Uswitch recently investigated the most commonly ignored car issues and why drivers are reluctant to fix them straight away.
Continuing to drive a vehicle after identifying a fault can be a safety hazard and in serious cases even result in legal repercussions. Despite this, nearly three in five (57%) car owners admitted to driving their vehicle after noticing a defect.
The issues most commonly ignored
Tyres
Among those who continued driving despite observing faults, over half (53%) cited tyre-related issues. From September 2023 to 2024, over 8,000 motorists were convicted for driving with defective tyres.
This offence can result in 3 penalty points and even a fine of up to £2,500 (per tyre). Defective tyres pose a risk to safety as they make it difficult to control or stop the car and increase the risk of skidding, which can cause accidents.
Wipers and windshields
While malfunctioning wipers and a damaged windshield may appear to be superficial flaws, they could impair the driver’s visibility.
The Road Vehicles Regulations state that you should not drive if you don’t have a full view of the road ahead. Doing so can obstruct your view of oncoming traffic, hazards and traffic lights, increasing the risk of accidents. If you’re caught, you could face a £1000 fine and receive three penalty points on your licence.
Lights
Faulty lights are also frequently ignored by drivers. If caught on the road with a faulty or broken light, you would likely receive a warning in the form of a ‘vehicle defect rectification notice’ and have to provide proof of rectifying the issue within 14 days[5], or risk prosecution.
Working lights are crucial to help drivers see what’s in front of them and for other road users to see them, particularly in situations of reduced visibility like at night or during bad weather.
Repairs cost time and money
Time and money were the biggest hurdles for car owners who continued to drive after noticing faults with their vehicle.
The main reasons flagged were drivers being in the process of arranging the repair (38%), needing to save up before they could afford it (10%), and not realising the fault was a serious problem (10%).
