Half of Britain’s motorists neglect vital vehicle maintenance checks including oil, tyres and lights – all essential to ensuring the safety of their cars.
This equates to 18 million drivers when equated to the 36 million motorists on UK roads.
Research*, commissioned by Trusted Dealers, the consumer facing website of the National Franchised Dealer Association, found 32% of drivers are also unaware how often their vehicle should be serviced, with almost seven per cent (6.8%) of motorists admitting they never undertake routine vehicle checks.
When it comes to buying a used car, however, the research showed the value of regular franchised dealer maintenance was paramount, with 48% of those surveyed saying they would pay £500 or more for a fully stamped main dealer service log.
The NFDA and Trusted Dealers are using the findings to reinforce the message on the value of consumers using franchised dealers for their service and maintenance needs.
Neil Addley, director of franchised dealer-owned used car website Trusted Dealers, said: “Regular maintenance, checks and servicing are the only ways to ensure a vehicle remains efficient, safe and roadworthy over its lifetime.
"Recent research has found UK cars are getting older, with the average age now 7.7 years** and as such regular franchised servicing is even more imperative. This is why we’ve put together our 10 minute checklist designed to save you both money and time in the long run."
Sue Robinson, director of the NFDA said: “Regular servicing not only keeps your vehicle running efficiently, it will also quickly highlight any potential problems or safety concerns which can be addressed before the situation worsens – saving you both money and time in the long run.
“All NFDA members are signed up to our set of aftersales standards which guarantee all servicing and repairs meet stringent guidelines set out in consultation with dealer members. Plus their close links with manufacturers ensure they are kept fully up to date on any vehicle recalls or possible faults. Visual safety checks will also be carried out on any visit to the dealer, offering the customer complete peace of mind.”
* Survey of 1,000 motorists conducted by Seventy Two Point, December 2013.
** Research conducted by Whocanfixmycar.com, August 2014
Jeremy has been a journalist for 30 years, 20 of which have been in business-to-business automotive. He was a writer and news editor on AM-sister brand Fleet News for three years before setting up the AM website. For the last five years he has been Bauer B2B’s head of digital helping to manage the digital assets of AM, together with Fleet News, Commercial Fleet, Rail and Smart Transport.
gezza06 - 24/09/2014 16:23
Customers still think it is bound to cost more at a franchised dealer and other things will be found that need fixing inflating the bill even further.