Commercial vehicle drivers 'should not skimp on maintenance'
Fleet operators and commercial vehicle drivers have been advised to ensure they have their vans regularly serviced in order to avoid a hefty repair bill further down the line.
According to statistics published recently by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, large vans are more likely to fail their MOT inspections than any other type of vehicle on the roads in Britain.
The group revealed that nearly 45 per cent of commercial vehicles weighing between 3,000 kg and 3,500 kg failed to pass their MOT in the year 2007-2008, compared with just 35 per cent of cars and small vans.
Common points of failure included brakes, lights and suspension, and the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) said owners should not forget the importance of having their vehicles serviced regularly.
Head of the RMIF's MOT technical operations Stephen Coles said: "It is clear that very little maintenance work is being performed on these vehicles.
"Their owners may not realise that prevention could be cheaper than cure in the long run."
The warning comes after car care products firm Comma Oil warned that many drivers could be left facing repair bills in excess of £1,000 because they are running their vehicles on low oil levels.