Most of us don’t need to be told about the rising costs of motoring. Everything - road tax, fuel prices and insurance cover - is on the increase, yet for motorists who are dependent on their cars for work or because they live in rural areas poorly served by public transport, there is little alternative but to pay up.
But there comes a limit, of course, to what people can realistically afford, and so more and more motorists are attempting to reduce their overall motoring costs by cutting back on expenditure such as car maintenance and breakdown cover.

Ford has conducted a survey recently where it found that 18% of UK drivers interviewed had no breakdown cover at all, while 15% had skipped or postponed routine servicing of their car in order to save money. 

This situation seems worst among younger drivers: 35% of 18 to 24 year olds and 28% of 25 to 34 year olds forego any roadside assistance, such as the AA or RAC, with drivers in London most likely (22%) to have faith in their vehicle. 

This is despite the fact that separate research for consumer group Which? found that one in six motorists experience a breakdown at least once a year.

Statistics can be made to prove anything but whereas it might be argued that forking out annually for roadside assistance, while being desirable, is not a necessity, regular servicing of a car is something none of us should skimp on. We should all make regular checks of the basics such as depth of tyre tread and tyre pressures, along with the oil and coolant level. And in the summer when your windscreen gets plastered with dead flies, make sure your screen wash is topped up as well. Oh yes, and make sure you clean your headlamps.

But there are other things which need regular checking as well and that is where a routine service comes into play. Things such as brakes, brake pipes and suspension all need looking at and you can only do that with the car up on a ramp. Servicing doesn’t have to cost the earth either. Forget main dealers and find yourself a good, reliable local garage with a solid reputation. Ask around - word of mouth is by far the best recommendation every time. And these smaller businesses have to work harder to get and keep customers, so you are more likely to get good service from them.

A properly serviced car will run more efficiently and give you better mileage so it pays in the long run to have it looked at at least twice a year, or more if you cover a lot of miles. I get mine checked at the beginning of winter and the beginning of summer each year, and try to make sure that one of them comes just before the MoT test is due, that way any problems are highlighted in advance.

We are all dependent on our cars in one way or another, and the best way to ensure they don’t let us down, but also help to keep our overall motoring costs to a minimum, is to look after them.