A minor car repair can turn into a major expense if ignored says a new report which reveals that millions of drivers are risking the long term health of their vehicle by failing to take their car to the garage.

While many of us might not want to consider the sometimes eye-watering repair costs of some unscrupulous local garages, the alternative can often lead to lasting damage says research from Churchill Insurance.

The insurer reckons that there are more than 19 million drivers in the UK who have left their car needing a repair for more than a month, and while 33 per cent polled said that the damage was only cosmetic - a shocking six million admitted that the problem was with their brakes!

Research by Churchill also focused on the mechanics, two-thirds of which said that they see cars every week that have been left for too long with repair, and that the lack of care can cost drivers up to £5,000 in some cases.

“We understand the reasons drivers do not immediately get bumps and scrapes to bodywork repaired as they are probably seen as minor issues and can be expensive to repair,” says Nicholas Mantel, head of motor insurance for Churchill.

“However, minor issues can quickly become major if they are not dealt with. Engine noises which could be sorted out with a £10 oil replacement, for example, could amount to needing a new engine, costing thousands if ignored for too long.

“The research also highlights how drivers are not taking problems with car brakes seriously. Brake failure can lead to road traffic accidents and drivers are putting themselves and the public at high risk,” says Nicholas Mantel.

“While we sympathise with car owners, we recommend tending to even the small issues as quickly as possible, not only to save money and avoid a bigger bill in the future, but also to avoid road accidents or injury.”

Top five reasons for driving with damage or a fault

Reason	%
The problem was only cosmetic	33%
I knew I could get away with driving it despite the damage	20%
I couldn’t afford to fix it	19%
I’ve not been using my car as much during lockdown	14%
I didn’t have time to get the problem fixed	14%

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