Don’t neglect servicing your car

Millions of us rely on our cars in every aspect of our lives, from doing the weekly shop to commuting to work. 

But nevertheless, many people aren’t taking basic steps to make sure they’re roadworthy. 

According to research by Go.Compare, just 58% of motorists get their cars serviced every year or after every 12,000 miles - and 12% of drivers never take their cars in for servicing at all. 

And that could be extremely costly in the long run. 

If you get your car serviced once a year or every 12,000 miles (whichever comes first), you can: 
 
Prevent costly repairs: A well-maintained vehicle is less likely to suffer unexpected breakdowns that could lead to hefty repair bills. At the same time, small issues and defects can be spotted early, before they turn into bigger, more expensive problems. 

Lower your insurance premiums: Your car insurance provider might reward you with lower premiums if you can demonstrate that you’re looking after your vehicle. 

Keep your warranty valid: Not servicing your car regularly could invalidate a warranty claim. 

Improve resale value: If a person is planning to buy a used car, they might want to check its service history, so they know what condition it’s in first. So having its service history on hand could help you sell more quickly and at a higher price. 

When we delve deeper into the data, the age demographics tell a fascinating story.  

Young drivers aged between 18 to 24 are the most responsible, with only 8% admitting that they never service their vehicles - about one-third less than the overall average.  

By contrast, 16% of people in the 45 to 54 age group admit to not servicing their cars, nearly double the overall figure. 

Tom Banks, spokesperson for Go.Compare, described the number of people who aren’t getting their car serviced as “worryingly high”. 

“Making sure your vehicle is maintained and regularly serviced may seem like an additional cost initially, but it will almost certainly pay dividends in the longer-term – whether that’s through the residual value of the vehicle or purely through not having technical faults that can cause a breakdown or an unexpected repair bill,” he said. 

Mr Banks added that keeping on top of your car’s servicing is also really important “from a safety perspective”.