According to a recent survey from FinanceBuzz, over half of American adults knowingly put off vehicle maintenance, the Staten Island Advance reports.
The survey showed that 64% of respondents–representing around 165 million drivers–know that their vehicles need maintenance but have not taken action.
The most common tasks that drivers were overlooking were “oil changes (28%), tire replacements (17%), ‘check engine’ lights (17%), wheel alignments (16%) and getting their brakes checked (16%).”
Additionally, 46% of respondents reported that they had paid for repairs that they believed could have been avoided by keeping up with maintenance.
“If nearly half of those surveyed have had to pay for an avoidable repair due to negligent car maintenance, why do so many people put repairs off for so long? And why are so many people driving around while being fully aware of issues with their cars?” Josh Koebert of FinanceBuzz said. “The answer is most likely a simple and obvious one: money.”
This statement is affirmed by the survey, which found that 58% of American adults cannot afford a repair over $1,000. 33% reported not being able to afford a repair of more than $500, representing a third of those surveyed.
