Post Office: Drivers taking vehicle maintenance risks

Almost half of all car owners have cut corners on repairs and maintenance to save money in the past year, it has been reported.

According to Post Office Car Insurance, 28 per cent have slashed costs to the extent that they could be putting their safety and that of others at risk on the roads.

Some 29 per cent of car owners say they have put off servicing their car to save money in the past 12 months, with this figure rising to 40 per cent among under 30s.

One in five survey respondents said they had asked a friend to fix any problems, fixed it themselves or simply done nothing to address the issue.

Post Office head of car insurance Richard Pennant-Jones said that while the recession is "causing us all to watch our budgets more closely", car safety is one area where cutting corners "could cost you more than you bargained for".

"Failing to maintain your car could even result in it being deemed un-roadworthy and therefore invalidate your insurance," he stated.

Last month, Mike Pickard, head of risk and underwriting at esure car insurance, warned that many motorists were taking risks by failing to take out breakdown cover policies.

According to Saga Motor Insurance, drivers should always check the weather forecast before heading out in their cars.

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2009-12-18 13:38:02 © Moneyextra.com