Are you guilty of not servicing your car?

A recent survey carried out by Manheim Auctions reveals that a fifth of UK Motorists deem servicing their cars as “a complete waste of time”. Motorists have confessed to only servicing their car when they can afford it, rather than when recommended by the manufacturer. UK motorists have a long list of overheads when it comes to owning and driving a car, insurance, road tax and fuel are high up the expense list. Strapped for cash drivers are only spending on legal requirements such as insurance, MOT and tyres. Servicing and maintenance does not fall into to the “must do” category, rather the “really should do, but can’t afford” category. What worries me is that these motorists do not understand that by not servicing or correctly maintaining their cars they could end up spending more in the long run. A well serviced engine will last much longer than a neglected one. Similarly a car with a clean air and fuel filter will consume less fuel than a car with a clogged air and fuel filter – thus getting more miles to the gallon. Alarmingly, when looking for used cars in Maidstone people are very conscious about service history and expect the current or previous owner to have fully serviced the car. The survey also found that 70% of these asked think car maintenance should be incorporated into the driving test to ensure new drivers know how to keep their vehicle safe. The survey also found that over a third of motorists think of their car maintenance skills as poor or very poor, relying on either the garage, their dad or partner for help.