One million UK drivers skipped their last car service

It never ceases to amaze me the number of surveys from the UK in particular, that drop into my inbox every week. You have to be very discerning when looking at them and the detail there in. If the subject might be of interest to our readers is the first decision. Then see who has commissioned the research and their credibility, plus the reputation of the research and PR companies involved. Then, we try to make sure that while credit should be given, it is important to make sure the content is not about raw marketing or self-promotion of their business.

Here is an example of one that fits our publishing criteria. Would you be surprised that over one in 10 drivers across the UK are skipping their vehicle service, with a third citing the cost as the main reason for not getting their car serviced.

The new research from Green Flag, which polled just over 2,000 drivers in the UK, also showed that five per cent are unsure if their car is due for a service.

Green Flag says that one in 10 UK drivers (1.3 million motorists) don’t have an up-to-date service inspection for their vehicle and a further 690,000 drivers (five per cent) are unsure whether their car is due a service. With around 34 million cars on the roads in 2024, this means there could be as many as two million vehicles without a current service with potential defects on UK roads.

Regular servicing can help identify potential safety hazards such as worn-out brakes and damaged tyres, alongside detecting engine problems, steering issues and electrical malfunctions, to ensure the safety of the driver and other road users. It can also help improve a vehicle’s fuel efficiency and prolong the vehicle’s lifespan helping both the environment and generating cost savings in the long run.

There are several reasons why drivers haven’t had their car serviced. A third of UK drivers (33 per cent) said it was due to the cost, while a quarter (25 per cent) felt that their car did not need it as it was “running fine”. Six per cent also felt their car was so old it wasn’t worth it.

Almost three quarters (73 per cent) of drivers who bought their car second hand chose one with a full-service history, with 40 per cent saying this was a key factor in their choice

Green Flag estimates that there could be as many as two million vehicles without a current service with potential defects on UK roads.

Dealerships and garages should keep a close eye on their servicing data and communicate the likes of vehicle health checks and service reminders to those well overdue a car service.

When drivers do get their car serviced, their provider of choice tends to change depending on the age of the vehicle. Dealerships where vehicles were purchased were more popular than independent garages in the first two years (52 per cent vs 28 per cent). Once a car hits five or six years, however – when the warranty is likely to have expired, most drivers go to an independent garage (52 per cent) over a dealer (31 per cent), likely due to costs and not being bound by contractual obligations.

Two thirds of drivers confirmed the main reason they get their cars serviced is to ensure the car’s safety (66 per cent) and over half (55 per cent) wanted to avoid a breakdown. More than a third (35 per cent) also do so to ensure they maintain the potential resale value of their car.

Once a car hits five or six years, however – when the warranty is likely to have expired, just over half of drivers go to an independent garage (52%) over a dealer (31%).

Main reasons for UK drivers not servicing their vehicle (those whose service is not up to date):

• I can’t afford it (33 per cent)
• I don’t think it needs servicing – it’s running just fine (25 per cent)
• I haven’t had time to get it serviced (13 per cent)
• I am worried about finding a reliable garage (12 per cent)
• I didn’t know there was a schedule to getting my car serviced (10 per cent)
• My car is so old it isn’t worth it (6 per cent)
  Source: Green Flag 2024

43 per cent of drivers ignore dashboard warning signs

Additional research published last month from the same source (UK breakdown provider, Green Flag) reveals 43 per cent of UK drivers ignore critical dashboard warning signs, with 15 per cent (5.5 million) ignoring illuminated warning lights in their car for more than a week.

Neglecting vehicle alerts can put the driver and other road users at risk and can lead to costly repairs. Nearly two fifths of drivers (18 per cent) have broken down after ignoring warning lights, one in ten (10 per cent) have had an accident, and a similar number (11 per cent) caused damage to their vehicle.

Top reasons for drivers ignoring warning lights include not thinking it was urgent (61 per cent), trusting their car would be fine (26 per cent) and thinking repair would be too expensive (18 per cent).

It also found that 96 per cent of drivers cannot accurately identify the meaning of all their warning lights, and 31 per cent of drivers have experienced a breakdown, accident or damaged their car because they ignored a warning light.

Top reasons drivers ignore their dashboard warning lights:

• I didn’t think it was urgent (61 per cent)
• I trusted my car would be fine (26 per cent)
• Repairs were too expensive (18 per cent)
• I didn’t have time to take my car to the garage (17 per cent)
• I didn’t understand what the light meant (16 per cent)
• I forgot about it (10 per cent)
• I didn’t realise it was a warning light (5 per cent)
  Source: Green Flag 2024