According to the RAC, a fifth of drivers admit to skipping their car’s annual MOT and not replacing worn-out tyres to cut costs. Meanwhile, a study by Go.Compare car insurance found that 12% of motorists never get their car serviced.
MOT rules
MOTs are a legal requirement in the UK. Vehicles must be tested on or before the third anniversary of their registration, or on the anniversary of their last MOT if they are over three years old.
Research by the RAC found that one in five drivers (20%) under the age of 44 have driven illegally by not putting their car through the MOT or not replacing tyres when needed to save money in the cost-of-living crisis.
Among drivers of all ages, one in 10 (10%) admit they’ve failed to replace worn-out tyres or skipped the MOT.
A fifth (19%) of those surveyed for the RAC’s annual Report on Motoring said they have tried to save money by delaying necessary repairs, or either reduced or stopped servicing their vehicles altogether due to cost.
Wellness and wellbeing holidays: Travel insurance is essential for your peace of mind
Out of the pandemic lockdowns, there’s a greater emphasis on wellbeing and wellness, with
Sponsored by Post Office
But the RAC warned that failing to carry out routine maintenance and repairs to save money could prove to be a false economy when a vehicle breaks down and owners are then faced with a big repair bill.
Simon Williams, the RAC’s breakdown spokesperson, said: “It’s very worrying that so many drivers under the age of 44 appear to have risked breaking the law by not putting their vehicles through the MOT and running them on tyres that should have been replaced, all in an attempt to save some money.
“Safety on our roads is paramount. The MOT is a legal requirement for good reason: skipping it jeopardises the safety of all road users, including the driver. Tyres are a vehicle’s only contact with the road, so it’s vital they are in good condition and have plenty of tread – anyone who drives with poor tread or substandard tyres risks being involved in a collision.”
Scrimping on servicing
Go.Compare asked more than 1,000 motorists how often they take their car in for a service. While 58% said that they get their car serviced every year, or every 12,000 miles, 12% of those who took part said that they “never” take their car in for its annual check.
A further 30% of respondents said that they regularly get their car serviced but perhaps leave it a little longer than is recommended.
When it came to the age groups, motorists aged between 18 and 24 were the most diligent when it came to servicing, with just 8% saying they never get their car serviced.
When it came to those who were most likely to skip servicing altogether, 16% of those aged 45-54 admitted they never get their car serviced.
Generally, it’s recommended that motorists service their vehicle once per year or when they have driven 12,000 miles.
Tom Banks, car insurance spokesperson at Go.Compare, said: “The number of people who said they aren’t getting their car serviced seemed worryingly high in this survey. Keeping on top of your car’s servicing is really important – if only from a safety perspective, as having a well-maintained vehicle ensures that… everything is in good working order and your vehicle is less likely to break down due to an ongoing fault.
“A full service history is also helpful if you plan to sell the vehicle at some point. Often, if someone is buying a used car, they may want to check its service history, which will tell them how well the car’s been maintained by previous owners. The service history is also important if you have a warranty in place, as a failure to regularly service your vehicle could invalidate a warranty claim.”
