Is servicing my car essential?

In austere times, it’s only natural that householders will look to reduce monthly expenditure anyway they can. But how far should our cost-cutting go? When it comes to our essentials such as insurances and motoring bills, cutting them out altogether is likely to leave us at risk of bigger outlays in the future.

Here at M&BM Motors we are an independent car garage and we say it’s far better to seek out the most affordable car servicing packages rather than cutting this cost completely as it will ensure your vehicle will last longer with less costly maintenance problems. Also, when it comes to selling your vehicle, a full service history will help you maximise its sale value.

Unfortunately, a new study shows many people are choosing to ignore their car health check responsibilities altogether rather than shopping around for affordable car servicing. Motoring organisation the AA has found that 8% of motorists don’t bother to get their car serviced on a regular basis, instead just fixing problems as and when they occur. A further 12% of these motorists have put back or ignored a service to save money and 30% only book in for a standard annual service rather than opting for a more comprehensive examination of the vehicle.

The AA surveyed 21,510 of its members and found those in Wales and the South-West were the most likely to avoid having their car serviced at all.

As well as helping to prevent breakdowns, regular car servicing will also ensure your vehicle is safe for you and your family. According to the AA’s survey, 13% of motorists allow their tyres to wear down to the legal limit rather than switch them before this. Poor tyre thread can be extremely dangerous, especially during adverse weather conditions, and putting off replacement will not only leave you at risk of breaking the law but of also having an accident.

Servicing doesn’t have to be expensive. Local garages can offer a more affordable car servicing deal than mainstream dealerships and what’s more, they’re likely to offer lower labour/parts costs if your vehicle requires any work. Independent garages are also more likely to offer a personal service in which you can meet the mechanic working on your vehicle and gain confidence and trust in the repairs undertaken. The AA’s study found 30% of motorists have changed to a cheaper garage for more affordable car servicing.

Here at M&BM Motors we provide servicing/MOTs for all makes and models. We’re a family run business, which has more than 30 years’ experience in car servicing, can be contacted on 01375 379401 for a quote.