New research has found that almost a fifth of drivers are unaware they could face fines for driving with vehicle damage.
A survey conducted by Auction4Cars.com asked 2,000 UK motorists how much they know about the penalties for driving a damaged car, and if they had ever been behind the wheel of a car that needed significant repairs.
The data found that 5% of drivers are delaying car repairs in 2026 due to mounting costs. Based on the number of licensed cars on UK roads, Auction4Cars predicts this could represent over 1.7 million motorists driving a damaged car at present.
Worryingly, the most common damaged car issue motorists had knowingly driven with was one or more tyres having low pressure. A total of 34% of those surveyed admitted to this, while 32% said they had used a vehicle with a chipped or cracked windscreen.
These two issues were far ahead of those with broken or ineffective windscreen wipers, making up 19% of responses. A damaged exhaust accounted for 16%, while worn brakes were cited by 16% of those surveyed.
Serious issue with damaged cars
This was ahead of the 10% that said they had driven with illegal tyre tread, meaning 22% of drivers admitted to driving a vehicle in a serious condition overall. This highlights the continued need for garages to have conversations with customers over their vehicle safety.
In the survey, 36% said they knew the law and would get their vehicle repaired immediately if it had incurred damage. However, 18% were not aware they could be fined due to the condition of their vehicle.
Cost was cited as an issue for motorists when it came to avoiding repairs to damaged cars, with 5% of motorists admitting to continuing to drive their damaged vehicle until they were able to afford to get it fixed.
A further 4% (equivalent to over 1.3 million drivers) said they knew they could be fined but tried to repair their car themselves, raising concerns around the number of car owners who might be completing unsafe DIY fixes instead of seeking professional repairs.
“As motorists continue to be squeezed, it’s easy to see why drivers might be tempted to overlook getting their vehicle repaired. However, it’s essential to keep themselves and other road users safe,” said John Hood, General Manager at Auction4Cars.com.
“While car repairs can be an unwelcome expense, the reality is it’s often a lot cheaper to get the problem fixed as soon as possible before the issue gets worse. Not to mention, if you are fined, this could stretch into thousands in addition to the cost of the repair.
“To keep your car in running order, regularly complete your car maintenance and book in with a garage for anything that needs a professional look over.”
