Costs fears dissuade drivers from vital repairs

Nearly four million UK drivers don’t get their vehicles maintained because they are worried about unexpected costs.

This is according to research from RAC MOT Assist, which found 47% of motorists worry about having to pay for unexpected car repairs when they get their vehicles serviced. Its survey of 2,000 drivers for RAC MOT Assist found that it is those drivers in London, the West Midlands and Northern Ireland who get most agitated, with a majority of respondents in these areas saying they get concerned about hidden problems coming to light.

But perhaps more worryingly, a quarter of all drivers (24%) who worry about unexpected problems with their cars – the equivalent of 3.8m people – say that this uncertainty actually puts them off getting their car maintained in the future, suggesting there may be millions of cars on the UK’s roads that are in a less-than-perfect condition.

The research also found that when it comes to a vehicle’s annual MOT of roadworthiness, drivers are regularly forking out hundreds of pounds to pass. While the cost of the test is never any more than £55, more than half of drivers (52%) have paid £300 or more to get their car through the MOT, with five per cent of drivers – the equivalent of 1.7m people – having paid a staggering £1,000 or more to get their vehicle through the test.

RAC MOT Assist product manager Lauren French said: “Clearly, taking a car in for a service or MOT can be a nerve-wracking experience with many drivers concerned about what might be uncovered, and the unpleasant financial consequences that can result. But it’s even more alarming that this experience is enough to put some people off getting their car serviced in the future. Just how many people are driving vehicles on the UK’s roads that they know have problems?

“The best advice to any driver is to keep on top of servicing and maintenance work – the quicker problems are identified, often the cheaper they are to remedy. But at the same time we know that running a car can feel burdensome, and that some drivers don’t feel confident finding an affordable but reliable garage, or trusting one with looking after their car. This is why we’ve built a national network of RAC approved independent garages that drivers can depend on for good service and fair prices, with every one of them backed by the RAC’s Customer Charter and Code of Conduct.

“We also believe there should be an incentive that encourages drivers to get their car serviced in the first place, which is where our new MOT Assist programme comes in. Drivers who book their cars in for a service at one of our approved garages can then claim up to £750 towards the cost of parts or labour needed to pass their next MOT.”