MILLIONS of potentially unsafe cars could be returning to the nation’s roads after 22 per cent of drivers delayed servicing their vehicles due to lockdown, a study shows.
Postponing the vital safety checks, which most manufacturers recommend take place annually, could mean as many as 7.3million vehicles on the roads have not been serviced in more than a year, according to analysis by heycar.
It comes as the online car marketplace discovered a further 12 per cent of the 2558 motorists quizzed are preparing to delay their vehicle’s next scheduled service.
Dan Powell, senior editor at heycar, said: “Servicing a vehicle is critical to keeping it running well and reducing the risk of road accidents, and we would urge all drivers to ensure their vehicles are in optimum working order before they hit the roads this summer.
“And for those who are planning to buy in the coming months – by being able to provide full service and MOT histories alongside warranties, the nation’s dealerships can offer welcome reassurance to customers that their new purchase can be trusted.”
For those who delayed their car’s service during the past 12 months, 46 per cent cited lack of use as the primary factor, while 13 per cent said it was as a result of having to shield.
The heycar study also quizzed motorists on how often they carried out inspections on the car’s oil levels and tyre condition and 56 per cent said they did both once a month.
A diligent 20 per cent said they checked their tyres once a week, while 2.5 per cent say they never did it.
A similar 20 per cent said they inspected oil levels every three months, with eight per cent revealing they never checked them.
