BookMyGarage.com has revealed a third of motorists say they are likely or very likely to either delay or skip having their vehicle serviced in the next 12 months due to the cost of living crisis.
This is according to data from the MOT, servicing and repairs comparison site, investigating how drivers are looking to save money on their motoring bills as the cost of living crisis continues to trouble the UK.
The study showed two thirds of UK motorists are concerned their vehicle may require a repair at some point in the near future which they can’t afford to fix, due to growing financial pressures as the UK enters into a recession.
One-in-10 motorists said they have even resorted to attempting repairs themselves on their own cars in an effort to save money. A full breakdown of the survey results can be found here.
With the UK’s CPIH inflation rate reaching 9.6% in October 20222, the cost of vehicle parts has also risen. The survey found a fifth of the respondents will be looking to use cheaper replacement parts, such as budget tyres or non-genuine parts, as a way of cutting down on repair bills.
Karen Rotberg, Co-founder of BookMyGarage.com, said: “Not having your car serviced may seem like an easy way to cut down on motoring bills, but the reality is that more problems are likely to occur in the long term and could cost drivers more money overall.
“When a vehicle has a service, it’s inspected for any existing issues that often go undetected by a regular motorist. These problems can deteriorate over time and in some cases result in a costlier repair bill.
“Vehicle servicing is a preventative measure and skimping on servicing could result in significant engine damage and a repair bill that exceeds the value of the vehicle. It could also prove to be dangerous, as safety-critical faults may go unnoticed and the risk of a breakdown is greater.”
