Drivers ditching service checks

04/07/11

By Kevin Dixon

Hard-up UK motorists are putting saving money before the road worthiness of their cars by skipping service dates.

According to a survey by insurer Swiftcover, more than 750,000 car owners are risking mechanical trouble by foregoing annual service checks.

The measure is part of a wider trend, with the poll revealing that almost two thirds of UK motorists are actively looking to save money on their motoring costs this year.

With fuel bills soaring, a third of drivers said they will look to save money by driving less. The majority of people looking to use their car less are aged between 35 and 44.

In addition, 1.5 million motorists are now resorting to the false economy practice of buying six-month tax discs rather than 12.

One in five male drivers will sacrifice speed in a bid to gain better fuel economy, the survey found, while 3 per cent of car owners are washing their cars less often to save a few pounds, and 9 per cent will switch their car insurance to help cut the cost of motoring.