-
Half of drivers still plan on getting their car
serviced as normal, despite COVID-19
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Quarter of drivers surveyed unaware of the current
six-month MOT extension
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RAC launches COVID-19 code of conduct for its garage
network; majority offer collection and delivery
service
Drivers remain committed to
keeping their vehicles properly maintained through the
coronavirus pandemic, with relatively few intending to make full
use of the automatic six-month MOT extension, new research for
RAC Approved Garages shows.*
Just one-in-10 drivers (14%) surveyed say they
will make full use of the extra six months added to MOT due
dates, with three times that proportion (44%) planning on getting
their car checked as normal despite the impact of the
coronavirus.
Of those drivers who don’t plan on using the
full MOT extension, half (52%) say it is because they want to
ensure essential safety checks are made at the right time, while
40% are confident their cars are in good working order and want
them to pass their MOTs as soon as possible. But more than
one-in-10 (16%) say their reason is that they are worried there
will be a huge backlog of MOT tests as the lockdown is eased
further, making it harder to book a test.
More concerningly, of those who do plan on
making use of the full six-month MOT extension, an overwhelming
83% say it is because they are confident in the roadworthiness of
their vehicle – yet the MOT test
covers a wide range of
areas of a
vehicle, some of which are difficult or impossible for a driver
to check themselves, including seatbelt safety, brakes and
exhaust emissions. And of all the drivers surveyed, more than a
quarter (27%) said they weren’t even aware of the MOT extension
in the first place.
The MOT extension highlights the importance of
drivers keeping their vehicle in safe, working order, something
which has caused some leading voices in the motor industry
including the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)
to highlight
concerns. The RAC
research suggests drivers are very aware of the important role
quality garages play in checking the roadworthiness of cars and
helps to quell some of the nervousness around the number of
vehicles on Britain’s roads that might have otherwise failed
their MOTs.
When it comes to servicing, around half (47%)
of respondents still plan to get their car serviced regardless of
the lockdown status, although just over a third (37%) say they’ll
only do this once the lockdown is completely lifted and one-in-10
(13%) say they’ll delay their service and get it done to coincide
with a later MOT. Of those who are waiting for the lockdown to be
lifted further, half (48%) say they are holding off booking a
service because they are concerned about visiting garages during
the coronavirus outbreak.
To give drivers confidence they can get their
car seen by a garage, whether that is for an MOT, service or for
any other work, the RAC has published a new Code of Conduct for
all its Approved Garages. This sets out the steps all member
garages must follow to keep customer and colleagues safe at this
time. The majority of RAC Approved Garages (70%) also now offer
collection and delivery services, meaning drivers do not even
need to visit a garage themselves.
Head of RAC Motoring Services Adam
O’Neill said:
“Since the coronavirus lockdown took effect,
hundreds of thousands of vehicles every month have been missing
their normal MOTs and in turn there’s a risk that more
unroadworthy cars are now on our roads, especially as many more
of us are now driving compared to March.
“It’s encouraging therefore to see that a large
proportion of people we surveyed clearly care about the condition
of their cars and aren’t being put off from getting them through
their MOTs or serviced as normal. But at the same time there
understandably remains some drivers who are worried about how
safe it is to visit a garage during the
pandemic.
“The key to encouraging drivers to book MOTs
and servicing as they normally would is to reassure them that
garages have made the right adjustments to keep them and their
staff safe. Within our own 500-strong network of approved
garages, more than eight in every 10 are open for business with
most of these – around 70% – offering a collection and delivery
service, meaning drivers needing MOTs and servicing don’t even
need to leave their own home. All are also operating to a strict
COVID-19 code of conduct, which we’ve published and sets out what
drivers can expect when they visit any of our approved
garages.
“Every driver must remember that the safety and
roadworthiness of their vehicle remains their responsibility. For
those planning on making full use of the six-month MOT extension,
it’s vital that if they believe something isn’t right with their
car, or that they know it’s unlikely to pass an MOT if it took
place tomorrow, they should take it in for repairs as soon as
possible and not drive it in the meantime.”
Ends
Notes to
Editors
* Research conducted among 2,200 UK drivers
between 17 and 24 May 2020.
