Worried motorists delaying car servicing

Unexpected repairs are putting many drivers off getting their cars serviced, new research suggests.

The survey of 2,000 drivers for RAC MOT Assist means that millions of cars on the UK’s roads could be in a less-than-perfect condition.

A quarter of all drivers (24%) – the equivalent of 3.8m people – were so worried about expensive problems with their cars that it actually put them off getting their car maintained.

A further half (47%) of motorists were concerned about having to pay for unforeseen repairs when they get their vehicles serviced.

The research also found that when it comes to a vehicle’s annual MOT of roadworthiness, drivers are regularly forking out hundreds of pounds to pass.

While the cost of the test is never any more than £55, more than half of drivers (52%) have paid £300 or more to get their car through the MOT, with 5% of drivers – the equivalent of 1.7m people – having paid a staggering £1,000 or more to get their vehicle through the test.

The RAC is hoping its news ‘MOT Assist’ programme will help. Every driver who gets their vehicle serviced at one of the RAC’s 500 Approved Garages is covered for up to £750 worth of parts and labour costs needed to get their vehicle to pass its next MOT.

“Clearly, taking a car in for a service or MOT can be a nerve-wracking experience with many drivers concerned about what might be uncovered, and the unpleasant financial consequences that can result,” said RAC MOT Assist’s Lauren French.

“But it’s even more alarming that this experience is enough to put some people off getting their car serviced in the future.

“The best advice to any driver is to keep on top of servicing and maintenance work – the quicker problems are identified, often the cheaper they are to remedy.”