Green Flag claims old cars are to blame for recent increase in vehicle breakdowns

Ageing cars in the UK are responsible for an increase in the number of vehicle breakdowns reported in recent years.

National Highways says the number of car breakdowns on motorways and major A roads in England has risen by 20 per cent in just four years.

While there is no doubt that a lack of spending on the UK’s dilapidated, pothole-ridden roads is causing more cars to break down, roadside assistance company Green Flag says the increase can also be attributed to drivers keeping their cars for longer than before.

Analysis of government data shows the average age of registered cars in the UK has risen by 42 per cent in the past 20 years, partly due to improvements in the build quality of newer models which are extending the life of vehicles.

The roadside recovery service analysed official figures and found that the average age of a car in the UK in 2003 was 6.6 years.

By 2023, this number will increase to 9.4 years.

This is attributed to improvements in vehicle quality – cars are more durable and drivers have fewer reliability issues once the engine manufacturer’s warranty expires.

However, the change in attitudes towards longer car use can also be attributed to the rising costs of vehicle use – drivers now have to reckon with higher prices for insurance, fuel and new models than before.

Delays in new car production and deliveries caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, lasting more than 24 months, have also contributed to the increase in the average age of vehicles on the roads.

In this regard, the Green Flag organisation said that car owners should ensure that their vehicles are properly maintained to reduce the risk of getting stranded on the side of the road.

According to National Highways, the company responsible for England’s main trunk roads, the number of breakdowns rose from 229,600 in 2019 to 274,600 last year.

Data from the state-owned company also shows that the number of failures in the period from June to August 2023 was 9% higher than the average for the whole year.

Green Flag’s own statistics show that older cars are more likely to break down than newer models.

One in five nine-year-old cars will break down within a year, compared with one in seven for six-year-old cars.

Green Flag managing director Katie Lomas said: “Generally speaking, cars are lasting longer, which is a good thing.

However, as cars age, they are breaking down more and more often, which is reflected both in our notification rates and in the increasing number of breakdowns reported by road services.

‘With breakdowns on the rise, drivers are urged to ensure their vehicles are regularly maintained to reduce the risk of problems, regardless of the age of the vehicle.

Car maintenance tasks you can do at home include checking your oil level, coolant, tire tread and tire pressure.