything is wrong with it
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The expert added: “[Younger people are] more likely to overlook servicing due to costs, particularly in the 25-34 age bracket where more than a third (37 per cent) have considered skipping a service.
“While younger drivers are trying to be financially prepared and budget in advance, they still face challenges with affordability.”
