New data from the RAC reveals that one in five drivers (20%) under the age of 44 have risked illegal driving by skipping their MOTs or putting off new tyres to save money during the cost-of-living crisis. For drivers of all ages, about one in 10 (10%) admit to avoiding critical maintenance like tyre replacements or their annual MOT, which is legally required to keep the UK’s 42 million cars road-safe.
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It’s not just MOTs and tyres getting delayed, either. Nearly one in five (19%) surveyed in the RAC’s annual Report on Motoring said they’ve been holding off on repairs or even stopped servicing their cars to cut costs. According to the RAC, skipping out on this upkeep raises the chances of breakdowns and could put drivers and other road users at risk.
Young drivers, especially, are feeling the squeeze: over a third (36%) of those under 25 admit to letting repairs slide, while three-quarters (74%) of all surveyed drivers say that service costs have gone up since last year. As these bills climb, saving money in the short term can come with a bigger cost later on.
Over the past year, six in 10 drivers (59%) had to pay for unexpected repairs averaging £617—expenses that 45% of under-25s struggled to cover. Half of young drivers under 25 say they’d be hard-pressed to manage a repair bill of £500 or more, compared to just a quarter of drivers over 65.
Simon Williams, a spokesperson for RAC Breakdown, voiced concerns about the rise in MOT and maintenance avoidance. “It’s very worrying that so many drivers under the age of 44 appear to have risked breaking the law by not putting their vehicles through the MOT and running them on tyres that should have been replaced, all in an attempt to save some money.
“Safety on our roads is paramount. The MOT is a legal requirement for good reason: skipping it jeopardises the safety of all road users, including the driver. Tyres are a vehicle’s only contact with the road, so it’s vital they are in good condition and have plenty of tread – anyone who drives with poor tread or substandard tyres risks being involved in a collision.
“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.
“Fortunately, gone are the days when you have to spend time and effort getting your car to the garage for routine maintenance and repairs. The RAC now has a big nationwide team of Mobile Mechanics who can service or repair cars at drivers’ homes or workplaces at highly competitive prices.”
