Cost of living pressures are encouraging drivers to miss essential annual vehicle services, and ignore warning signs on their dashboards.
New research from Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS) UK revealed that one in four drivers have skipped an annual service due to the costs, with of those 18% claiming that they would do so again.
VWFS compiled its findings from an independent survey of 2,000 UK drivers, concluding that many drivers are feeling pressures over keeping their car in top condition and as a result are persuaded to cut corners in the hope of saving money.
According to the research younger drivers, aged between 24 and 34, are more likely to skip getting their car serviced due to cost pressures, 34% stating they had missed a service compared to just 14% of those aged 65 and over.
Equally concerning was that close to a quarter (24%) of at the drivers surveyed admitted to driving their car despite knowing it requires essential safety maintenance, such as new tyres, brake light replacements or oil level top ups. Again 53% of these were 25 to 34-year-olds.
The survey provided more evidence for the benefits of service plans, which spread the cost of aftersales work for drivers but also benefit dealers by retaining customers which might be lost to rivals and in the case of franchised dealers to the independent market.
Of the drivers surveyed, 39% said they are interested in finding out more about how they could spread the financial cost and pay via regular monthly payments instead of a single bill. Service plans are now becoming an increasingly attractive add-on among those taking out car finance.
The survey showed that most drivers understand a yellow warning light on the dash means that a potential fault should be caked at the earless opportunity. But worryingly 58% of those polled said that a red warning light would not prevent them completing a journey to their destination.
There also exists some issues with recognising warning signs – one in five of those polled (20%) had no idea of the meaning of a symbol indicating a problem with car tyre pressures and 8% did not recognise the red ‘check engine’ sign, which could be a precursor to a much bigger problem.
Responding to the survey VWFS product head James Taylor emphaissed that regular servicing and maintenance is essential to optimise driving performance, keep vehicles safe both for the driver and other road users and cut future car-related costs overall.
“Our research highlights that a considerable number of drivers, especially those in younger age groups, continue to experience cost pressures and are more likely to avoid or delay the recommended servicing and maintenance that all vehicles require,” Taylor said, adding that while appreciating that the cost-of-living continues to affect many households, not keeping up with regular car services and maintenance checks can compromise safety standards.
Taylor pointed out the advantages of dealers signing drivers up to service plans when they purchase a new vehicle; “Such plans can lift a lot of the financial burden for drivers, so we recommend people ask their dealership about potential service plans to ensure their cars remain safe for the road, with no unexpected costs, all year round.”
