Comparator’s latest research shows drivers taking risks on essential checks even as winter weather kicks in
The latest research carried out by leading car hire comparator Carrentals.co.uk has shown that many motorists are taking chances with their lives to save money. The survey, which took in the views of more than 2,300 drivers, found that 1 in 3 have postponed car servicing due to costs and 1 in 5 admit to not changing worn tyres even though the snowy winter weather is on the horizon.
The poll was commissioned to gather drivers’ views on their car-related expenditure given the continuing state of the economy. Carrentals.co.uk also reports that more than 1 in 10 drivers have recently altered a car insurance policy from comprehensive cover to third party cover as a cost-cutting measure.
60% of motorists polled admitted to not having tyres inspected ahead of the icy road threat in winter and more than 80% also neglect having their brakes inspected due to costs.
A further 10% of drivers confessed that they have put off having brakes and brake pads changed as a cost-cutting measure too – putting both themselves and other motorists at risk.
Gareth Robinson, managing director of Carrentals.co.uk, says: “We appreciate that people need to cut costs wherever possible nowadays but skimping on motoring safety can impact not just on them but also on other road users.”
“UK roads can be very treacherous in the winter so people should be careful where they cut expenditure. There are other areas where people can cut costs which don’t impact on their safety when on the roads.”
Almost 1 in 3 admitted to having changed to a car model which costs less to run and maintain recently while more than 56% say they’ve changed car servicing provider from an authorised source to a cheaper private company to save.
Car rescue is another area being cut back on with 1 in 10 respondents admitting to having cancelled their cover in the past year. The poll also showed that 3% of people have got behind the wheel when uninsured because they were short of money at policy renewal time.
“It is a concern just how many people are making such swingeing cuts to their car expenditure,” Gareth went on. “For many people a car is a vital element of daily life but cutting back on maintenance costs to save money is a really dangerous habit to get into.”
The award winning Carrentals.co.uk is the leading car hire comparison site comparing the best deals from up to 50 rental companies, including Alamo, Auto Europe, Budget, Holiday Autos and Sixt. Travellers can rent a car in over 15,000 locations around the world, including car hire in Tenerife, and car hire in Lanzarote for a winter sun escape.
For more information visit www.carrentals.co.uk.
/ends.
About Carrentals.co.uk
Carrentals.co.uk was launched in February 2003 and grew to become one of the UK’s leading online car hire companies by 2006.
In 2007 the company re-launched its site to create the first major online price comparator in the travel industry. Using the latest technology the Carrentals.co.uk site now searches up to 50 different car hire websites, providing an impartial comparison of the best prices available in over 15,000 locations.
Websites searched include Alamo, Auto Europe, Budget, Ebookers, Hertz, Holiday Autos, Opodo, Sixt and Thrifty, with the Carrentals.co.uk site quickly comparing prices and allowing customers to refine their search by car type.
The Carrentals.co.uk site also features over 5,000 pages of travel information in a mini-guide format.
In 2008 Carrentals.co.uk was voted Best Car Hire Website in the Travolution Awards, and in 2010 it was Highly Commended in the Best Meta-search/Price Comparison category. To book or for further information visit www.carrentals.co.uk
