Survey finds drivers use several excuses for delaying recommended maintenance of their vehicles

Due to a nationwide shortage of microchips which control the various electronic systems in current car models, the supply of new and slightly used vehicles has dwindled and their costs have skyrocketed.

Investing more money into your current vehicle could be a wise choice. However, there are still many reasons why car owners delay maintenance and repair issues.

According a UTires survey of 1,200 American car owners, a surprising number delay car care tasks longer than they should. "It’s actually 92 percent, so more than 9 in 10 are putting that off," said Kylie Moore with North Star Inbound Marketing.

Moore says the survey included the list of reasons for delayed work on their vehicles. "The number one reason is time. They are too busy to take the car in," said Moore.

Problems due to neglect add up, costing the average American driver an extra $1,193 dollars over the vehicle’s lifespan.

Another reason car owners delay seeing a mechanic is because more than half said they can’t afford the cost of repairs or maintenance. They also delay when they feel the work is not urgent. They believe the length of time to fix the vehicle will take too long, plus anxiety over perceived costs cause them to stall as well as the fact that most just don’t have a mechanic they trust.

The most common problems drivers delay addressing are cracked windshields, wheels being out of alignment, an overdue oil change, bald or worn out tires as well as the check engine light.

Ignoring many maintenance and repairs issues could lead to life-threatening situations on the road. In those cases, the cost of prevention can be much less than the cost of neglect.