Four in ten motorists fear they can’t afford their next MOT and half of them admit they would continue to drive their car anyway, new research has found.
The Halfords research, which was carried out in partnership with the charity Family Action, found that nearly 40 per cent of drivers believe that they cannot afford their next MOT or think it would be too expensive.
Some 45 per cent of them admitted that they intend to carry on driving without one.
Meanwhile, five million drivers across the UK admitted that they have been driving without a valid MOT certificate in the past year.
The study also revealed that four in five motorists are concerned about at least one motoring-related cost in the next 12 months.
The top three worries for drivers are fuel (62 per cent), repairs (43 per cent) and insurance (40 per cent).
Chris Lunn of Halfords Autocentres, said: “The findings raise serious concerns about the ability of Brits to afford key, safety-related, motoring expenses like MOTs, as well as the potential dangers this could lead to in the form of millions of cars on our roads without an MOT certificate.
“Those struggling to make ends meet are most likely to not be able to afford their MOT – but for this group, it could lead to a dangerous cycle of poverty.
“Not having an MOT puts them at risk of losing their car, and therefore their job, making their financial situation far worse.”o
