Auto Anxiety in the UK is rife, with younger drivers asking the internet rather than a mechanic. While it makes some sense, there is also a worry that problems are going undetected. This could have potential safety as well as greater economic impact to owners failing to solve mechanical issues before they have greater, more expensive consequences.

Fear factors

Of 2,000 people surveyed by Dick Lovett, a shocking 35% claimed that they dislike going to the car garage on their own. This leads to 31% of people opting to take someone with them when they need to go.

The ‘Auto Anxiety’ capital of the UK is Liverpool. Over half (52%) of people surveyed admit to feeling anxious when they visit a car garage. This is closely followed by Newcastle (45%), and Belfast (44%).

At the other end of the country the reverse is true. The city with the least people feeling anxiety around car garages is Brighton with only 1 in 5 people feeling apprehensive. This is closely followed by Plymouth at 24%.

Driving feelings of anxiety

So, What Exactly Makes People Feel Uncomfortable When Visiting Car Garages?

The reason that came in the top spot was people fearing that they won’t be able to afford the repairs needed (41%). Members of the public feeling that the environment is intimidating claimed second place, alongside feelings of anxiety when at the mechanics with over a third of people admitting to both (38%).

Type setting

Auto Anxiety and Gender Stereotypes

Gender stereotypes are a common theme throughout the automotive industry, and some notable statistics in our study confirm that. Almost 50% of women we surveyed (44%) have felt uncomfortable visiting a car garage simply because of their gender. The study also reveals that 40% of women would trust a car garage more if there were more female mechanics.

At the other end of the spectrum, an enormous 45% of men surveyed stated that people expect them to know about car mechanics purely based on their gender, with most agreeing that this pressure and expectation can lead to increased anxiety if you don’t have the knowledge, interest or experience.

Digital destinations

Looking to the future of car repairs, is there going to be a rise in online services? The study finds that the demand is becoming increasingly popular with younger generations, with almost 40% of Gen Z claiming to search online for answers instead of visiting a garage.

You can read the full report here.