British motorists are being forced off roads as a result of unplanned repairs, as drivers risk catastrophic issues in an attempt to save money.
New research from the RAC has found that almost four in 10 drivers have had their vehicles off the road for more than a day due to unplanned repairs over the last year.
It comes as the average car across the UK is older than 10 years old, potentially heightening the risk of more frequent repairs.
Over a third of drivers who were forced off the road stated that it was for no more than a day, while more than two-thirds of people spent two or more days without their vehicle.
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Concerningly, 13 per cent of people were left without their vehicle for a week or more as unplanned repairs caused them to be off the road.
This can have serious consequences for motorists, with people needing their vehicles to travel to work, attend medical appointments, or pick their children up from school.
An overwhelming majority of people described not having their car as "inconvenient", while 45 per cent said it was "very inconvenient".
It can also be frustrating to be without their cars for different demographics of people, including the elderly and those living in rural areas.
RAC data shows that many drivers feel frustrated when they do not have access to their vehicles
|GETTY
More than half of drivers outside of urban areas said their main car being out of service was "very inconvenient" while repairs were taking place.
In comparison, just 39 per cent of motorists living in the suburbs or on the edges of towns had the same reaction.
Nick Mullender, mobile servicing and repairs team leader at the RAC, highlighted how the cost of living crisis could influence the time people hold on to their vehicles.
He added: "Keeping a car longer can definitely make sense financially, but it doesn’t come without risks, especially if you choose to scrimp on servicing, maintenance and repairs.
Experts have called on drivers to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy
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"Servicing cars at the correct interval and fixing issues as they arise is by far and away the best advice."
He acknowledged that drivers may not want to remain off the road, but warned that this could lead to serious repair issues further down the line.
The expert described it as drivers "running the financial gauntlet", as they could be forced off the road for an even longer period of time when they go "spectacularly wrong".
As the winter months close in, drivers could be involved in more accidents or encounter an increased number of hazards compared to lighter months.
The RAC has a nationwide network of Mobile Mechanics
| RACDrivers have also complained that repair prices in recent months and years have spiralled, with motorists preferring to save money, even if that puts their vehicle and own safety at risk.
The RAC's Mobile Mechanics service has attracted significant interest in recent years as drivers seek to minimise the time they spend away from their vehicles.
Last year, the RAC saw interest in the service quadruple to almost 100,000, with mechanics able to visit people at home or work to assess the car, rather than having to take it to a garage.
Mr Mullender added: "No doubt this is related to just how important cars are to people's lives – a point underlined by this year's RAC Report on Motoring research, which once again shows eight-in-10 drivers would struggle to get by without access to a vehicle."