- Drivers of older vehicles, as well
as those living in cities, also much more likely to delay repairs
More than a third of drivers aged 17 to 24 (37%) are putting off
necessary repairs to their vehicles in an attempt to cut their
outgoings as the cost-of-living crisis bites, research from the
2022 RAC Report on
Motoring has found.*
Nearly a fifth of young people (16%) say they are delaying
getting major repairs made – which might include work such as
replacing a handbrake or cracked windscreen – while a huge 28%
are putting off minor repairs, which could be fixing minor oil
leaks or replacing brake discs. What’s more, young drivers are
more than twice as likely (37%) as average (14%) to say they have
deliberately delayed getting any repair work completed, with
those who drive cars over 10 years of age (19%) and who live in
town or city centre areas (25%) also significantly more likely to
put work off.
Perhaps surprisingly, drivers of all ages are more inclined to
skip repairs in a bid to save money than they are to either
reduce how often they get their vehicles serviced or switch to a
cheaper insurer. Just one-in-10 of all drivers (9%) say they are
servicing their vehicles less frequently and 13% say they have
got a cheaper insurance policy, compared to 14% who have put off
getting repairs done.
The RAC’s research found that a greater proportion of drivers in
East Anglia and London are cutting back on motoring costs to save
money compared to those in other areas of the UK. At the opposite
end of the spectrum, those in Scotland, Yorkshire and the South
East of England are less inclined to be trying to make savings.
Drivers are least keen to reduce their level of breakdown cover
in the face of rising prices, with just 3% saying they have done
this. Again, younger drivers aged 17-24 are more likely to say
they have cut costs here than other age groups, with 6% admitting
to reducing their breakdown cover levels.
RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: “Without question, putting off
vehicle repairs or skipping routine servicing are both false
economies, but these figures show in all-too-stark terms just how
many drivers, especially younger ones, feel they have to do this
to lower their spending in the face of rising prices.
“The fact over a third of young drivers are deliberately delaying
getting their vehicles fixed to cut costs is actually a harbinger
of future unwelcome – and possibly far larger – garage bills.
What’s more, not getting work to a car done means the chances of
it letting a driver down shoots up, making it potentially less
safe.
“And as the average age of cars on our roads is getting older due
to fewer people trading up to new cars, it looks as though many
of them will also be in a poorer overall state of repair which is
bad news for everyone using the roads. Given this, we sincerely
hope the Government permanently shelves its unpopular idea to
change the compulsory MOT from once a year to every two years.**
After all, the MOT is the backstop when it comes to ensuring all
vehicles using the roads are roadworthy.
“Increasing prices are hitting drivers from all directions at the
moment. If the high cost of fuel isn’t bad enough, drivers who do
the right thing and take their vehicles to a garage will also see
larger bills. It’s unfortunately the case that an enormous number
of car components and consumables are affected by rising material
prices, whether that’s oil that goes into making tyres or is
simply used as a lubricant, or steel that goes into shock
absorbers. The best, and indeed only, advice to drivers is to
stay on top of maintenance to avoid the prospect of a nasty bill
further down the line.
“We’re determined to help make it easier and more cost-effective
for drivers to look after their cars, which is why we’ve
introduced Mobile Mechanics in the West Midlands who can service
or repair vehicles at customers’ homes or workplaces– removing
the hassle often associated with taking a car to a garage. What’s
more, with prices that rival many garages it can be a really
affordable route to keeping a car in good working order, too.”
More information on servicing and repairs that can be
delivered by the RAC’s team of Mobile Mechanics can be found
online at www.rac.co.uk/car-care/mobile-mechanic.
Ends
Notes to Editors
* Survey details: In total, 3,102 motorists across all age groups
were interviewed (i.e. those who hold a full, current UK driving
licence, drive at least once a month and have a motor vehicle in
their household). Responses were rim weighted to be nationally
representative of UK motorists in age, gender, socio-economic
groups and all UK regions.
** RAC research in September 2022 found 55% of drivers were
against changing the MOT to every two years, with 23% unsure and
22% in support. Seehttps://media.rac.co.uk/pressreleases/majority-of-drivers-believe-changing-the-mot-to-every-two-years-is-a-dangerously-bad-idea-3205861
