Data reveals motorists neglect maintenance and a quarter fear winter
Motorists risk breakdowns this winter by failing to carry out regular wear and tear maintenance checks on their vehicles, eBay research reveals
A quarter of drivers only check their tyre pressure every three months, while 11% leave it a whole year between checks of their tyre tread
One in four UK drivers do not feel comfortable tackling the roads during wintery conditions
eBay is offering motorists up to 20% discount on essential winter items until the 28th February
British motorists driving over the winter months could be at risk of potential problems, after research from eBay revealed a significant number of drivers are neglecting basic car maintenance tasks.
The data, from one of the UK’s leading online automotive marketplaces, found that one in four (25%) of drivers only checked their tyre pressure on a quarterly basis, while 11% admitted to only checking their tyre tread on a yearly basis. At the same time almost two fifths (19%) of motorists only check their brakes when their car is due its annual service or MOT.
Meanwhile, eBay’s research shows that only around a quarter of people regularly monitor their washer fluid (28%) or oil levels (23%) each month, with 5% saying that they never check their vehicle’s oil and 16% stating they only fill up their car’s washer fluid specifically with antifreeze washer fluid once every year.
In addition, many are reluctant to tackle UK roads in the more dangerous winter months. In fact, a quarter (25%) of respondents admitted that they are not comfortable driving their car in winter conditions, with one in 10 (10%) respondents feeling that their car was not adequately prepared for driving in wintery conditions at all. Ten percent of all cars on UK roads equates to more than 3.3 million vehicles, as of April to June 2023.
Some shoppers have already been stocking up on key winter essentials, with car windscreen covers and heated car seat cushions the fourth and fifth most sold products on eBay Parts and Accessories in November and December 2024. With a huge breadth and scale of essential parts and accessories, eBay is a one stop shop for everything motorists need for hitting the roads during the colder months.
Abir Tewari, UK Director Commercial Operations Parts & Accessories at eBay, said: “With the British winter firmly here to stay for at least the next two months, it’s vital that motorists carry out some of the key basic maintenance checks. From tyre tread and pressure to brake disc wear and oil levels, these are the kind of easy bits of maintenance that prevent motorists finding themselves stranded on the side of a motorway, or worse.”