Australia’s roads are crowded with cars that would struggle to pass a roadworthiness inspection as drivers delay maintenance, comparison site Finder says.

Its survey of about 1000 car owners reveals one-quarter have avoided having their car serviced because they could not afford it, while 13% have let body damage go unrepaired. Bald tyres and damaged windscreens were also left unaddressed.

“That’s 6.3 million drivers who have been unable to afford car maintenance or repairs in the past 12 months,” Finder said.

Car insurance premiums increased by an average of 10.6% last year, according to analysis by Finder, with the average car owner paying about $1551 a year.

The research reveals 42% of women and 28% of men have let their vehicles fall into disrepair for financial reasons.

A lack of maintenance “could have deadly consequences”, Finder Head of Consumer Research Graham Cooke says.

“With the skyrocketing cost of living, car maintenance has dropped to the bottom of the list of priorities for some. From trips to the mechanic to insurance to petrol, owning a vehicle is becoming even more expensive but the cost of letting it become unroadworthy can be far greater than these upfront expenses.”