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A third of customers who do not have a service plan for their car put their car servicing costs on their credit card or take out a loan.
That’s the conclusion of research carried out by service plan provider EMaC, which found that 29% of car owners who don’t have a service plan in place used plastic or a loan to finance their servicing.
Nearly two thirds (62%) said they would welcome and take advantage of an interest free credit option, if their dealer offered such a service.
A third (38%) of owners say they book their car in for a service when they receive a reminder via the manufacturer, dealer or garage.
Just 20% service their car once the mileage has increased by between 10,000 to 12,000 miles, suggesting that when left to their own devices, routine servicing is often overlooked by owners.
And 39% of those surveyed said the most important factor in purchasing a Service Plan was to help them better manage the cost.
John O’Donnell, managing director for EMaC said: “Servicing and repairs costs can hit at the most inconvenient times, but many car owners don’t budget for these unexpected expenses.
“This can leave people with little choice but to pay on credit, often adding to already sizeable monthly interest charges.”
The survey of 200 motorists was conducted by Gorkana Surveys on behalf of EMaC