Drivers across the UK are postponing their MOT repairs amid rising costs and tight budgets. Recent surveys paint a worrying picture, with nearly half (49%) of drivers admitting to delaying car fixes to save money. Garages and repair centres are reporting the same trend, too, with over 50% of repair shops seeing customers put off essential repairs in the past year.
Financial pressure and a lack of disposable income are the main reasons for this, with one poll finding that over half of repairers cite household strain as the main reason behind repair delays.
These stats underline a clear trend.
MOT costs and general car maintenance bills are rising, and drivers with limited disposable income are deferring work. Car repair servicing is getting more expensive, too, and with higher costs on parts and energy costs, garages are being forced to pass price increases on to their customers.
What Are the Most Commonly Deferred MOT Costs?
Usually, it’s the ones that carry the biggest price tag. According to the Motor Ombudsman, there are five clear outliers when it comes to car maintenance and repair bills that are being put off.
Timing belt replacement.
This is recommended to be changed every 60-100,000 miles and was delayed by 79% of car owners. A belt change usually costs around £600, whereas ignoring it risks catastrophic engine damage that could see prices spiral into the thousands.
Oil/filter change between services.
72% of drivers delayed this service. An oil change costs around £150, but old oil can cause engine seizure if it’s neglected.
New tyres.
This was skipped by around 58% of customers. Generally speaking, replacing four tyres can cost a customer around £400, but driving on bald tyres incurs steep penalties of up to £2,500 per tyre and is a big safety risk, too.
Fixing oil leaks.
Almost half (49%) of all drivers delayed their oil leak fix. As with the timing belt replacement, a typical leak repair (approx. £355) is much cheaper than the cost of unaddressed engine failure.
Brake-pad replacement.
39% of customers put off their new brake pads. New pads might seem avoidable, but worn brake pads greatly increase your stopping distance and risk more extensive brake damage later.
Drivers Are Waiting for MOT Fails Before Acting
Surveys show us that most customers only fix problems when they absolutely have to, usually after an MOT fails or when a fault noticeably affects the car. Minor issues are deferred, even though smaller repair costs are far less than the major failures they might cause down the line.
The Cost of Living is the Main Culprit
The RAC found that one in five motorists have delayed or halted servicing entirely due to lack of disposable income, and one in ten drivers have risked road safety by neglecting tyres or other MOT costs.
How Car Repair Finance Can Help
Fortunately, there is an easy fix to help your customers keep their cars on the road without breaking the bank. Drivers are increasingly choosing repair centres that offer car repair finance options to spread repair and MOT costs over time.
A £600 timing belt replacement suddenly becomes much more accessible when it’s split into four £150 payments. It’s also much easier to encourage your customers to opt to fix the problem when you’re able to offer them car repair finance that’s interest-free.
What car repair finance offers your customers:
- Allows budgeting of large MOT costs and repair bills into affordable, interest-free instalments.
- Avoids the upfront shock of a lump-sum payment, helping drivers with limited disposable income.
- It can prevent skipping repairs as drivers can fix faults promptly without waiting for savings.
- It may help your customers reduce their reliance on high-interest alternatives like credit cards.
What car repair finance offers you:
- Improve customer retention and trust by providing financial support.
- Attract more customers by reducing bill shock and work deferral.
- Enjoy a hassle-free onboarding process and ongoing usage support.
- Get paid upfront (while the customer pays us in instalments) for total peace of mind.
Looking to Help Your Customers Manage their MOT Costs?
If you want to make it easier for your customers to say yes to essential and advisory MOT costs, then our 0% interest car repair finance is the perfect option. With Payment Assist, you remove the financial barrier that often puts customers off and with no high interest and no hidden fees, it’s a clear way for drivers to split their car maintenance bill into manageable chunks. It’s quick and easy to set up and straightforward for customers to use, too.
Join repair centres, dealerships, and garages across the UK in providing flexible, FCA-regulated finance that works just as well for you as it does for your customers. Sign up with Payment Assist today, or get in touch to find out more.
FAQs
Is car repair finance regulated by the FCA?
This depends on the provider. Payment Assist is regulated by the FCA, but not all car repair finance providers are. You can find out more here.
Are customers comfortable with car repair finance?
Absolutely, the demand is already there. Mentioning 0% finance at the quote stage or during diagnosis can help retain customers. You can see this in our excellent Trustpilot reviews, as well as the fact we’ve had over 1.4 million customers.
Will car repair finance help me upsell?
Yes, customers are more open to added-value work when they know they won’t have to pay it all in one go.
