Drivers could face being ripped off if their vehicle is recalled, as millions of motorists are confused about the process of paying for repairs.
New data has found that three in five drivers between the age of 17 and 34 believe they need to pay for repairs if their car is included in a recall.
This is despite the manufacturer covering the cost of any vehicle repairs or updates that need to take place after it has issued a recall notice.
Automakers send letters to drivers if their vehicle has a known fault because of how the model was produced, with any repairs always being free to the motorist.
In certain situations, drivers can even be compensated by the manufacturer if their vehicle is off the road for an extended period of time.
While 56 per cent of drivers aged 17 to 24 believed they had to pay for a recall repair, it was actually the 25 to 34 age range that had the largest percentage who thought they needed to pay (62 per cent).
In contrast, only nine per cent of older motorists over the age of 55 believed they had to pay for vehicle repairs that weren’t their fault.
The Motor Ombudsman, which commissioned the research, suggested that this could be down to a longer driving career or possible experience with the recall process.
Sam Burton, Group Aftersales Manager at The Motor Ombudsman-accredited Gates car dealerships, said it could be “daunting” for motorists to receive a letter saying that their car had been recalled.
He noted that drivers could be worried when their prized possession, and oftentimes an “significant investment”, has something wrong with it.
The expert added: “A recall notice is ultimately issued with everyone’s safety in mind, and often explains what the problem is, and the recommended steps for drivers to get their car fixed, and we urge anyone that gets such a letter to not ignore it and book their vehicle in when they can.
“Just as important to remember is that you should never be handed an invoice for the work, as this is not related to how you have driven or how long you have owned the car.”
Many drivers believe that they would need to pay for a repair to their vehicle if it has been recalled
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WARRANTYWISEThe research also identified that young buyers would only look to those selling the vehicle to inform them of any outstanding recalls related to their purchase.
A quarter of people between 17 and 24 would only rely on the dealership, rather than doing their own homework on the vehicle they want to buy.
This compares to 12 per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds, who were found to be the least reliant on sellers for recall information.
Bill Fennell, Chief Ombudsman and managing director at TMO, said it was “essential” for motorists to know about their vehicles, especially during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Young drivers have been told to ensure they do their homework when it comes to vehicle recalls
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PEXELSHe noted that young drivers in particular should not be put off from buying a vehicle because of an outstanding recall, if they falsely believe that they will have to pay.
“The recalls scheme is a long-established and effective safety net for consumers to be aware of any known issues as and when they arise, to give the means to put them right, and to never be out of pocket,” Mr Fennell added.
For young people, the Chief Ombudsman highlighted that there was “often a lot to learn” when buying and owning their first car.
Drivers can use the GOV.UK website to check if their vehicle needs to be recalled by selecting the make, model and production year of their vehicle.