A new survey commissioned by Supercheap Auto and compiled by YouGov has found that 64 per cent of Australian drivers are either skipping routine vehicle maintenance or actively considering it. Financial constraints were cited by 43 per cent of respondents as the reason for putting servicing off, in a clear sign that cost-of-living pressure is starting to ripple into safety-critical territory.
The more alarming finding is the confidence gap. Two out of five owners who had delayed or skipped servicing still rated their car as very safe to drive. Among the group that only addressed issues once something went wrong, 49 per cent rated their car as very safe and roadworthy. Confidence is staying high even as actual maintenance is being deferred.
Why this matters more than it sounds
Russel White, managing director of Driver Safety Australia, did not mince words in his response. Confidence does not equal roadworthiness, he said, and when basic maintenance is ignored, the risks can be serious. He listed regular servicing and prompt attention to issues like tyres, brakes and oil levels as essential to keeping vehicles safe.
That is not a marketing pitch from a dealer. It is the road-safety profession openly warning that the cost-of-living version of saving money is starting to compound risk on the roads. We know budgets are tight, White said, but we are urging all drivers to treat vehicle maintenance as a road safety issue, not just a household expense.
There is also a broader cost story embedded in the data. Of respondents who only performed corrective rather than preventative maintenance, one in three admitted to experiencing issues from putting off vehicle care. In other words, skipping maintenance now is often quietly building a much larger repair bill later.
The drivers behind the trend
Supercheap's data shows 27 per cent of vehicle owners found the cost of servicing or parts too high, while 7 per cent said they were prioritising their overall transport budget to cover fuel expenses. Both numbers correlate with broader cost-of-living signals, including a recent survey of 1,077 Australians showing the cost to fill up a Toyota RAV4 is now $28 to $44 more expensive than before.
New car purchasing intentions have also dropped. Roy Morgan data shows new car buying intention has fallen to a five-year low, with Australians delaying big-ticket vehicle decisions during the cost-of-living crunch. The same financial pressure that is killing new car sales is now also dragging down maintenance spend on the cars people already own.
It is an entirely understandable choice in the short term. But, like skipped dental visits, deferred servicing creates a problem that builds quietly and shows up at a worse time, often as a roadside breakdown or a failed brake when you need it most.
What you cannot skip
There are routine items that can safely be stretched a little, and there are items that should never be deferred. The non-negotiables are the safety-critical wear components: brake pads and rotors, tyres at or near the wear bar, steering and suspension joints, and any item flagged on a roadworthy or pink-slip inspection.
Fluids matter too. Engine oil that has lost its viscosity stops protecting bearings, and brake fluid that has absorbed moisture loses its boiling point under hard use. Both will degrade quietly and fail loudly. If you are going to skip anything, do not skip oil or brake-fluid intervals.
Tyres are the cheapest big win. A set of correctly inflated, properly aligned tyres can deliver the equivalent of a brake upgrade on a worn car. They are also typically the first thing service centres flag and the first thing owners ignore, because tyre replacements feel large compared to a normal service bill.
What can wait, with care
Cabin filters, wiper blades and bulbs can usually be pushed by a few months if your budget is genuinely stretched. So can cosmetic items like minor paint touch-ups and interior trim repairs. None of those are safety items, and most can be done at home for the cost of a single coffee and twenty minutes of YouTube.
Major service intervals can occasionally be stretched a little if the manufacturer schedule allows kilometre-based logic. But always read the service book. Capped-price servicing programs frequently void if you miss a window, so the short-term saving can cost you the long-term price guarantee.
If you are buying a used car and the previous owner has clearly skipped intervals, factor that into your offer. Logbook gaps are not just a warranty issue. They are an early signal that wear items have been neglected, and that you will be paying for the previous owner's deferred maintenance shortly after delivery.
The dealer behaviour to watch
Dealer service departments have known about the cost-of-living squeeze for a while, and the smart ones are offering payment plans, fixed-price servicing packages and split-service options. Ask. The list-price service quote is usually negotiable, particularly outside the new-car warranty window.
Independent mechanics often cost 20 to 40 per cent less than dealer service centres for routine work, with no impact on a manufacturer warranty if the work is done to the published service schedule and recorded properly. For out-of-warranty cars, that is the cleanest cost saving available to most owners.
Be wary of dealer upsells under the heading of recommended additional work. Items like full coolant flushes, transmission fluid changes and brake bleeds on healthy fluid can sometimes be reasonable, and sometimes be pure margin. Ask for the manufacturer service schedule in print, and decline anything outside it unless the technician can show you a specific reason.
The wider road-safety picture
The Supercheap survey lands at a time when overall Australian road-safety metrics are softening. Fatal crash numbers in several states are tracking above 2025 levels, and vehicle defects are a small but rising contributing factor in road-incident analysis.
Neither government nor insurer can mandate that you service your car on schedule for non-fleet vehicles. But unroadworthy condition is grounds for both insurance claim denial and police defect notice. Skipping safety items is not just a personal-cost issue. It can also leave you exposed financially if something goes wrong.
For Carseekers shoppers especially, the upshot is simple. Buy the right new or used car for your budget, then build the realistic running cost into the household plan. A cheaper purchase price that requires deferred maintenance to be affordable is not a cheaper car.
The Carseekers take
This is an entirely understandable response to a real cost-of-living problem, and we are not going to lecture anyone for delaying a cabin filter change. But the same survey shows confidence in roadworthiness staying high while actual maintenance is being skipped, and that is the dangerous combination.
If budgets are tight, our advice is to keep the safety-critical items current (brakes, tyres, oil and brake fluid) and look at independent mechanics for the rest. Carseekers buyers comparing new vehicles should also weigh capped-price service plans heavily, because they are the single best way to protect against the cost-of-living squeeze the survey describes.
Considering finance for your next car? Loanseekers can help you explore car loan options.
The finer details
Your questions answered.
Are Australians really skipping car servicing?
Yes. A Supercheap Auto and YouGov survey found 64 per cent of Australian drivers have either skipped routine maintenance or are considering it, with 43 per cent citing financial pressure as the reason. The pattern is strongest among owners who feel confident their car is still safe despite deferring service work.
What car maintenance can I safely delay?
Cabin filters, wiper blades and bulbs can usually be pushed back a few months if budgets are tight, and you can often do them yourself at low cost. Most cosmetic items can also wait. Never delay brake pads, tyres, engine oil or brake fluid changes, which protect safety and core mechanical health.
Will skipping a service void my new car warranty?
Often yes. Most capped-price servicing programs require you to keep within the published schedule, with windows on both kilometres and time. Miss a service and the price guarantee, and sometimes the warranty itself, can be voided. Always read the service book before deferring an interval.
Are independent mechanics cheaper than dealer service centres?
Usually yes, typically by 20 to 40 per cent on routine work. As long as the work is done to the manufacturer's published service schedule and properly recorded in the logbook, it does not affect a manufacturer warranty. Independent mechanics are the cleanest cost saving for out-of-warranty cars.
How does skipping servicing affect my car insurance?
Most comprehensive policies require the vehicle to be in roadworthy condition. If skipped maintenance leads to an unroadworthy fault (worn tyres below the legal tread limit, failed brakes, broken lights) that contributes to a claim, your insurer can deny or reduce the payout. The short-term saving can be expensive.
What is the cheapest way to keep my car safe on a tight budget?
Prioritise tyres, brakes, oil and brake fluid in that order. Use an independent mechanic for routine work. Check tyre pressures fortnightly, which is free and improves both safety and fuel economy. Walk around the car weekly looking for fluid leaks or light failures. Most safety failures show warning signs early if you look.
