New research from PayByPhone reveals that nearly a third of UK motorists (29%) are considering skipping car servicing due to high costs – and interestingly, younger drivers (17-24) are actually more financially prepared for vehicle maintenance than older generations.

Key insights include:
· 29% of motorists consider skipping car servicing due to high costs
· 17% of motorists consider skipping servicing if their vehicle seems fine
· Trust, time and convenience also play a role in UK drivers skipping vehicle services
· Young drivers (17-24) budget more for servicing than over-45s, making them more financially prepared
· Over a quarter (29%) of motorists say they have considered skipping a service due to high costs
o This was higher for women at 32% versus 26% for men
o This increases for 25-34 and 35-44-year-olds at 37% each
o But decreases for 55+ year-olds at 17%
o This falls for those in Newcastle at 22% and Manchester at 23%
o But rises for those in Stafford and York at 42% each and Aberdeen at 43%
· For those who considered skipping a service, they also stated the following reasons:
o No noticeable issues with the car (17%)
o Lack of time or inconvenience (15%)
o Forgetting or not keeping track (10%)
o A previous bad experience (7%)
o Lack of trust in service providers (6%)
o The garage or service provider is too far away (5%)
o Intimidated by the garage or service provider (4%)
· Almost a quarter (23%) of motorists say they have purposely skipped a service as the cost was too high
o This was higher for women at 25% versus 21% for men
o This increases for 25-34 and 35-44-year-olds at 29% and 28% respectively
o But decreases for 55+ year-olds at 15%
o This falls for those in Oxford at 14%
o But rises for those in Stafford at 34%
· For those who purposely skipped a service, they also stated the following reasons:
o No noticeable issues with the car (13%)
o Lack of time or inconvenience (12%)
o Forgetting or not keeping track (10%)
o A previous bad experience (6%)
o Lack of trust in service providers (5%)
o The garage or service provider is too far away (5%)
o Intimidated by the garage or service provider (3%)
· Younger generations are likely to budget more at £232 for 17-24-year-olds versus £208 for 45-54 and 55+ year-olds
· Men are more likely to budget slightly more at £220, women less at £204

The data comes from PayByPhone and Censuswide, surveying 2,002 UK car owners UK whose private vehicle is more than 3 years old, looking at habits of car owners and their attitudes to saving for car servicing.

Jonny Combe, CEO of PayByPhone said

“Our research reveals a gap between what UK motorists budget for servicing and the actual costs that they face. The expectations are often different from reality. Motorists are setting aside just £212 on average, versus actual costs which can reach nearly £400. It means vehicle maintenance can create unexpected financial pressure. In fact, over a quarter (29%) of motorists have considered skipping a service due to high costs. From a road safety perspective, nearly a quarter (23%) have actually skipped a service due to costs – a potential indication of the current cost-of-living challenges.

“What’s particularly interesting is that younger drivers are actually more proactive about vehicle maintenance costs, with 17-24-year-olds budgeting £232 on average compared to £208 for over 45s. However, this same group is also more likely to overlook servicing due to costs, particularly in the 25-24 age bracket where more than a third (37%) have considered skipping a service. While younger drivers are trying to be financially prepared and budget in advance, they still face challenges with affordability.

“That’s why PayByPhone has integrated pre-negotiated rates into our new Vehicle Servicing feature, working with our extensive 1Link network to secure better value for motorists of all ages. By providing transparent pricing upfront and offering competitive rates, typically reserved for fleet customers, we’re helping drivers access quality servicing without financial uncertainty. The goal is to help motorists maintain their vehicles safely, and regularly, without the stress of unexpected costs.”