For millions of Americans, keeping a car on the road is already a balancing act between monthly payments, insurance premiums, and the occasional oil change. Add an unexpected repair into the mix, and many drivers find themselves parked in the breakdown lane, financially speaking. A new national survey found that 58% of drivers couldn’t handle an emergency repair costing more than $1,000 today.

This financial strain plays a big role in why drivers postpone work their cars need

Over half admitted they are currently delaying at least one known maintenance task.

Some of these can be relatively harmless in the short term, like putting off an oil change. But others (worn tires, malfunctioning brakes, or a persistent “check engine” light) carry far greater risks.

Nearly one in five drivers said they are rolling on tires that should be replaced, and 7% know their brakes need work but still hit the road.

The survey also showed that ignoring warning lights is common

Almost 4 in 10 drivers said they let a dashboard warning sit for two weeks or more without action.

Many of them offered the same reasoning: they either believed the issue was minor, thought the car still drove fine, or feared the repair bill.

Cost concerns were a top factor, with 42% of those who delayed citing it as the reason they stayed away from the shop.

The irony is that this short-term avoidance often leads to bigger bills later

Two-fifths of respondents said they had paid for a repair in the past that could have been avoided with timely maintenance.

In other words, that ignored oil change, skipped brake inspection, or postponed tire swap may not just make the car less safe. It may also be more expensive to fix once the problem escalates.

The financial reality is stark

More than a quarter of drivers said they couldn’t afford a repair over $500.

For households already juggling car payments, fuel, and insurance, one big repair can feel like a financial ambush. That leaves many drivers gambling with their transportation, hoping a small problem won’t become a roadside breakdown.

The analysis, published by FinanceBuzz, surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults about their maintenance habits, cost expectations, and repair budgets.

While the findings paint a clear picture of the money pressures affecting drivers, they also highlight an uncomfortable truth: for a large share of Americans, keeping a car roadworthy isn’t just about mechanical reliability. It’s about financial survival. And until that changes, a lot of drivers will keep betting against the check engine light.