Over half of vehicle repairers (56%) have seen consumers putting off essential repairs in the past year, according to The Motor Ombudsman’s survey which polled 125 service and repair businesses in March.
The survey revealed the five most deferred aspects of vehicle maintenance.
Rebecca Pullan, MD at Carmaster Garage, said: “If a car is still usable, and a problem is not immediately visible, it may prove an inviting prospect to continue driving and delay incurring any repair bills until a much bigger problem is apparent, by which time the issue may be either be too expensive to rectify or too late to fix.
“As tempting as it may be to avoid paying out for repairs, this often proves a false economy, and we are therefore reinforcing to motorists that it’s absolutely crucial to visit a garage as soon as they identify something may be wrong, to nip any issues in the bud there and then.”
Nearly eight in ten respondents (79%), said not having the engine timing belt replaced at the required manufacturer-recommended intervals is subject to the most delay. The cambelt costs around £600 to change and is vital for the running of an engine.
Cited by 72%, the second most common aspect of vehicle maintenance to be postponed is changing of engine oil and filter (a cost of around £150) if required between annual services.
Over half of repairers surveyed (58%) stated tyre replacements. The average replacement cost is £94 per tyre (or under £400 for all four).
The survey revealed 49% of vehicle repairers have seen customers delaying fixing a leak, which costs around £355 to repair.
The fifth most delayed aspect, stated by 39% of repairers, is not changing brake pads (costing an average of £266 for a set of two per wheel).
Bill Fennell, Chief Ombudsman, said: “Planning ahead to budget for any unforeseen expenses is vital, because neglecting any kind of repairs may not only cause significant long-term damage to vehicles, but also lead owners to breaking the law, and compromising their own safety and that of others – all coming as a result of not acting with the right level of urgency to address concerns.”