A survey commissioned by Belgian service chain Auto5 found that half of young drivers postpone essential car maintenance, even when it compromises safety or shortens the life of their vehicle.

At first glance, the claim raises the question of whether it reveals a genuine societal trend or serves the interests of a company built on selling and servicing tyres. Yet placed in a broader European context, the picture becomes more layered: while rigorous academic studies on the topic are scarce, several independent UK surveys point in the same direction.

However, behind the behavior of young drivers lies an even larger structural shift that worries servicing companies like Auto5 and dealer workshops alike: as more electric vehicles hit the road, the entire economics of car maintenance is being upended.

More price-conscious

What does the survey show? Young drivers, under financial strain and often driving older vehicles, appear more likely than older motorists to skip services, delay repairs, or continue driving on worn tyres, according to a survey with 800 respondents, commissioned by Auto5.

“They turn out to be significantly more price-conscious: more than half of them (53.4%) actively compare maintenance prices, compared with just 27.1% of older car owners.”

“They are also far more likely to look for cheaper alternatives (60.6% versus 34.6%) and switch from a brand dealership to an independent multi-brand garage (51.1% compared with 37.5%). Drivers aged 55 and over are the least inclined to compare prices (24.3%), seek alternatives (28.4%), or change garages for servicing their vehicle (36%).”

“This tendency to postpone maintenance — combined with rising service costs — has a direct impact on road safety,” Auto5 warns. “Poorly maintained vehicles are more prone to accidents caused by technical failures, with critical components such as brakes, tyres, suspension, steering systems, and lighting playing a decisive role. Modern driver-assistance systems are equally vulnerable: they only function properly when sensors and calibration are correctly maintained.”

Essential for safety

“Nearly two out of three motorists fully agree that regular and proper maintenance is essential for safety (62.8%), the lifespan of their vehicle (62.3%), and preventing breakdowns (60.3%). Among younger drivers, however, these numbers drop significantly to 51.8%, 44.9% and 42.4%, indicating that they clearly underestimate the importance and impact of proper maintenance.”

These insights, partly confirmed by UK findings and primarily based on self-reporting, support the idea that Auto5’s findings reflect a real behavioural pattern rather than an isolated Belgian anomaly.

This trend is unfolding within a sector that still relies overwhelmingly on internal combustion (ICE) vehicles. On 1 August 2025, Belgium had more than six million passenger cars registered according to Statbel, and its maintenance and repair sector generated roughly €4 billion in annual revenue.

Because battery-electric vehicles remain a minority of the fleet, the vast majority of this turnover still originates from oil changes, filters, brakes, and other classic wear parts associated with gasoline and diesel engines.

The industry earns hundreds of millions of euros in annual profit from ICE-related work. Against that backdrop, maintenance avoidance among young drivers is more than a safety issue. It directly affects the economic foundations of garages, fast-fit chains, and parts suppliers.

Responsible actor?

As the shift toward electric vehicles further erodes demand for traditional servicing, Auto5 faces a double pressure: fewer visits today as drivers delay maintenance, and fewer visits tomorrow as EVs inherently require less maintenance.

By framing the issue as a safety concern rather than a commercial one, the company hopes to position itself as a responsible actor in a changing landscape, using public-interest messaging to reinforce the relevance of workshops amid challenges to its core business model.

The financial figures underline what is at stake. Auto5’s turnover has climbed from €92 million in 2022 to more than €106 million in 2024, but profits are thin and volatile.

The company reported a loss in 2022, only modest profitability in 2023, and around €1.2 million in net profit in 2024, a tiny fraction of its overall revenue. With nearly 600 employees and significant fixed operating costs, even small shifts in customer behaviour or fleet composition can have material consequences.

Industry is defending vulnerable revenue

In that light, Auto5’s decision to spotlight young drivers’ maintenance habits is not only a warning about road safety; it reflects an industry trying to defend a vulnerable revenue stream during a technological transition.

That transition looms large. Electric vehicles require far less routine maintenance than conventional cars: no oil changes, no exhausts, no clutches, fewer moving parts, and fewer mechanical failures.

Industry research suggests that servicing revenue per electric vehicle is 30 to 45 percent lower than for an equivalent combustion car. As their share of the fleet rises, ICE-related maintenance income is expected to fall sharply.

By 2030, Belgium could see a drop of up to a third in its ICE servicing revenue; by 2040, the decline could exceed 60 percent. A market worth €4 billion today will steadily morph into one based on tyres, software updates, battery diagnostics, and charging-related services.

Safety concerns run alongside these economic realities. Young drivers are already overrepresented in accident statistics due to inexperience, risk-taking, and the older cars they tend to drive.

Delaying maintenance — especially brake or tyre interventions — only heightens that vulnerability. However, Europe still lacks robust data directly linking age-specific maintenance behaviour to accident outcomes.

Auto5’s findings are therefore best understood as warning signals rather than definitive evidence, pointing to an underexplored but potentially significant risk. If Auto5’s survey illustrates anything, it is how the habits of young drivers and the advance of new technologies are reshaping not only how we drive, but how — and whether — we maintain the cars that keep us moving.