27/08/2026
🚨 MEDIA RELEASE 🚨
Cost-of-living squeeze forces one in three young Victorians to put off car servicing
New VACC research of Victorian motorists has found that cost-of-living pressure is reshaping how — and whether — people look after their cars, with younger drivers and lower-income households under the most strain.
Nearly a quarter say they can't afford to service their vehicle when it falls due. That climbs to a third of drivers under 35 and a third of households earning under $90,000 a year, but sits at just 12 per cent for those over 55 — a stark generational and income divide.
The pressure is already changing behaviour. Three in ten Victorians have delayed a service to save money, and for some, cutting back is tipping into cutting corners — from putting off repairs to driving on when they suspect something is wrong.
"Victorians aren't neglecting their cars because they don't care — they're being squeezed," said VACC CEO Peter Jones. "When a third of young drivers and a third of lower-income households tell us they can't afford a service, that's a cost-of-living story with a road-safety tail."
The savings are often a false economy. Of those who delayed a repair, one in five was later hit with a bigger bill, and others ended up needing more serious work or had broken down on the roadside.
VACC is encouraging motorists doing it tough to keep safety-critical maintenance — brakes, tyres, steering and suspension — at the top of the list, and to talk to their service provider about priorities rather than skipping a service and hoping for the best.
Read the full findings: https://bit.ly/4ixouQ1
