It might not still be making the headlines every day but the cost of living crisis is still very much with us, with many families and individuals still struggling to make ends meet. The RAC in the UK has highlighted how this is having a very concerning effect on motoring safety. 

The motoring organisation says that One-in-five drivers (20%) under the age of 44 have driven illegally by not putting their car through the MOT or replacing tyres when needed to save money. Among drivers of all ages, one-in-10 (10%) admit they’ve failed to replace worn-out tyres or skipped the MOT. 

19% of those surveyed for the RAC’s annual Report on Motoring say they have tried to save money by delaying necessary repairs, or either reduced or stopped servicing their vehicles altogether due to cost. The proportion of drivers delaying maintenance is significantly higher among those under the age of 25, with more than a third (36%) in this bracket saying they’ve ignored repairs and let servicing slide. 

The RAC points out that failing to carry out routine maintenance and repairs to save money can often prove to be a false economy when a vehicle breaks down and owners are then faced with a big repair bill. This is borne out by 59% of drivers facing unexpected repair costs for their main vehicle over the past 12 months. The average total amount spent on these unexpected repairs is an incredible £617.

The 2024 Report on Motoring also found that 50% of under-25s say they would struggle to meet a repair bill of £500, compared with just 25% of drivers aged 65 or older.

RAC breakdown spokesperson Simon Williams said, “Those drivers who have taken the decision not to get their cars serviced or repaired might think they’re saving money, but they could very easily find themselves facing a far bigger garage bill for something which could have been cheaper to fix earlier on. They might also find themselves stuck in a breakdown situation at the side of the road, which can be both dangerous and expensive depending on whether they have the right roadside assistance cover.”