Costly living pressures putting families in danger on our roads

There’s no doubt that the cost-of-living crisis is hitting hard.

Grocery bills have increased by $3,000 a year and electricity costs are up by 9.7 per cent since July 2025.

To keep their heads above water, many Aussies are cutting costs wherever they can, from staying in to watch a movie rather than heading to the cinema, putting their family holiday on hold, and switching food brands or even grocery stores to do their weekly shop.

But there’s another money-saving method many Aussies are using, and while it may save money in the short term, it could cost you long-term.

From bald tyres to neglected brake pads, new research from Finder has found Australians are struggling to keep up with car maintenance due to cash flow problems. The result is thought to be so bad that thousands of cars on Aussie roads wouldn’t pass a basic roadworthy check.

A worrying 24% of Australian motorists have avoided taking their car in for a scheduled service due to financial constraints.

That’s 4.8 million drivers who have been unable to afford basic car maintenance.

The research found that women (30%) are more likely than men (18%) to have let their vehicle fall into disrepair due to financial reasons.

“With the cost of living through the roof, car maintenance is sliding down the priority list for many households,” said Tim Bennett, car insurance expert at Finder.

Bennett said that for many Australians, a car is one of their biggest expenses after housing costs.

“The rising cost of maintenance, fuel, and insurance is making it more expensive than ever to keep a car on the road,” he told carsales.

Car maintenance often goes hand in hand with regular servicing, which is usually recommended every six or 12 months, depending on the vehicle manufacturer.

While this may seem like something harmless to skip (especially if your car seems to be running smoothly), it is essential to maintaining your vehicle’s health and value.

It can also pick up on issues (minor and major) you may not have realised are there, which are much cheaper and safer to fix earlier rather than later, says Bennett.

“Skipping regular servicing might save you time and money now, but it can lead to bigger problems down the road, from costly repairs to safety hazards,” he said.

“Small issues can turn into big ones – a cheap fix, like a cracked hose or dirty filter, can turn into an expensive repair if left unchecked.”

It can also cause your car’s value to drop.

“Skipping services can void warranties, leaving drivers to cover major repairs themselves while cars with incomplete service histories drop in value and are harder to sell,” Bennett said.

“In some cases, you could be denied a car insurance claim if a car was found to be in disrepair.”

In addition to the financial implications, skipping services can also be a risk to road safety.

“Driving a rundown car with things like bad brakes, worn suspension, or dodgy steering is a recipe for disaster,” Bennett explained.

“It could seriously affect how well your car handles, especially in an emergency.”

As well as services, replacing bald tyres has been another way Aussies have tried to save money. But like servicing, this is essential to your safety.

 “If you’re not replacing your tyres regularly enough, you’re risking a lot. Reduced grip on the road, longer stopping distances and even blowouts that could leave you in a dangerous situation,” said Bennett.

Tyres should be replaced, on average, every four to five years, or 40,000 kilometres, if they have insufficient tread, if they have cracks, bulges, or blisters, or if something is embedded in them.

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