Nearly one in four Victorian motorists say they cannot afford to service their vehicle when it is due, with younger drivers and lower-income households facing the greatest pressure, according to new research.
A Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) survey found the figure rises to one in three among drivers aged under 35 and households earning less than $90,000 a year. It falls to 12% among motorists aged over 55.
Three in 10 Victorians have delayed a service specifically to save money, while 13% have driven with visible vehicle damage and 11% have continued driving despite suspecting something was wrong.
VACC chief executive Peter Jones says cost-of-living pressures are changing how motorists maintain their vehicles.
“Victorians aren’t neglecting their cars because they don’t care — they’re being squeezed,” Jones says.
“When a third of young drivers and a third of lower-income households tell us they can’t afford a service, that’s a cost-of-living story with a road-safety tail.”
The survey found delaying maintenance can lead to higher costs, with 21% of those who put off a repair later facing a larger bill than expected.
Another 16% required more serious repairs and 8% subsequently broke down.
Despite the financial pressure, 92% of respondents consider regular servicing important and 80% try to stay on top of vehicle maintenance.
Unexpected repair costs are a concern for 37% of Victorian motorists, rising to 47% among those aged under 35 and 49% of single-parent families.
Only 20% have a dedicated vehicle servicing budget, while 27% do not budget for maintenance at all.
Jones says motorists struggling with costs should discuss their options with repairers rather than avoiding maintenance.
“Transparent, upfront pricing and a plain-English explanation of what’s essential go a long way. We’d urge anyone doing it tough to talk to their mechanic about priorities rather than skipping a service and hoping for the best.”
VACC is encouraging motorists to prioritise safety-critical items including brakes, tyres, steering and suspension.
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