MOTORING

A little basic car maintenance can go a long way towards driving down your vehicle repair bills. Here's how to stay on the road and keep motoring costs to a minimum

By JEREMY TAYLOR

With a survey last year showing that more than six million motorists have no idea how to carry out basic jobs on their cars, DIY vehicle maintenance appears to be a thing of the past. As a result, worn tyres, flat batteries and low oil levels are costing British drivers a fortune in repairs - but they could be easily avoided.

According to breakdown cover company Green Flag, just 50% of motorists felt confident checking tyre tread depth, only 47% knew how to top up engine oil, and more than half just relied on a recovery service, whatever the breakdown. A quarter of drivers do not have breakdown cover at all.

With sky-high fuel prices and a cost-ofliving crisis, every penny counts. A car is an essential part of most households - getting from A to B cheaply is now more important than ever. Even the late Queen was competent in car maintenance, thanks to her wartime service in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. So here are some simple tips on how to DIY your way to cheaper motoring.