UK car owners lack basic vehicle knowledge

UK car owners are needlessly claiming on their car insurance because they lack basic knowledge of their vehicles. According to a survey of 1,500 Swinton car insurance customers, 36% of drivers do not ‘know their vehicle.’ The poll found that 29% of drivers did not know how to change their tyre and a further 20% did not know their correct tyre pressure. A staggering 9% did not even know how to open their bonnet.
According to Swinton all drivers should have enough basic knowledge to:
1. Fill tyres to correct pressure
2. Change a tyre
3. Top up oil
4. Top up water
5. Replace a windscreen wiper

Steve Chelton, Insurance Development Manager at Swinton said: “The results of this survey are quite concerning. All drivers should have at least basic knowledge of their vehicles and should not rely on other people to carry out maintenance work such as filling up tyres and topping up oil.

“If drivers had a better understanding of their vehicles they probably wouldn’t make so many unnecessary claims which can lead to an increase in car insurance premiums.”

If this survey is to be believed then 135 people out of the 1500 questioned admitted to not knowing how to open the bonnet of their car. If you drive a car and presumably passed your driving test is that something you’re going to admit to? Well either the problem is far greater then this survey suggests or certain insurance companies marketing departments have got way too much time on theri hands!

If you know any car drivers who don’t know how to open the bonnets on their cars we’d like to hear from you.

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    Comments: 1
    1. Steph Savill
      13 years ago

      I suspect that Steve Chelton of Swintons car insurance, if accurately reported, was having a bad day.
      Reading between the lines, I imagine he was picking up on the fact that if a car is poorly maintained then, in theory, Swinton’s could refuse to pay out should an accident be caused due to neglect of the owner. And presumably that could affect any poor motorist/passenger/pedestrian injured in an accident caused as a result of an unsafe car. Very worrying and a point that few motorists, male and female, appreciate.
      I totally agree that more motorists should appreciate the implications of poor maintenance and bad garages but I am more than happy that regular maintenance be carried out by the professionals where that makes best sense. I run FOXY Lady Drivers Club and we do a roaring trade in regular car safety checks at female friendly approved garages – both women drivers and their family can use these.
      The demographics and life style of many motorists, living alone, disabled or with a car parked on a busy highway as the only option makes hands on maintenance difficult for some people.
      I know how to do all these things but what is wrong with using the professionals including a breakdown service to change a wheel? I think we should be allowed to choose here.
      Better to get the PR for making it easy for motorists to take care of their cars in future Steve – so they are safer for us all in future.
      FOXY Steph

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