Press release -
Women save £140 a year by getting under the bonnet
Rising cost of motoring encourages more women to repair their own vehicles - Over a quarter of women are confident of doing repairs on their vehicle
- 60% of women said they had carried out at least one basic repair or maintenance task on their car
- Only half would send their car straight to the garage if they found a problem
The increasing cost of owning and running a car is forcing more women to get ‘under the bonnet’ of their cars. Research from the RAC has shown that nearly two thirds of women are happy to get their hands dirty and do their own car maintenance, putting an end to the stereotypical opinion that looking after the car is something just for the boys.
RAC’s poll of over 2,000 drivers found that 60% of women said they had carried out at least one basic repair or maintenance task on their car. Also, more than a quarter (27%) said they were confident doing repairs on their own vehicle, which they estimated saved them £141 a year. In comparison, over half of the men surveyed (56%) said they felt up to the job of repairing their own vehicle, saving them about £155 a year.
The rising cost of motoring has meant that more drivers are taking a DIY approach to car maintenance, and it seems that women are no exception. Almost a quarter of those questioned claimed to have changed a broken light bulb on a vehicle, while more than half (54%) said they carried out regular checks on their water and oil levels.
One in five checked their tyre pressures and treads on a monthly basis, and 2% even described themselves as ‘DIY car maintenance experts’, only marginally fewer than men (2.5%).
Not wanting to be taken for a ride by rogue mechanics, female drivers are becoming more wary of the cost of repairs with nearly one in four (22%) believing that ‘garages are out to rip-off unsuspecting motorists. It seems the days of calling up a mechanic at the first sign of trouble are now dwindling, as only half of the women (47%) questioned would be willing to send their car straight to the garage if they found a problem with it.
RAC patrol Louise French says: “It’s great to see more girls are getting to grips with their cars and taking on repairs and maintenance themselves. Doing simple repairs, asking friends or relatives for help or advice and taking extra care with vehicle maintenance are all now commonplace as drivers look for any way possible to cut the cost of running their cars.”
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About the RAC
First formed in 1897, the RAC has been looking after the needs of its members and championing the interests of drivers for more than 120 years.
Today it has more than eight million members and is one of the UK’s most progressive motoring organisations, providing services for both private and business motorists. Whether it's roadside assistance, insurance, buying a used car, vehicle inspections and checks, legal services or up-to-the-minute traffic and travel information – the RAC offers a solution for all motoring needs. The RAC is committed to making motoring easier, safer, more affordable and more enjoyable for drivers and road users.
The RAC is the motorist’s champion and campaigns to support the interests of its members and UK drivers at a national level. This includes voicing concerns about the increasing cost of motoring, particularly the price of fuel and the high level of tax levied on it, advancing levels of road safety, and supporting the needs of all drivers, from young to old.
The RAC’s annual Report on Motoring – first published in 1989 – is one of a kind and provides a clear insight into the concerns and issues facing today’s motorists.
For the very latest news on UK fuel prices, check RAC Fuel Watch. It provides a comprehensive guide to the latest UK unleaded petrol and diesel prices – both at the wholesale level and at the pump - and tracks these prices daily to help drivers check if the price they pay to fill up is a fair one.
