Recent data shows that 25% of UK drivers are missing their essential vehicle servicing due to the financial strain, with 18% of them stating that they’re likely to do so again in the next 12 months, according to new research by Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS) UK.
This brings many serious issues regarding safety and compromising essential servicing.
Safety concerns and compromising essential servicing
Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS) UK also found that young drivers, aged between 24 and 34, are 38% more likely to skip getting their services due to costings. Compared to 14% of those aged 65 and over.
This causes major safety concerns as there could be underlying safety issues with the vehicle putting not only the driver at risk, other road users too.
Taking chances and ignoring signs
Around 24% of drivers are choosing to drive a car that needs essential maintenance, admitting to taking the risk despite knowing it needs such things like new tyres and break light replacement.
This increases to 53% of 25 to 34 year olds ignoring warning lights on their dashboards, with 29% of males admitting to this compared to 19% of women.
Making servicing affordable
with bills continuously going up due to inflation, many drivers are finding funding essential car maintenance an ongoing challenge. However, 39% of drivers reported that they are interested in the idea of spreading the cost over a couple of months rather than one singular hefty bill.
As a result of this, many finance providers are offering servicing and maintenance plans as an add-on.
Leasing companies such as ourselves also offer fully maintained contracts which include servicing and essential maintenance costs, leaving the bill to ourselves and you being able to drive away stress free.
Young drivers in particular are in favour of ‘payment plans’ allowing them to spread the costs of servicing with garages, with 69% of 25–34-year-olds recording the highest response.
30% of drivers admit that these resolutions would mean they are ‘less likely to skip recommended servicing and maintenance’.
The importance of essential maintenance
Among all vehicle users across all age ranges, there is a general understanding that a ‘yellow warning light’ on a dashboard flag up is a potential issue that needs checking as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, 58% reported that they would continue to drive to their destination despite seeing a ‘red warning light’ alerting the driver to stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe.
Ignoring yellow and red warning lights can lead to serious safety issues, putting other road users in danger.
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