Car owners cut corners to save money

With heavy snow forecast for Friday millions of car owners who have failed to carry out essential car maintenance in a bid to cut costs and save money, are putting themselves and others at serious risk.

Research from Post Office Car Insurance reveals that almost half of all car owners (48 per cent) have cut corners on repairs and maintenance to save money in the past year, with over a quarter (28 per cent) scrimping on costs to such an extent that they could be putting their safety (and that of others) at risk on the roads.

Although car owners are advised to have their car serviced once a year, or on average at every 10,000 to 12,000 miles, 29 per cent of car owners say they have put off the service to save money in the past 12 months. For the under 30's this figure rises to a worrying 40 per cent.

Instead, one in five (20 per cent) have either asked a friend to fix any problems, fixed it themselves or worse - ignored the problem altogether.   Women (17 per cent) are more likely than men (8 per cent) to get a friend or family member to fix it for them, instead of taking it to a local garage or trying to fix it themselves.

What drivers have done over the past 12 months, which they would not normally do, in order to cut corners and save money:

Failed to get a minor scratch, dent or other small cosmetic fault repaired 30%
 
Let tyres wear down closer to the limits than normal 13%
 
Ignored a squeak/rattle or other noise, in case it cost money to repair 12%
 
Used own-brand replacement parts such as brake pads, oil filter, air filter 12%
 
Fit cheaper or second-hand tyres 11%
 
Not replaced windscreen wipers, even thought they were not very efficient 8%
 
Used a cheaper brand of engine oil 8%
 
Ignored a message/warning light on the dashboard 7%
 
Not done anything to remedy an ‘advisory' problem, pointed out at MOT test 6%
 
Driven with a defective/worn tyre on the spare wheel 2%

Post Office Head of Car Insurance, Richard Pennant-Jones, said: "With heavy snow forecast in parts of the UK, car owners who have tried to save a few pounds in recent months by ignoring warning lights or failing to get their car serviced are putting themselves and others at risk.  While the recession is causing us all to watch our budgets more closely, car safety is one area where cutting corners could cost you more than you bargained for, especially when bad winter weather sets in.  

"Failing to maintain your car could even result in it being deemed un-roadworthy and therefore invalidate your insurance.  Furthermore, with breakdowns becoming more likely in the snow and freezing conditions over the next few days, now is the best possible time for customers to think about taking out breakdown cover which comes with Post Office car insurance."

Prakesh Patel, RAC Patrol Ambassador of the Year, said: "As the cold weather sets in, driving conditions are set to become even more dangerous, so car owners need to ensure their vehicle is maintained to a high standard.  During winter especially we see a real rise in breakdowns due to faults that could largely have been avoided."  

Customers can now benefit from complimentary breakdown cover when they take out a Post Office Car Insurance policy at any Post Office branch.