18 million drivers neglect basic car maintenance

Research commissioned by the National Franchised Dealer Association (NFDA) suggests half of Britain’s motorists neglect vital vehicle maintenance checks including oil, tyres and lights. According to the association, this equates to 18 million drivers when you consider there are 36 million motorists on UK roads.

The survey by Trusted Dealers, the consumer facing website of the National Franchised Dealer Association, found that 32 per cent of drivers are unaware how often their vehicle should be serviced, with 6.8% per cent admitting they never undertake routine vehicle checks.

Many drivers rely on others to get their hands dirty with 29 per cent using partners, parents or friends to undertake maintenance on their behalf. The research also found less than half of female motorists (47.4 per cent) carry out routine checks, perhaps leaving it to the 87 per cent of their male counterparts who regularly maintain their vehicles.

Drivers in Oxford were found to be the worst offenders with 65 per cent saying they neglect regular car care. Leeds came in pole position with 64 per cent of motorists undertaking regular vehicle maintenance.

When it comes to buying a used car, however, the research showed the value of regular franchised dealer maintenance was paramount, with 47.8 per cent of those surveyed saying they would pay £500 or more for a fully stamped main dealer service log.

Sue Robinson, director of the NFDA said: “Regular servicing not only keeps your vehicle running efficiently, it will also quickly highlight any potential problems or safety concerns which can be addressed before the situation worsens – saving you both money and time in the long run.

“All NFDA members are signed up to our set of Aftersales Standards which guarantee all servicing and repairs meet stringent guidelines set out in consultation with dealer members. Plus their close links with manufacturers ensure they are kept fully up to date on any vehicle recalls or possible faults. Visual safety checks will also be carried out on any visit to the dealer, offering the customer complete peace of mind.”

Neil Addley, director of franchised dealer-owned used car website Trusted Dealers, added: “Regular maintenance, checks and servicing are the only ways to ensure your vehicle remains efficient, safe and roadworthy over its lifetime. Recent research has found UK cars are getting older, with the average age now 7.7 years [according to research conducted by Whocanfixmycar.com in August 2014] regular…servicing is even more imperative. This is why we’ve put together our ten minute checklist designed to save you both money and time in the long run.”

Trusted Dealers therefore recommends the following three monthly checks: tyre pressure, tread depth (encouraging replacement beneath 3mm) and oil level.

In May 2013 the NFDA took a majority stake in Trusted Dealers, which became the trade body’s first consumer-facing website. The move bolstered scope for both organisations to promote the benefits of using approved franchised dealers, as well as driving opportunities to increase the Trusted Dealers member base – which includes 886 of the UK’s largest used car dealers and attracts over one million users each month

The data is based on a survey of 1,000 motorists conducted by Seventy Two Point, December 2013.

There are around 5,000 franchised dealers and approximately 21,000 independent dealers in the UK – most of which will service cars. cja