Cost of living pressures are causing Australian motorists to delay essential car maintenance, according to a new report, potentially putting their safety at risk.

The data, commissioned by Supercheap Auto and compiled by market research firm YouGov (which, despite its name, is not a government-affiliated entity), shows that Australian motorists are increasingly considering delaying or avoiding vehicle upkeep.

The data reveals that 64 per cent of Australian drivers have, or are considering, skipping routine vehicle maintenance. Financial constraints were cited by 43 per cent of respondents as the reason for putting car servicing off.

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Alarmingly, two out of five vehicle owners who had delayed or skipped regular maintenance remained very confident that their vehicles were still safe to drive and in roadworthy condition. 

Owners who forgo regular maintenance and only deal with issues once something goes wrong had an even higher confidence in the roadworthiness of their vehicles, with 49 per cent responding that they were very confident in the safety and roadworthiness of their cars.

Of those respondents who only performed corrective, rather than preventative upkeep, one in three admitted to experiencing issues from putting off vehicle care.

Russel White, the managing director of consultancy and driver training firm Driver Safety Australia, voiced concerns over the data in a statement.

“Confidence doesn’t equal roadworthiness, and when basic maintenance is ignored, the risks can be serious,” White said.

“Regular servicing and prompt attention to issues like tyres, brakes and oil levels are essential to keeping vehicles safe and preventing avoidable incidents … We know budgets are tight, but we’re urging all drivers to treat vehicle maintenance as a road safety issue, not just a household expense.” 

Supercheap’s data also revealed that 27 per cent of vehicle owners found the cost of servicing or parts too high, with 7 per cent reporting that they were prioritising their overall transport budget to cover fuel expenses.