Market Research Shows Alarming Generation Gap When it Comes to Vehicle Maintenance

Car Care Canada conducted consumer research over the summer to learn more about driver’s maintenance habits and gage their understanding of what type of maintenance is required on their vehicles. The overall results we encouraging with 70% of drivers reporting they bring their vehicle in for maintenance at least once per year. However, when we began to look at the detailed results it became clear that we are facing a generation gap when it comes to vehicle maintenance. Today’s driving youth (18 to 24 years) don’t know what their cars need and are not taking care of their vehicles. This poses a safety threat to themselves, as well as others on the road. Here are some highlights:

Youth are least likely to change their oil every 5,000 km and 22% of youth either had no idea when to change it or wait until the oil light comes on. Only 45% of youth bring their vehicle in for maintenance at least once a year versus 76% of people over 50. 22% never bring it in or only when it breaks down and 34% wait for a warning light or a strange noise. 10% of young drivers reported that they never put air in their tires and an additional 9% admitted they do not know how to determine the correct tire pressure. These results identify a need to reach this market segment and educate them about the need for regular