Cash strapped young drivers are most likely to delay necessary repairs or tyre replacements on financial grounds.
A poll for the RAC found 25% of those under 25 and 21% of drivers in the 25-44 age group say they have done so, compared to just 5% of drivers aged 65 and older.
Among drivers of all ages, 3% have deliberately avoided their MOT, a legal requirement which guarantees that the vehicle is fit to be on the road.
And 7% admit they’ve failed to replace worn out tyres, which is breaking the law if they fall below the 1.6mm minimum.
Last year around 10,000 drivers received penalty points on their licenses for driving unroadworthy vehicles with defective brakes, tyres, steering or other problems.
More than half of drivers (60%) said the cost of maintaining and repairing their car had increased over the past 12 months.
Almost a third (32%) of drivers are worried about the cost of maintaining their vehicle, according to the RAC’s annual Report on Motoring, the bellwether of driver issues.
This represents a sharp rise from 25% just a year ago, underlining how quickly the issue is escalating.
The situation is only likely to be exacerbated by the squeeze on household finances caused by soaring petrol and diesel costs; a tank of petrol now costs £89 compared to £74 a year ago, while a tank of diesel costs £100 compared to £79 a year ago.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said, “It’s concerning that so many drivers appear to be risking breaking the law by not having a valid MOT or driving on bald tyres.
“With the average repair bill climbing to almost £700, it’s little wonder that so many people are finding it difficult to make ends meet. But kicking the can down the road and delaying repairs to your vehicle or putting them off altogether is a false economy. Often, it makes the problem worse, which can lead to a more expensive bill down the line.
“More importantly, it may mean that your vehicle is unsafe and illegal to drive. Bald tyres drastically increase the risk of a collision as they increase stopping distances, and are at greater risk of unexpected blowouts.
