Recession-hit motorists defer car maintenance

Consumers are responding to rises in motoring costs and challenging economic conditions by deferring routine vehicle repair, servicing and maintenance jobs, according to a survey carried out this month on glass.co.uk – the Glass’s Guide used car valuation website.

Findings from the survey revealed that almost half (46 per cent) have deferred some of their car-related expenditure over the past year, including 15 per cent that have postponed routine professional car service.  A further 8 per cent have taken the potentially dangerous decision to delay the purchase of replacement tyres, while 15 per cent had rescheduled the rectification of bodywork repairs.  Some 13 per cent of the  respondents had pushed back a scheduled check on their vehicle’s air conditioning system.

Underlining how the aftermarket sector has been hit hard by the recession, 24 per cent of the respondents in the Glass’s survey said they had put off the purchase of car accessories, such as alloy wheels and off-the-shelf satellite navigation systems. 

“While it is inevitable that some consumers will respond to deteriorating economic conditions by cutting back on aspects of their motoring expenditure, it is concerning that scheduled services and tyre purchases are being deferred,” says Andy Carroll, Managing Director at Glass’s.  “These are crucial for safety, and also have an impact on resale values.  Prospective buyers are always more likely to buy a car which has a full service history over one that does not.  Moreover, by delaying these important checks and thus missing manufacturer-stated service intervals, motorists are putting warranty cover at risk.”