One in five drivers have skipped a car service due to the pandemic
A fifth of drivers delayed their annual car service due to the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, while a further one in 10 plan to skip or delay their car’s next scheduled service.
The research, which comes courtesy of heycar in partnership with HonestJohn.co.uk, revealed that there could be the equivalent of 7.3 million unserviced — and potentially unroadworthy — vehicles when these figures are applied to the 32.7 million motorists in the UK.
The study of 2558 motorists found that one in five (22 per cent) of drivers delayed or skipped their car's annual service during the last 12 months. A further one in ten drivers (12 per cent) are preparing to delay their vehicle’s next scheduled service. A service would typically check — and/or replace — components like the oil and oil filter, spark plugs, fuel filter, brake fluid etc — depending on whether it's a minor or major service.
Unsurprisingly, almost half of drivers who said they’d skipped or delayed a service (46 per cent) cited lack of use as the primary factor. A further 13 per cent said they couldn’t get the service done due to shielding during the pandemic.
The lack of servicing will affect the millions of drivers eagerly awaiting the latest lifting of lockdown restrictions due on 17 May — which will allow people to meet indoors for the first time this year.
While postponing servicing isn’t against the law, it means that owners could be missing out on getting vital repairs done in order to keep their cars safe and healthy in the long run. Not taking a car in for servicing also prevents drivers from finding out about necessary recall work or updates, for example, as well as not getting age-related servicing done — like replacing the brake fluid.
>>> Car maintenance checklist: 10 service tips to care for your car
Generally, a service schedule will recommend or require you to get your car serviced every 12 months or 12,000 miles (whichever comes first). As well as flagging up any potential problems, if your car is still within its warranty period then a skipped will also invalidate the warranty.
The survey also quizzed motorists on how often they carried out inspections on the car’s oil levels and tyre condition. Over half who answered (56 per cent) said they did both once a month.
A fifth (20 per cent) said they checked their tyres once a week, while another 20 per cent of respondents said they inspected oil levels every three months. Nearly one in 10 (8 per cent) revealed that they never checked the oil level in their car.
conman on 10 May 2021
I won't be having my car serviced this year, I will change the oil and filter myself. Approximately every 10 to 14 days I have given my car a 10 mile run and kept the battery charged. I always check tyres, windscreen wipers and washers and lights weekly. Unlike a lot of drivers that love driving round with one or two bulbs out on either headlights brake lights or both. Or those that drive around with misaligned or illegal headlights dazzling everyone. Next year it will have a brake fluid and fuel filter change on top of it's normal service.Contax139 on 11 May 2021
Due to garage not doing collect and return due to Covid the 2 year service has run to nearly 3 years, won't have done over 2K miles in 3 years. It's just over 10 years old done 7K miles from new, I am more worried about getting new cambelt kit fitted, need service plus antifreeze and brake fluid change, also 4 new tyres as walls cracking, tread looks like new. It's old but still like new so want to keep it going as does all I need for my disability, never carried a passenger in it's life. I could do with a small electric car with one high level sea and large boot to get to shops, only does 10 mile round trip each week, don't need speed and say 50 mile range on battery would do fine, something better than a mobility scooter.on 11 May 2021
I have to get our car serviced on time as scheduled in service book as part of the three year extended warranty when purchased. The interval between the last two services was about 180 miles due to lock down but had to have mot carried out also. Was advised I needed to replace both rear tyres as they were on five mm each. Will wait for lock down to end first as we do about ten miles a week at the moment.Oldboy on 11 May 2021
Doubt the preceding post about having to change tyres now because “on 5mm each”That is not yet even half worn if 8mm when new !
An advisory could well have been issued on grounds of tyre condition, as tyres can and do decay, they can rot over time. Our original equipment Michelin tyres on OH Mini started to shred with 4-5 mm of tread still left, but 8 years old.
Michelin told us to get stuffed, refused any credit on replacements said Tyres are only guaranteed to last up to 6 years old.
So don’t buy Michelin for a low mileage car,,,,The replacements we bought were not Michelin !
Oldboy on 11 May 2021
Shroud waving over delayed servicing just a tad overdone here in my opinion.These days many cars have 2 year / 20,000 miles service intervals.
True that brake fluid should ideally be changed every 2 years, if you are doing rapid descents of mountain passes with lots of braking. Old brake fluid with a high water content can boil, and steam is not a good substitute for brake fluid.
Being a year delayed is not likely to be lethal in your average high street.
on 12 May 2021
So the headline: "4 in 5 drivers had their car sericed on time" is not so newsworthy??How many drivers skip their cars servicing in "normal " years - this would help to put the figures in perspective but has been missed from the article.
The blanket comment that you would only get updates on recalls if you take it into a garage is also wrong - I have had them from the manufacturer in the past.
As some cars continuously check oil levels and tyre pressure levels when running why should you manually check these? People rely on a fuel gauge without using a dipstick in the fuel tank, whats the difference?
Add a comment