Almost 1 in 4 motorists turn to DIY car servicing amid cost of living crisis

Has the cost of living crisis put the brakes on your car servicing?

In a bid to cut costs on motor maintenance, 23% of car owners are delaying their car servicing or choosing to take it into their own hands, according to a recent survey conducted by the RAC.

However, drivers are warned of the false economy around this ‘money-saving’ tactic.

Motorists avoid car servicing to try and save money

New research from the RAC shows nearly 1 in 4 motorists are either delaying their car servicing or going ahead with their own DIY checks.

The survey of 2,000 UK drivers revealed that 10% have postponed their car servicing by up to a year.

5% have gone further and delayed getting their vehicles serviced for more than a year – choosing to rely on their annual MOT to prove their car’s roadworthiness.

An additional 10% of drivers have decided to start servicing their cars themselves or call on someone they know to perform the checks.

9% have gone the route of cheaper car servicing by getting a minor maintenance job as opposed to a full one, for example. 

And 8% have switched to a cheaper garage for these services to save cash.

The false economy around skipping the service

Although high inflation rates cause the price of car servicing to go up, it’s important to bear in mind the risks and potential expenses that driving a poorly maintained vehicle can cost the driver. 

RAC Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis said: “Not keeping on top of servicing a vehicle is almost always a false economy, as the probability of suffering a breakdown emergency and having to fork out even more for expensive repairs down the line go up massively. 

“So, while drivers might feel the best thing to do is to put off servicing or opt for a cheaper service even if their car is due a full one, we advise strongly against it as repair costs are likely to snowball when things start to go wrong.” 

Driving abroad for the summer holidays? Get clued up on the European driving licence and number plate rules.