Your car needs an oil change. You know this. You’ve been meaning to book it in for weeks. But every time you think about the cost, something else pulls your attention. The mortgage. Groceries. Fuel. And so you put it off another few weeks. You’re not alone.
A recent study has shown something that most Australian drivers probably already sense: we’re increasingly delaying maintenance on our cars just to survive the cost-of-living squeeze. The latest data reveals that nearly half of all drivers now put off at least one maintenance task, and the numbers are climbing. What’s more concerning is why this is happening, and what it means for your safety on the road.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Two years ago, 35% of Australian drivers reported delaying at least one maintenance task. Today, that number has jumped to 47%. Almost half. Think about that for a second. A few years of rising fuel costs, higher registration fees, and stretched budgets have changed how we think about keeping our cars in working order.
The pressure isn’t spread evenly across the population. Younger drivers are feeling it hardest. Nearly eight in ten Gen Z drivers are putting off maintenance, and three-quarters of Millennials are doing the same. That compares to just 37% of Baby Boomers. The difference is simple: younger Australians are driving much more, and they’re spending a much larger chunk of their income on it. Almost three times as many Gen Z and Millennials spend over 600 dollars a month running a car compared to older generations.
When Budget Becomes the Deciding Factor
More than half of all Australians say they’re spending more on car-related costs than they were a year ago. Fuel, registration, insurance, loan repayments. These aren’t optional expenses. You need your car to get to work, drop kids at school, visit the doctor. The car isn’t a luxury anymore. It’s basic infrastructure for getting through life.
But here’s where it gets tricky. When your budget gets tighter and your car needs work, something has to give. For many drivers, that something is maintenance. The cost of an oil change feels like it can wait. A tyre check seems less urgent when money is tight. An annual service feels like an extravagance.
What Drivers Are Actually Skipping
According to the research, the top three items being deferred are consistently the same across both survey periods:
- Car cleaning – It’s easy to push this back when there’s not enough money.
- Tyre replacement – This one worries safety experts. Worn tyres don’t stop as well, especially in wet weather.
- Oil changes – Skip a few oil changes and you can feel like you’re stretching your money further. For a while, anyway.
What’s interesting, according to Youi insurance data, is that drivers aren’t just delaying maintenance for financial reasons alone. A bigger proportion now believe that skipping maintenance ‘doesn’t affect drivability’. That justification has climbed from 20% to 29% in just two years. It’s not just about saving money anymore. It’s about convincing yourself that it doesn’t really matter.
The Safety Issue Nobody’s Talking About
Here’s the thing: skipping maintenance isn’t actually a harmless trade-off. It might feel that way in the short term. You don’t get a flat tyre the week after you skip a tyre rotation. The car doesn’t suddenly stop running because you skipped an oil change.
But maintenance exists for a reason. That reason is usually safety. Worn tyres lose grip. Low oil damages your engine. Brake fluid that’s been sitting unchanged becomes contaminated. These aren’t emotional or aesthetic concerns. They’re engineering realities.
The people who run cars understand this. Paul Maric, who runs one of Australia’s biggest car advice platforms, puts it directly: delayed maintenance is one of the biggest hidden risks we’re facing right now. Those small issues that don’t seem urgent today become expensive, serious problems later. The brake service you skipped becomes a brake failure. The engine that ran fine for a year on old oil fails suddenly on a motorway.
Regular Servicing Is Becoming Rare
The decline in deferred maintenance has a mirror image: fewer drivers are getting regular servicing done at all. Two years ago, 46% of Australian drivers serviced their car every six months or more. Today, that’s down to 32%. Meanwhile, the number of drivers servicing less than once a year has more than doubled, from 7% to 16%.
Younger drivers are still servicing more regularly than older drivers, which is good. But even they’re dropping off. In 2024, 48% of Gen Z and 40% of Millennials serviced their car twice a year. Today, those numbers are 34% and 38%. They’re struggling harder to keep up with maintenance while their need to drive remains just as high.
Why Skipping Maintenance Today Costs More Tomorrow
This is where the real cost emerges. Deferring maintenance feels like you’re saving money. And you are, in the short term. An oil change costs 80 to 150 dollars. A new set of tyres costs 400 to 1000 dollars. When you’re stretched financially, you put it off.
But a seized engine from oil starvation costs several thousand dollars. A brake failure is dangerous and expensive. A blown transmission because you didn’t service it regularly means you’re looking at 5000 to 10000 dollars. The false economy of deferred maintenance eventually reverses itself. You end up spending far more money to fix what could have been prevented with cheap, regular maintenance.
This matters even more if your car is essential to your life. If you rely on your car to get to work, a breakdown isn’t just an inconvenience. It’s lost income. It’s stress. It’s potentially unsafe.
Getting the Balance Right When Every Dollar Counts
The research tells us something important: for most Australians, car ownership isn’t optional. We can’t just decide not to drive. So the question becomes: how do you maintain your car when money is tight?
The answer isn’t to ignore maintenance. It’s to prioritise it differently:
- Stay on top of the essentials first. Oil changes, tyre checks, brake fluid. These are the non-negotiables. If you have to choose what to defer, don’t choose these.
- Spread the cost out. Some mechanics offer payment plans. Some services can be bundled. Figure out what works for your budget.
- Look for cheaper ways to stay current. Regular cleaning and checking your own fluids costs almost nothing and keeps your car healthier.
Consider your insurance options carefully. A good car insurance policy can protect you against some unexpected costs, but it doesn’t replace maintenance.
Common Questions About Car Maintenance and Costs
How often should I service my car if I’m driving on a tight budget?
Most cars need servicing every 6 to 12 months, depending on age and condition. Don’t skip more than 12 months, even if money is tight. The cost of a service is far less than the cost of engine damage.
What’s the most important maintenance task I absolutely can’t skip?
Oil changes. Your engine needs clean oil to run. Running on old, dirty oil damages the engine and costs thousands to repair. This is the non-negotiable one.
Can I do some maintenance tasks myself to save money?
Some tasks like checking and topping up fluids, cleaning the car, and checking tyre pressure are easy and safe to do yourself. Major work like brakes, suspension, or engine work should go to a mechanic.
Is tyre maintenance really necessary if the tyres look fine?
Yes. Worn tyres have less grip, especially in rain. They also wear unevenly, which makes the problem worse faster. Tyre rotations and replacements are safety items, not optional luxury.
What happens if I break down due to skipped maintenance. Am I covered?
Most standard car insurance policies don’t cover breakdowns caused by poor maintenance. Some policies offer roadside assistance that helps regardless, but you’ll usually pay the repair costs yourself.
Final Thoughts
The research is clear. Nearly half of all Australian drivers are now delaying maintenance, and the trend is accelerating. Younger drivers are feeling the pressure hardest. And while it might feel like a harmless way to stretch your budget a bit further, it’s genuinely one of the riskiest false economies out there.
The answer isn’t to ignore the problem or pretend that cars don’t need maintenance. It’s to prioritise smartly. Keep the essential work current. Find ways to spread the cost. Look for cheaper options. But don’t skip the things that keep your car safe and reliable. In the long run, staying on top of maintenance will cost you far less than the alternative.
