Car owners in Wales are depreciating the value of their cars by failing to keep them in good condition, a poll has revealed.
The study, published by professional car care company Autoglym, reveals motorists could be losing as much as £2,000 when re-selling their cars.
The research suggests that many UK drivers are lazy when it comes to the up-keep of their vehicles, with more than 90% agreeing that a well-maintained and clean car will have more value, while 18% of people admit they don’t take pride in their motor.
The poll also reveals that less than one in five car owners check their oil the recommended once a week, with a quarter admitting they only do it once a year at best, with similar numbers when it comes to checking water.
Many are also lax on fixing what could be serious mechanical problems, with one in five car owners admitting they continue driving on worn brakes for a couple of weeks or more, a quarter wait a month to check annoying rattles.
More than a third won’t immediately investigate warning lights while 40% will wait more than three months to repair dents or scratches, while one in ten admit they just leave them.
One in seven surveyed wash their car or clean the inside once a year at best, one in ten admit they’ve never hand washed their vehicle and 60% only wax their car annually.
Autoglym’s Chief Executive Paul Caller is urging UK motorists to maintain their cars more regularly.
He said: “It’s surprising to see that the majority of car owners depreciate their own vehicles by not looking after them.
“Simple things like sealing and protecting your paintwork from environmental contaminants such as damaging UV rays will extend the life of your car bodywork and help keep the vehicles value.
“We’ve created a video called ‘cleaning up Britain’s cars’ to help UK motorists learn more about how easy it is to look after your car and hopefully save them money.
“We hope this will spark car owners into action and will transform Britain’s cars from messy motors to valuable vehicles.”