Figures from the RAC show that tyres top the list of unexpected motoring costs, experienced by 64% of drivers. About a quarter (24%) pay to correct issues with their brakes.
A further fifth (21%) of drivers surveyed were seemingly victims of Britain’s poor road surfaces, as they had to fork out for new suspension parts such as shock absorbers and springs.
The next-most common unexpected costs were getting new exterior lights fitted (15%), repairing bodywork damage such as dents and scrapes (14%) and having to replace faulty or worn-out batteries.
The RAC has launched a nationwide team of RAC Mobile Mechanics that can repair and service vehicles at customers’ homes or workplaces, saving them having to find a garage to do the job as well as the hassle of dropping off and picking up their vehicles.
Paul Coward, RAC’s spokesperson, said: “Unexpected car repairs are something every driver dreads. This is even more the case for the estimated third of drivers who find it hard to cover these costs. What’s more, we know from long-term RAC research that eight in 10 people depend on their cars, so any time a vehicle is off the road, it can cause huge problems.
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“Our patrols are experts at coming to drivers’ rescue when things go wrong, but not even they can fix every car. Now, with our growing nationwide team of RAC Mobile Mechanics, we can get a wide number of repairs done at homes and workplaces. An RAC patrol simply tows a broken-down vehicle to the member’s home, then books a convenient time and date for a mobile mechanic colleague to carry out the necessary repair.
“The other clear message to drivers is a well-maintained vehicle is far less likely to break down and result in costly unexpected repairs. Servicing it regularly is key, as well as ensuring any advisories in the MOT are addressed before they become illegal or go wrong.”
