An Autotrader examine has discovered that 6.4 million UK drivers may very well be driving for days or perhaps weeks with dashboard warning lights on
Prices may be decrease if you happen to get it seen to rapidly (Picture: Noe Gonzalez through Getty Photographs)
A brand new examine performed by Autotrader has revealed that just about one in 5 British motorists (19%) place larger religion in their very own evaluation than their car’s warning methods, with “doubtlessly harmful penalties”. The analysis, encompassing 1,000 UK drivers, found that as many as 6.4 million folks on the highway (16%) may very well be persevering with their journeys for days and even weeks whereas a dashboard warning mild remained illuminated, reasonably than tackling the issue immediately, in keeping with extrapolated information.
Whereas almost half of motorists (49%) analysis warning lights on-line earlier than figuring out their subsequent steps, solely 36% take their car to a storage instantly upon a warning mild showing. Extra worryingly, over one in 5 (22%) keep it up driving, desiring to ‘cope with it later’.
Monetary issues are behind most drivers’ selections to ignore warning lights, the examine suggests. The findings confirmed that roughly 5.6 million British drivers (14%) postpone addressing warning lights because of anxiousness about restore bills, while almost one in six (14%) acknowledge sometimes overlooking warnings as a result of they’re unsure about their significance.
Nonetheless, with the common storage invoice for sudden repairs now standing at £650, motorists may very well be dealing with a heftier cost in the event that they disregard a crimson mild reasonably than addressing it instantly. An engine test mild might signify something from a free gasoline cap to a failing catalytic converter.
Within the best-case state of affairs, a free cap might value as little as £10 to exchange, however neglecting the warning with out understanding the trigger can have important repercussions on each your pocket and your car.
Professional recommendation for dealing with dashboard warning lights
Autotrader’s specialists have provided their steering on how drivers ought to react to warning lights.
The analysis was undertaken by Censuswide on behalf of Autotrader, amongst a pattern of 1,000 UK drivers (aged 18+) who maintain a full UK driving licence and drive a automotive at the least sometimes. Knowledge right as of February 2026.
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