F&I Management & Training

Hundreds of hard-up motorists are putting themselves at risk by failing to take their cars in for their annual services - because they can't afford the cost, HiQ has claimed.

The leading fast fit network has revealed that 36 per cent of drivers opted against paying for a service, relying instead on their cars passing their MOTs in a penny saving measure.

But in doing so, they are often being hit harder in the pocket and leaving themselves in danger, because many vehicles fail with serious faults.

HiQ commercial manager Farrell Dolan said the ongoing economic downturn was playing a big part in motorists' decisions to opt out of taking annual services.

He said: "Due to the recent tough times that our consumers have had in the last year the normal vehicle servicing has been neglected due to the costs involved.

"Relying on the MOT has been how a lot of motorists have been judging their vehicle performance.

"This has meant that we are seeing a lot more vehicles arriving with major faults and minor faults that would have been picked up on a normal service--battery condition and the condition of the terminals are part of the service.

"Above all of this, people are putting their own safety in jeopardy if they are aren't taking their car service, as a fault may arise which is not picked up for weeks or even months, before the MOT is due."