One dangerous way Brits are cutting costs is by delaying needed car repairs in the run up to winter
/EINPresswire.com/ 21 November 2011 – UK motorists are increasingly opting to delay important car repairs and servicing despite the fact that winter’s harsh driving conditions are just around the bend. This has been revealed in a new survey from Carrentals.co.uk, the leading online car hire comparator.
More than 2,300 British motorists were interviewed and nearly 40% of them said they were not going to have problems with their cars serviced this winter even though they are aware the problems exist. Drivers stated that money troubles are the main reason since car upkeep is notoriously expensive.
The research also revealed that car insurance is getting trimmed back, with 1 out of 10 having dropped comprehensive cover for more affordable third party cover. Others simply cancelled extras like rescue cover, while 3% confessed they weren’t able to renew their car insurance this year due to expense and are now driving illegally without cover. Another way UK drivers are trimming costs is by going to independent service garages over authorised ones.
Gareth Robinson, managing director of Carrentals.co.uk, says: “The sad reality of the UK’s present economic situation is that many car owners are feeling the need to neglect urgent vehicle repairs or servicing due to a lack of available cash. But the safety of your car is one area that should never be taken for granted.”
“If last year’s winter is anything to go by, the roads in Britain this season will be dangerous. Throw in balding tyres and brakes that don’t work properly and you’ve got a recipe for a deadly accident. It’s true that car upkeep is never cheap, but we strongly urge all car owners to make room in the budget for basic safety needs like brakes, lights and tyres.”
The weeks running up to winter is a great time to give your car a solid once-over. One of the biggest problems for UK motorists is that a surprising number of them fail to take the time for seasonal car inspections. Basics like tyre treads, brake pads and tail lights can be self-monitored in minutes. The Carrentals.co.uk interview found that 8 in 10 drivers didn’t ever check their brakes and 6 in 10 never looked at their tyres either. Even worse, 1 in 10 realised their brakes were dangerously weak but didn’t replace them, and 2 in 10 continued to drive on dangerously bald tyres.
Gareth adds: “The first step in proper car maintenance is to do seasonal inspections of the basic safety parts like the tyres, lights and brakes. But when something turns up in need of replacement it’s essential to take care of it right away, not just for your own safety but for the safety of others using our roads.”
The award winning Carrentals.co.uk is the leading car hire comparison site comparing the best deals from up to 50 rental companies, including Alamo, Auto Europe, Budget, Holiday Autos and Sixt. Travellers can rent a car in over 15,000 locations around the world, including car hire in Tenerife, and car hire in Lanzarote for a winter sun escape.
For more information visit www.carrentals.co.uk.
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About Carrentals.co.uk
Carrentals.co.uk was launched in February 2003 and grew to become one of the UK’s leading online car hire companies by 2006.
In 2007 the company re-launched its site to create the first major online price comparator in the travel industry. Using the latest technology the Carrentals.co.uk site now searches up to 50 different car hire websites, providing an impartial comparison of the best prices available in over 15,000 locations.
Websites searched include Alamo, Auto Europe, Budget, Ebookers, Hertz, Holiday Autos, Opodo, Sixt and Thrifty, with the Carrentals.co.uk site quickly comparing prices and allowing customers to refine their search by car type.
The Carrentals.co.uk site also features over 5,000 pages of travel information in a mini-guide format.
In 2008 Carrentals.co.uk was voted Best Car Hire Website in the Travolution Awards, and in 2010 it was Highly Commended in the Best Meta-search/Price Comparison category. To book or for further information visit www.carrentals.co.uk
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