Drivers admit servicing ignorance

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Drivers admit servicing ignorance

Most car owners do not know when their next service is due while only a small percentage carry out the most basic maintenance, according to a new survey.
The findings showed that 52 per cent of private car owners did not know when their next service was due; while just nine per cent admitted they didn't carry out any basic maintenance or safety checks such as monitoring tyre pressures and oil levels between service intervals.

The research, carried out on behalf of the Institute of the Motor Industry's Automotive Technician Accreditation programme, also revealed confusion amongst motorists about the increasing number of standard fit items. When asked about various acronyms, nearly a third of all respondents said they had no idea what EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution), VVT (Variable Valve Timing), TCS (Traction Control System) actually mean.
The advanced technology now included on most cars has also made DIY servicing a thing of the past, with 45 per cent of respondents saying that, unlike their parents' generation, they know next to nothing about maintaining their car.
“Motorists need to get more service savvy now that cars have become so complex,” said Sarah Sillars, chief executive of the IMI. “This means making sure cars are well looked after at the right time”
The research was carried out in July amongst a nationally representative sample of 1,338 car owners