Almost one in three drivers has ignored dashboard warning lights for days, highlighting an opportunity for dealers to prompt aftersales action.
New research highlights the continued importance of service reminders, targeted customer contact and free vehicle health checks to help dealerships identify maintenance requirements before they develop into more expensive problems.
MoneySuperMarket’s survey of 2,000 UK drivers found 31.7% had continued driving for more than a few days after a dashboard warning light appeared.
Younger motorists were the most likely to delay taking action, with 41.8% of drivers aged between 18 and 24 admitting they had ignored a warning light.
The check engine light was the most commonly ignored alert, followed by the service required indicator and tyre pressure warning.
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| Type of warning light | Proportion who have ignored it |
|---|---|
| Engine or check engine light | 35.65% |
| Service required indicator | 29.18% |
| Tyre pressure warning | 28.86% |
| Fuel warning | 24.92% |
| Oil pressure warning | 15.62% |
| Battery or charging warning | 14.67% |
| Airbag warning | 13.72% |
| Coolant or temperature warning | 12.30% |
| Brake system warning | 11.99% |
| Did not know what the warning light meant | 1.42% |
Dealers can help close maintenance confidence gap
The findings suggest dealers could generate additional workshop opportunities by maintaining regular contact with aftersales customers and making it easier for them to respond when a warning light appears.
Free vehicle health checks could also provide a route for identifying developing maintenance and safety issues, particularly among customers who lack the confidence, equipment or knowledge to inspect their vehicles themselves.
Almost three in 10 drivers, 29.5%, said they avoided basic maintenance because they were worried about making a mistake or damaging their vehicle.
Convenience was another significant factor, with 29.3% saying it was easier to leave maintenance to a professional.
A quarter lacked the necessary tools or equipment, while 21.9% did not know how to complete basic tasks.
| Reason for avoiding DIY maintenance | Proportion of drivers |
|---|---|
| Worried about doing something wrong and causing damage | 29.52% |
| Easier or more convenient to use a professional | 29.27% |
| Do not have the right tools or equipment | 25.02% |
| Do not trust their ability to do it safely | 23.98% |
| Do not know how to complete the task | 21.88% |
| Find it physically difficult | 16.78% |
| Feel anxious or intimidated by the task | 14.14% |
| Do not have time | 13.49% |
| Believe it is someone else’s responsibility | 10.34% |
| Worried it could invalidate their insurance | 8.99% |
Drivers still turn to professionals for basic work
More than half of drivers had sought professional help to change a tyre, while 50.5% had used a professional to replace a headlight or rear light bulb.
Dashboard alerts also appear to create an opportunity for workshops, with 42.6% of respondents having previously sought professional help to reset one.
However, drivers were more confident completing routine checks. More than three-quarters had topped up their own screenwash, while almost 73% had checked or corrected their tyre pressures themselves.
Respondents could have completed a task themselves on one occasion and sought professional assistance on another, meaning the two figures are not mutually exclusive.
| Maintenance task | Sought professional help | Completed it themselves |
|---|---|---|
| Changed a tyre | 57.79% | 47.20% |
| Replaced a headlight or rear light bulb | 50.50% | 39.61% |
| Replaced a windscreen wiper blade | 45.20% | 50.75% |
| Reset dashboard alerts | 42.61% | 42.91% |
| Temporarily repaired or inflated a flat tyre | 40.51% | 52.70% |
| Checked or topped up engine oil | 39.31% | 72.48% |
| Checked or corrected tyre pressure | 38.16% | 72.63% |
| Used a car jack safely | 37.71% | 47.50% |
| Fixed a window | 33.77% | 20.53% |
| Jump-started a car | 31.57% | 51.10% |
| Checked or topped up screenwash | 29.77% | 76.07% |