Motoring expert reveals repairs you must do NOW to avoid paying £100s down the line
A MOTOR expert has revealed the top car repairs that you must do NOW to avoid splashing £100s down the line.
When it comes to car maintenance, time is of essence and delaying even a minor repair could come back to bite you.
Chris Jevons, Commercial Director at JTAPE, has shared his best tips to spare you from emptying your pockets for repairs.
He said: “When you notice something on your car that needs to be repaired, replaced or investigated, it isn’t always possible to schedule it to be fixed straight away when you’re busy and need your car to get around.
“But the longer that some repairs are left, the worse it can make the situation worse.”
It comes after the Association of British Insurers (ABI) revealed a staggering 32 per cent rise in repair costs last year.
With fees expected to rise again this year, more cash-strapped motorists are continuing to neglect issues with their vehicles.
But this could dramatically hurt their pockets as a small amount of damage can get significantly worse and lead to more expensive repairs later on.
Jevons said it’s essential to get paint that is peeling, flaking, or cracking fixed as soon as possible.
The longer they remain outside, the more worn down they may get, raising the possibility of serious surface damage that would be far more costly to fix.
The car expert recommends heading to a body shop promptly so they can restore any spots where paint has been damaged.
It’s also crucial to take all reasonable precautions to avoid these flaws, such as routinely washing your car, keeping it out of the sun, and getting rid of any markings or tree sap that can ruin the paint job.
Jevons also added that small chip stones in your windscreens may seem insignificant but could grow into a huge issue later.
You might easily forget about the tiny crack but movement and the weather could boost the pressure in these damaged areas, causing them to grow larger.
These chips and cracks could eventually spread through your window and obstruct your vision while repairs could set you back £100s.
Jevons said: “Smaller cracks in the glass are quicker, easier and much cheaper to repair, so don’t put it off when you notice these issues.”
Full MOT checklist
THIS is the one-stop checklist that will make sure you are prepared to pass your next MOT.
Tyres and wheels – Look out for damage to the sidewall of your tyres and make sure they’re sufficiently inflated.
Use the 20p coin test to make sure your tyres have the right tread depth, which should be 1.6mm all the way around across the central three-quarters of the tread pattern.
The outer edge of a 20p coin will be completely obscured if the tread is deep enough.
Also, be careful space-saver spare tyres could catch you out in the test, so replace them with standard tyres of the right type and size that fit properly before the test.
Lights – Check all of the car’s lights are working properly and are the right colour to pass an MOT test.
Have someone walk around the car and make sure they don’t flicker when tapped which could mean they need tightening or replacing.
This includes headlamps, parking lights, reversing lights, indicators, registration plate bulbs and, on more recent vehicles, daytime running lights.
Wipers and windscreen – Replace wipers that smear because they are probably worn out and top up the washer bottle.
Check your headlight washers if you have any.
Make sure there are no chips or cracks longer than 1cm on your windscreen and remove any stickers that could obstruct your view.
Number plates – Registration plates legally have to be in good condition, tightly fastened to the car and easily read from 20 metres away, so checking these is a must if you want to pass your MOT test.
Doors – Fix any broken doors or ones that don’t stay properly closed.
Front doors need to be openable from inside and out for safety reasons.
General condition – Make sure the exterior of your car is up to scratch.
Any sharp edges or pieces of metal sticking out could cause a danger to other road users and will definitely fail the MOT test.
Inside a car – Your dashboard will pop up with flashing warning lights if anything needs to be fixed under the bonnet like power-steering or brake-fluid warnings.
Make sure you have a fully functioning speedometer or you will fail the MOT test
Fixter, an online car repair service, has revealed 8.5million drivers are refusing to repair their motors because of the cost of living crisis.
As road tax, fuel and insurance costs also continue to rise motorists are constantly looking to save money where they can.
As many as one in five drivers avoid essential repairs like worn brake pads, worn tyres and broken or missing wipers, according to the data.
Fixter’s research found motorists under the age of 24 are most likely to avoid repairing or servicing their cars.
The study also suggested that three in four motorists living in London and the Midlands purposefully space out service intervals to save money.
Nearly half of those asked in a poll said they wouldn’t get their vehicle repaired due to the cost of living crisis.
Meanwhile, a whopping 56 per cent were concerned about how they could afford repairs if their motor suffered a serious breakdown.
It comes after a car expert warned drivers how a popular cleaning hack could cost them hundreds.
And this motor guru shared a newly popular “scam” on Facebook Marketplace that has drivers worried.