Are you cutting back on car maintenance?
Posted by Richard Sinclair
With the increasing costs of running a car nowadays, it is very tempting to cut back on repairs and hope that your car makes it through the winter in one piece.
It appears that a number of British drivers are succumbing to to the temptation and putting off the much-needed car maintenance.
According to a Carrentals.co.uk survey, one in three of the 2,300 motorists surveyed said they did not intend to complete repairs in their vehicles, even though the snow and ice of winter is just around the corner.
A lack of disposable cash was named as the main reason behind drivers postponing car maintenance.
Gareth Robinson, managing director of Carrentals.co.uk, said: "When a household budget gets really tight, the first things to go are seemingly unimportant expenses like improving the condition of your car."
Those who have repaired their cars in preparation for the difficult months ahead, 56 per cent have turned to private mechanics in a bid to cut costs, even though they may be risking inferior work to that provided at an authorised car dealership.
Mr Robinson explained that one of the hardest parts of car ownership is paying for the upkeep of a motor as "it's never cheap".
But he said there are some measures than can be taken to improve the condition of a car without breaking the bank.
"Basic features like the brake lights, brake pads and tyres should always be working properly, not just for your own personal safety but all the others on the road. As winter approaches, I urge every car owner to give their vehicle a good once-over and get it ready for those slippery winter roads."
More than 80 per cent of motorists in the poll admitted they never check their brake strength and 60 per cent don't pay attention to the state of their tyres, which has the potential to put their own and other drivers' lives at risk.
