Millennials have better basic repair knowledge suggests report

When it comes to basic vehicle maintenance, there is a large gap in confidence levels between ‘generation Z’ and ‘generation Y, according to new research.

A study by vehicle insurance firm LV= found that millennials come out on top for their car maintenance skills, with 50% of 17-24 year olds saying they would find it easy to perform some basic car maintenance themselves. Unfortunately, confidence falls amongst older drivers, with 31% of those aged over 45 saying they would find it easy to repair a simple problem with their vehicle.

These results stand in stark contrast to the widely held belief that older generations have a better knowledge of car maintenance compared to younger generations.

Changes in the modern driving test curriculum and Google are having a significant impact on helping younger generations develop this confidence. Since 2004, driving tests have included stricter testing of the driver’s knowledge of how the vehicle works.

Additionally, trend data from Google shows that searches for ‘how to’ videos relating to car and home maintenance are growing 70% year-on-year, with the younger generation more likely to use online videos to learn new skills, as a result of being more internet savvy. Around 95% of 18-24 year olds claim they use YouTube for research, compared with an average of just 68% of those aged over 35.

Tony Hill, Operations & Compliance Manager at Gemini Accident Repair Centres, commented: “Every driver should have a basic level of car maintenance knowledge, such as how to check the engine oil or asses the tyre wear. This is primarily important for safety, but it could also help motorists save money by spotting easily fixable repairs early on. It’s encouraging to see younger generations displaying these skills, but we’re keen to help extend this to all generations. We’ve teamed up with LV= to create these ‘Mechanic Mentor’ films to help all drivers feel more confident maintaining their vehicles.”

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