July 21, 2026
How confident are drivers when it comes to car maintenance?
Be honest, how do you feel about car maintenance? If something’s wrong, are you happy to pop open the hood yourself and tinker away, or are you at the other end of the scale – does the idea of changing a tire at the side of the road fill you with terror? Here at global car rental comparison site DiscoverCars.com, we’ve conducted a customer survey to find out drivers’ opinions and experiences, revealing some interesting differences around the world, as well as among drivers who belong to different age brackets.
Methodology
We shared a survey exploring the topic of car maintenance with our customers to understand how confident they feel carrying out checks and fixing day-to-day issues. We received a total of 710 responses. When comparing responses across different countries, we have only included countries with more than 15 respondents.
We have only included respondents aged 30 and over, as we had fewer replies from younger drivers, perhaps partly due to age restrictions on hiring a car in some countries. We also received more responses from men than from women.
We have only included respondents aged 30 and over, as we had fewer replies from younger drivers, perhaps partly due to age restrictions on hiring a car in some countries. We also received more responses from men than from women.
Car maintenance tasks
When we asked drivers which car chores they’ve mastered, a whopping 91% said they felt confident checking tire pressure and tread, making this the top car maintenance task. And thank goodness for that, as neglecting your tire pressure is a fast track to a blowout!
Do you know your brake fluid from your engine oil — and what to do if any car fluids are running low? 9 in 10 drivers told us they’re happy to handle it themselves. This is another super important skill. For instance, if you run out of windshield washer fluid, you might find yourself peering out through dirty, smudgy glass. If the situation is bad enough that it’s hard to see, it can be dangerous and you might be hit with a fine!
If you were driving out in the country and got a puncture, would you be able to change the tire yourself or would you be stuck waiting for roadside assistance? 89% of drivers told us they’d handle it themselves, meaning they’d be on their way much faster — no doom scrolling and running down the battery on their cell phone for these drivers!
And what about the slightly less common skills? For some people, using jumper cables might feel a bit like trying to defuse a bomb in an action movie – connect the red cable here and the black cable there and make sure you do it all in the right order! But for 80% of our survey respondents, it’s no trouble, with the same percentage happy to switch out windshield wiper blades. The least common skill was changing car light bulbs, with two-thirds of drivers sharing that they know how to do this, at 66%.
Only a tiny percentage said they didn’t know how to do any of these car maintenance tasks at 5% – if this includes you, there’s no need to be embarrassed. YouTube tutorials can break it down and make it simple, and friends or family who are good with cars might also be happy to teach you. Just make sure you’re following the steps carefully and don’t try and improvise your own solutions if you’re not confident yet!
Do you know your brake fluid from your engine oil — and what to do if any car fluids are running low? 9 in 10 drivers told us they’re happy to handle it themselves. This is another super important skill. For instance, if you run out of windshield washer fluid, you might find yourself peering out through dirty, smudgy glass. If the situation is bad enough that it’s hard to see, it can be dangerous and you might be hit with a fine!
If you were driving out in the country and got a puncture, would you be able to change the tire yourself or would you be stuck waiting for roadside assistance? 89% of drivers told us they’d handle it themselves, meaning they’d be on their way much faster — no doom scrolling and running down the battery on their cell phone for these drivers!
And what about the slightly less common skills? For some people, using jumper cables might feel a bit like trying to defuse a bomb in an action movie – connect the red cable here and the black cable there and make sure you do it all in the right order! But for 80% of our survey respondents, it’s no trouble, with the same percentage happy to switch out windshield wiper blades. The least common skill was changing car light bulbs, with two-thirds of drivers sharing that they know how to do this, at 66%.
Only a tiny percentage said they didn’t know how to do any of these car maintenance tasks at 5% – if this includes you, there’s no need to be embarrassed. YouTube tutorials can break it down and make it simple, and friends or family who are good with cars might also be happy to teach you. Just make sure you’re following the steps carefully and don’t try and improvise your own solutions if you’re not confident yet!
When we broke down the data by age, we found out who the champions of car care are: the 62+ crew. These self-sufficient Baby Boomers are totally happy flying solo. There’s only one task they didn’t beat everybody else on – changing a headlight bulb. 66% of both 46–61-year-olds and those aged 62+ proved they know exactly how many drivers it takes to change a light bulb.
There were also differences around the world, as some countries were more likely than others to have drivers whose toolboxes might be gathering dust! Italy was the country with the highest percentage of people who shared that they don’t know how to carry out any of these car maintenance tasks, at 13%, followed by 9% of drivers in France. In contrast, 0% of survey respondents in Belgium, Ireland, Spain or New Zealand gave this answer, suggesting that these countries have lots of confident home mechanics who know their way around a wrench.
There were also differences around the world, as some countries were more likely than others to have drivers whose toolboxes might be gathering dust! Italy was the country with the highest percentage of people who shared that they don’t know how to carry out any of these car maintenance tasks, at 13%, followed by 9% of drivers in France. In contrast, 0% of survey respondents in Belgium, Ireland, Spain or New Zealand gave this answer, suggesting that these countries have lots of confident home mechanics who know their way around a wrench.
Dashboard warning lights
There’s a whole array of warning lights that can appear on your dashboard, which can be a bit alarming if you don’t know what they mean and you’re miles from home! We're all familiar with the classic fuel light that pops up to say you need to top up, but others can be a bit more of a mystery. While red lights mean there’s a problem that needs your attention right now, amber lights are more of a heads-up that something needs looking at, and green or blue lights are just a helpful message from your car to show that a feature or system is in use.
83% of our survey respondents were fully familiar with their dashboard lights, while 16% said they knew “some of them”. Only 1% said they didn’t have a clue.
Breaking this data down by countries, there are some interesting regional differences. Sweden comes out on top, with 93% of drivers here able to identify all the lights that might pop up. France is hot on their heels, with 91% of drivers feeling like dashboard experts, too. On the flip side, we found a bit more mystery in Spain, where 7% of drivers admitted they aren’t familiar with any of the warning symbols.
83% of our survey respondents were fully familiar with their dashboard lights, while 16% said they knew “some of them”. Only 1% said they didn’t have a clue.
Breaking this data down by countries, there are some interesting regional differences. Sweden comes out on top, with 93% of drivers here able to identify all the lights that might pop up. France is hot on their heels, with 91% of drivers feeling like dashboard experts, too. On the flip side, we found a bit more mystery in Spain, where 7% of drivers admitted they aren’t familiar with any of the warning symbols.
Confidence at the auto shop
Not many people would say they necessarily enjoy a trip to the auto shop – it usually means something has gone wrong with your car and almost always comes with a bill! But when you know you have to head over there, is it just a bit annoying – or do you find yourself dreading it? We asked our survey respondents to rate how confident they feel at the auto shop from 1 to 5. On average, people scored themselves 4.2 out of 5.
You might be pleased to hear that confidence in this arena generally seems to increase with age, perhaps due to drivers’ experience and knowledge building over time. People aged 30-45 gave a rating of 3.8 out of 5. But people aged 46-61 rated their level of comfort 4.3 out of 5, making this age group the likeliest to strut out of the auto shop with a solid understanding of what's going on – and those aged 62+ were only slightly below this, at 4.2.
When we compared answers by gender, men gave themselves a confidence rating of 4.3, while women felt a little less comfortable in this space with an average score of 3.9 out of 5.
Around the world, Irish drivers are the kings and queens of the auto shop with a near-perfect score of 4.9! On the other hand, drivers in Sweden and Spain seem to find the whole experience a bit more daunting, both tied at a more modest 3.7, as the least confident overall.
You might be pleased to hear that confidence in this arena generally seems to increase with age, perhaps due to drivers’ experience and knowledge building over time. People aged 30-45 gave a rating of 3.8 out of 5. But people aged 46-61 rated their level of comfort 4.3 out of 5, making this age group the likeliest to strut out of the auto shop with a solid understanding of what's going on – and those aged 62+ were only slightly below this, at 4.2.
When we compared answers by gender, men gave themselves a confidence rating of 4.3, while women felt a little less comfortable in this space with an average score of 3.9 out of 5.
Around the world, Irish drivers are the kings and queens of the auto shop with a near-perfect score of 4.9! On the other hand, drivers in Sweden and Spain seem to find the whole experience a bit more daunting, both tied at a more modest 3.7, as the least confident overall.
Speaking mechanic-ese
Whether you’re at the auto shop in person or getting a phone call from the mechanic to update you on what needs doing, people sometimes find that the expert’s explanation goes over their heads. Have you ever nodded along while they described which parts they were going to replace without fully knowing what they were talking about – or how much it was likely to set you back?
In our survey, we asked people to share whether they believe mechanics explain repairs clearly – 13% said they always do, while 70% agree they can usually understand it. But more than 1 in 10 drivers, at 16% overall, felt that mechanics usually don’t explain things in a way they understand – and 2% said they never do.
Once again, our respondents aged 62+ have got the most confidence in this arena. These drivers tend to know what’s up, as 86% say they can always or usually understand what the mechanic is telling them. Not far behind, 80% of 46–61-year-olds said the same thing.
In our survey, we asked people to share whether they believe mechanics explain repairs clearly – 13% said they always do, while 70% agree they can usually understand it. But more than 1 in 10 drivers, at 16% overall, felt that mechanics usually don’t explain things in a way they understand – and 2% said they never do.
Once again, our respondents aged 62+ have got the most confidence in this arena. These drivers tend to know what’s up, as 86% say they can always or usually understand what the mechanic is telling them. Not far behind, 80% of 46–61-year-olds said the same thing.
Car issues too expensive to fix
Getting your car fixed can sometimes run up some pretty eye-watering costs, especially if you need some unusual parts replaced. We also asked drivers if they’ve ever put off fixing a minor car issue due to the cost, and on average, 19% of our survey respondents said they had.
There’s a slight generation gap in how our respondents answered this question. While 19% of our drivers have admitted to ignoring a car problem at least once, our 62+ crowd is much more diligent (and may have deeper pockets), as slightly fewer of them, at 17%, have let a car issue slide. And 20% of 46–61-year-olds also admit to having postponed getting their car fixed due to the cost.
The country where people were most likely to have ignored a car issue was Poland (26%) followed by the UK (25%). At the other end of the scale, only 6% of drivers in both Ireland and Belgium had put off fixing their car because of the cost, with drivers in these countries generally quick to drop off their car at the auto shop.
There’s a slight generation gap in how our respondents answered this question. While 19% of our drivers have admitted to ignoring a car problem at least once, our 62+ crowd is much more diligent (and may have deeper pockets), as slightly fewer of them, at 17%, have let a car issue slide. And 20% of 46–61-year-olds also admit to having postponed getting their car fixed due to the cost.
The country where people were most likely to have ignored a car issue was Poland (26%) followed by the UK (25%). At the other end of the scale, only 6% of drivers in both Ireland and Belgium had put off fixing their car because of the cost, with drivers in these countries generally quick to drop off their car at the auto shop.
Safety checks
Heading out on a long road trip? We’d always recommend carrying out a safety check first – having a look at the car’s exterior, the tires, fluid levels, lights, brakes and electrics to make sure you won’t have any nasty surprises on the road. 58% of our survey respondents said they always do this, 33% sometimes do, and only 9% throw caution to the wind and rely on their vehicle being in good shape.
One interesting difference we noticed was that younger drivers were more likely to check their car every time, with 62% of 30– 45-year-olds saying they always do this. This percentage drops a little through the generations, with 56% of those aged 62+ checking every time. Even if you feel very confident that everything will be all right, as a highly experienced driver, it’s always best to check – give yourself the best chance for a trip where everything goes smoothly.
The country where people are most likely to say they always check their car before heading out on a trip is France, with 73% of drivers having a good look before they jump in. In contrast, only 40% of people in Sweden carry out a safety check every time, with more than half of drivers here ready to just get behind the wheel and go.
One interesting difference we noticed was that younger drivers were more likely to check their car every time, with 62% of 30– 45-year-olds saying they always do this. This percentage drops a little through the generations, with 56% of those aged 62+ checking every time. Even if you feel very confident that everything will be all right, as a highly experienced driver, it’s always best to check – give yourself the best chance for a trip where everything goes smoothly.
The country where people are most likely to say they always check their car before heading out on a trip is France, with 73% of drivers having a good look before they jump in. In contrast, only 40% of people in Sweden carry out a safety check every time, with more than half of drivers here ready to just get behind the wheel and go.
Emergency kits
Do you have an emergency kit in your car? It can be an absolute lifesaver in case you have a breakdown, battery issue or run into any other problems on the road. 82% of our survey respondents have one of these, with 46–61-year-olds being the most likely to have one at 86%. Those aged 62+ were the most likely to go without, with 21% admitting they don’t have an emergency kit.
We found that the country that’s most likely to have an emergency kit is Poland, where 100% of our well-prepared survey respondents have got one, followed by 94% of drivers in both Belgium and Ireland. But Australia is home to the drivers who are least likely to have one of these stashed in their trunk at 65% – surprisingly for a country with thousands of miles of desert outback!
Men were also more likely to have an emergency kit in their car, with 83% of male respondents saying they have one, while women are less likely to give this answer, at 76%.
But what do most people keep in their emergency kit? We asked drivers which of the following pieces of equipment they have in their car.
We found that the country that’s most likely to have an emergency kit is Poland, where 100% of our well-prepared survey respondents have got one, followed by 94% of drivers in both Belgium and Ireland. But Australia is home to the drivers who are least likely to have one of these stashed in their trunk at 65% – surprisingly for a country with thousands of miles of desert outback!
Men were also more likely to have an emergency kit in their car, with 83% of male respondents saying they have one, while women are less likely to give this answer, at 76%.
But what do most people keep in their emergency kit? We asked drivers which of the following pieces of equipment they have in their car.
- 86% have a first aid kit: By far the most common item that drivers have, this is incredibly important to have in case you or a passenger experiences any medical issues while out on the road.
- 83% have a reflective warning triangle: Stick this on your car if you break down – it will keep you safe by making it much easier for other drivers to see you.
- 68% have a hi-viz vest: It’s not particularly fashionable or flattering, but donning a high-viz helps make sure other drivers can see you if you need to exit your vehicle due to a breakdown or emergency.
- 62% have a flashlight: That might seem surprisingly low, but we suspect that lots of people use their cell phones for this nowadays – but having a separate flashlight means you’re protected in case your battery runs out!
- 61% have a tire repair kit: While a high percentage of people can change a tire according to our survey, it looks like fewer feel confident repairing one that’s damaged.
- 52% have jumper cables: Jumper cables are heavy and rely on there being another driver able to help you by connecting their car up to yours. Portable jump starters are a bit more expensive, but they don’t require another vehicle to work.
- 44% have a fire extinguisher: The least common item to have in your car, it’s not recommended to try and use fire extinguishers unless you’ve had training, which might be the reason why not so many people have these.
How drivers respond to red warning lights
We’ve already talked about how many of their dashboard warning lights people understand. We wanted to know what people would do if a red warning light flashed up on their dash, which can be pretty worrying if you don’t know what it means! The most popular answer was to pull over immediately, with 49% saying they’d stop the car. 32% said they would research on the go, followed by 13% who would seek professional help. A small minority at 3% would finish their trip, and 2% would call someone or back up.
When you break down the data by gender, you see that men are more likely to pull over immediately than women, at 50% compared to 40%. And on the other hand, women are more likely than men to seek professional help when this happens, at 17% compared to 12%.
30–45-year-olds were the most likely to pull over immediately (54%) or call someone for backup (4%). But they were also the most likely to finish their trip before looking into it (10%). Those aged 62+ were the most likely to research on the go (37%) – perhaps another indication that Baby Boomers are fairly unflappable after lots of experience driving.
When you break down the data by gender, you see that men are more likely to pull over immediately than women, at 50% compared to 40%. And on the other hand, women are more likely than men to seek professional help when this happens, at 17% compared to 12%.
30–45-year-olds were the most likely to pull over immediately (54%) or call someone for backup (4%). But they were also the most likely to finish their trip before looking into it (10%). Those aged 62+ were the most likely to research on the go (37%) – perhaps another indication that Baby Boomers are fairly unflappable after lots of experience driving.
Conclusion
We hope our survey into car maintenance was informative. If you’re a younger driver who feels a bit confused and daunted by caring for your car, don’t stress – our survey shows that confidence and car knowledge both seem to grow over time!
Are you looking to rent a car for your next trip? Please consider booking with us. We were the most visited global car rental comparison site in February 2026 and can help you find the perfect rental car in over 145 countries around the world.
Are you looking to rent a car for your next trip? Please consider booking with us. We were the most visited global car rental comparison site in February 2026 and can help you find the perfect rental car in over 145 countries around the world.
Top Related Locations
Here are some cities and their nearest airports where you'd want to be confident in checking the car for issues before heading to more remote and demanding areas with it.
- Reykjavík, Iceland (Keflavík International Airport): A starting point for self-drive trips where changing weather, gravel roads and long distances make vehicle preparation particularly important.
- Inverness, United Kingdom (Inverness Airport): The gateway to the North Coast 500, with winding roads, remote stretches and extensive single-track driving.
- Tromsø, Norway (Tromsø Airport): A base for Arctic road trips where snow, darkness and icy roads make tires, visibility and emergency supplies especially relevant.
- Perth, Australia (Perth Airport): A launch point for journeys through Western Australia's coast, outback and remote regional landscapes.
- Queenstown, New Zealand (Queenstown Airport): Surrounded by narrow, winding alpine roads, including scenic routes toward Glenorchy and Wānaka.
- Denver, Colorado (Denver International Airport): A gateway to Colorado's mountain passes and scenic byways, where altitude and changing conditions can make driving more demanding.
- Anchorage, Alaska (Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport): A starting point for scenic drives along Alaska's highways, with wilderness, mountains and long distances beyond the city.
- Calgary, Canada (Calgary International Airport): Well placed for road trips through Banff, Canmore and the Canadian Rockies.
- Windhoek, Namibia (Hosea Kutako International Airport): The main base for Namibian self-drive trips, where most roads are gravel and journeys often cover considerable distances.
- Cape Town, South Africa (Cape Town International Airport): A popular starting point for drives along the Garden Route and into the mountains and semi-arid Klein Karoo.
- Kiruna, Sweden (Kiruna Airport): An Arctic driving base where snow, ice, limited daylight and wildlife on the roads make preparation essential.
- Ushuaia, Argentina (Ushuaia–Malvinas Argentinas International Airport): A starting point for drives through Tierra del Fuego's forests, mountains and cold, exposed landscapes.
- Punta Arenas, Chile (Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport): The principal gateway to Chilean Tierra del Fuego and overland journeys across southern Patagonia.
- Alice Springs, Australia (Alice Springs Airport): The heart of the Red Centre and a base for long outback drives toward Kings Canyon and Uluru.
- Tbilisi, Georgia (Tbilisi International Airport): A base for mountain road trips, including the sharp bends and higher elevations of the Gombori Pass.
- Marrakech, Morocco (Marrakech Menara Airport): A starting point for drives into the Atlas Mountains, the Agafay Desert and Morocco's Atlantic hinterland.
- Rovaniemi, Finland (Rovaniemi Airport): A gateway to Finnish Lapland, where long distances and rapidly changing winter weather reward careful preparation.
- Salt Lake City, Utah (Salt Lake City International Airport): A practical base for road trips combining mountain landscapes with Utah's distant red-rock parks and monuments.
- Muscat, Oman (Muscat International Airport): A starting point for drives through mountain, desert and coastal landscapes, with some remote routes better suited to four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Aleksandrs Buraks
Head of Growth at DiscoverCars.com
Aleksandrs has over 10 years of experience in marketing with a focus on creating stellar content that provides topical insights using data. Having taken five road trips across Europe and one in the U.S., he is passionate about traveling by car. His favorite countries to visit are Denmark and Thailand. You can find him on Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter.
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