Motorists skipping car service to save cash

More than 750,000 UK car owners are skipping their annual car service to save money, according to new research from online insurer swiftcover.com.

The research found that almost two thirds (61%) of motorists are actively looking to cut back on their motoring costs this year. A third of car owners surveyed said they would simply drive less to reduce costs.

Furthermore, 1.5 million motorists surveyed said they are resorting to buying 6- rather than 12-month tax discs - saving them money in the short term but costing them more over the course of a year.

However, the findings showed that many pensioners are saving money on motoring costs by using their cars less - taking advantage of free bus travel instead. 20% of over-65s surveyed admitted to leaving their car at home in favour of public transport.

A spokesperson for debt management company Gregory Pennington said: "Though it`s encouraging to see people making an effort to save, motorists should be aware of the long-term financial risks - and the risk to lives - that can result from cutting back on servicing their vehicles."