Car insurance provider Sainsbury’s has found that 21% of UK motorists are failing to run regular maintenance checks on their cars, which could have a knock on effect on the efficiency of their vehicle as basic problems are not being detected early on.

According to the study, car tyres are one of the most overlooked areas on a car, with a high number of drivers admitting to not checking theirs regularly. The gap between men and women was also obvious, with 26% of female drivers admitting they don’t regularly check their cars, compared to 16% of male drivers.

When it comes to drivers in different regions of the country, those in London and the East of England were found to be the worst culprits at failing to make maintenance checks on their cars, while drivers in the East Midlands, North East of England and Scotland were found to be the most conscientious when it comes to car maintenance.

Young drivers are more likely to take a casual approach to the upkeep of their car, with 29% of those aged between 18-24 years admitting to not checking their cars regularly, compared to 15% of the over 65’s.

Out of those drivers who don’t run regular monthly maintenance checks on their vehicles, the most common reason for not doing so was that the motorists deemed it unnecessary.

However motoring experts advise spending a few minutes every month to take a look over your car so any issues can be nipped in the bud, and not left to deteriorate and cause bigger problems later down the line.