Young drivers are putting off car repairs in attempt to save money

More than a third of drivers aged 17 to 24 are putting off necessary repairs to their vehicles in an attempt to cut their outgoings as the cost-of-living crisis bites, research has found

Nearly a fifth of young people say they are delaying getting major repairs made – which might include work such as replacing a handbrake or cracked windscreen – while a huge 28% are putting off minor repairs, which could be fixing minor oil leaks or replacing brake discs.

What's more, young drivers are more than twice as likely as average to say they have deliberately delayed getting any repair work completed, with those who drive cars over 10 years of age and who live in town or city centre areas also significantly more likely to put work off.

Perhaps surprisingly, drivers of all ages are more inclined to skip repairs in a bid to save money than they are to either reduce how often they get their vehicles serviced or switch to a cheaper insurer.

Just one-in-10 of all drivers say they are servicing their vehicles less frequently and 13% say they have got a cheaper insurance policy, compared to 14% who have put off getting repairs done.

Research found that a greater proportion of drivers in East Anglia and London are cutting back on motoring costs to save money compared to those in other areas of the UK.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, those in Scotland, Yorkshire and the South East of England are less inclined to be trying to make savings.