DIY Maintenance- A Thing of the Past?

Growing up, my dad took the time to teach each of my sisters and I the importance of basic car maintenance. He’d tell us there were certain things, like checking the oil, checking coolant levels, and even changing the brake pads, that could be done at home, saving us money and time. The majority of us probably grew up with this same lecture.

Over the past five years, however, things have changed. According to research by Saga Motor Insurance, the number of individuals willing to carry out basic maintenance on their cars has gone down by almost 50%. The study also suggested that only 10% of individuals over the age of 50 would even attempt basic repairs; the results were even lower for men and women over the age of 50 living in Scotland, South East, or London.

What’s Changed?

People are no longer purchasing Ford parts, BMW parts, or Honda parts so they can replace or repair a problem with their vehicle themselves. Instead, they are leaving it up to the professionals. This begs the question: why? What has changed in the last five years to cause such a dramatic decrease in our ability to take care of basic maintenance?

• Our Confidence is Shot- Over the years, cars have become more and more complex, with most running with the help of computers and electronics we no longer understand. When something goes wrong, we turn to professionals. According to the study, only 8% of car owners would attempt to care for a car themselves if it was less than a year old. Drivers are twice as likely, however, to perform basic repairs and maintenance if the car is at least ten years old.

• It’s About Age- While men and women over 50 may have taken care of their vehicles for years, they are less confident about new car mechanics and are much less likely to make repairs. In addition to a lack of confidence, many drivers at this age find it “easier” to simply take the car to a mechanic; most want the repair to be completed as quickly as possible so it causes as little interruption in their life as possible.

• It’s About Failures- While most drivers these days end up taking their broken car parts and maintenance care needs to a mechanic, that doesn’t always mean they don’t attempt to fix the problem first. According to the study, 16% of men only take their vehicle to the garage if they have tried and failed to fix the problem themselves at home.

Good News for Mechanics

While there are still individuals who will attempt to fix worn and broken car parts at home, many are now turning to professionals for the job. This can be good news, especially for mechanics in Scotland, London, and South East who are no doubt looking at a increase in business.

There are still some basic maintenance issues that can be taken care of in your driveway, but with the increase in technology running our cars, taking the vehicle to a mechanic when you’re not sure where to turn is the right thing to do, and it’s a realisation many are coming to understand.