One in four drivers find getting their vehicles repaired or serviced a hassle, according to damning new research.
The study reveals that 27 per cent of motorists consider vehicle maintenance inconvenient, with the time taken to drop off and pick up at garages being their biggest complaint.
For those who find servicing a pain, more than two-thirds cite the journey to and from the garage as their top frustration.
This ranks significantly higher than the time spent without their vehicle, which was mentioned by 47 per cent of these drivers.
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Many drivers could face further repair bills if they continue to avoid getting their cars checked
GETTY
Not knowing how long a car will be at a garage is also a clear annoyance, cited by four-in-ten drivers who find servicing troublesome.
The research also shows a stark generational divide in attitudes towards vehicle maintenance, with drivers aged 17 to 44 far more likely to view servicing as a major inconvenience, with 38 per cent seeing it as a hassle. This compares to just 15 per cent of those aged 65 to 74 who report similar frustrations.
Rural residents face particular challenges when seeking vehicle repairs, with more than a third of all drivers needing to travel five or more miles to reach a garage, but this figure jumps to 48 per cent for those living in rural locations.
An estimated 2.4 million drivers face journeys exceeding 20 miles to reach a garage. For rural motorists, this long-distance travel burden is even greater, with 10 per cent needing to travel over 20 miles for vehicle servicing.
One respondent lamented: "Nowhere has a courtesy car I can use while mine is being serviced, so I have to take a day off work and wait at the garage while my car is serviced, which takes more than three hours. Not how I'd choose to spend a day off!"
These additional time and financial costs represent a significant inconvenience for many vehicle owners.
The frustrations associated with garage visits may explain why almost a fifth of drivers don't always service their vehicles on time.
Financial constraints also play a significant role, with 45 per cent of those who skip professional servicing citing lack of funds as the reason.
Paul Coward, RAC chief executive of mobile servicing and repairs, said: "Simply put, keeping on top of servicing and repairing a vehicle is the best way to avoid it breaking down in the future.
"But it’s clear there are some common factors that conspire against us getting our cars looked at as soon as we should.
"Whether it’s the difficulty of finding a slot at a garage, a lack of courtesy cars, or the time we have to take out of our days to get to and from a garage, there’s certainly a degree of 'repairs rigmarole' involved that drivers would probably like to do without."
He adds that poorly maintained vehicles with incomplete service histories are worth less when sold.
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The RAC has a nationwide network of mobile mechanics
RAC
The nationwide network of RAC mechanics can complete servicing and repairs at customers' homes or workplaces.
The service eliminates the need to visit a garage, saving drivers valuable time and reducing inconvenience.
