Do you still spend your weekends under the bonnet, tinkering with spanners and securing smooth-running motors?

In the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and even the 1980s, it was a regular sight on driveways and front yards across the nation.

However, DIY motorists appear to be the least spotted motorist these days.

Unexpected actions

Millennials are the only generation that attempts to fix their cars before they take them to the garage.

Three-quarters of that age group (28-43-year-olds) are trying to mend motors themselves, unlike the supposedly more DIY-savvy Gen X (44-59) and Baby Boomers (60-78).

Nearly two-thirds of drivers in those two older age groups will contact a mechanic first.

At the same time, perhaps unsurprisingly, young Gen Z (17-27) motorists would do the same and ask a parent or guardian before they decide to get their hands dirty.

Tools in hand

The surprising revelation comes after Sterling Insurance surveyed more than 1,250 drivers on a wide range of topics, including how confident they are about taking on simple motoring maintenance matters.

Some of the most interesting insights discovered include:

  • Millennials are the most confident when it comes to fixing their car (over 50% either being extremely or very confident), while Baby Boomers are the least (37% are not at all confident)
  • Two in five Gen Z say they wouldn’t be able to fit a headlight bulb and come bottom in five of the six categories when it comes to how confident they were around completing minor jobs
  • Over three in four respondents are able to fit wiper blades and jump start their car but almost half of Gen Z say they are unlikely to be able to replace a tyre
  • Cautious Millennials surveyed state they do weekly oil checks while Gen Z only do monthly reviews on routine areas at best, even preferring to wait for a warning light to come on around the health of their battery
  • Millennials are the most likely age group to clean their car weekly (41%)
  • 13% of Gen Z get their dad to clean their car
  • Nearly 60% of Gen Z, and 50% of females, get a family member to look at a second-hand car before they buy it

Driving routines

The full survey also includes analysis of purchasing habits, brand popularity, differences between drivers of manual or automatic vehicles, and what generations are most readily adopting alternative fuel sources.

Peter Cook, a manager at insurance broker Sterling, said: “We’re always told that it’s the older generation, people like our dads and grandads, that know how to fix things.

“So we put the theory to the test and were so surprised to see it’s actually their sons and daughters that are really getting their hands dirty when it comes to motoring. Perhaps it’s because they’re looking to save money, they’re better informed because of the internet or they’re driving less hybrid or electric vehicles so it’s less tricky to fix. However, it wasn’t what we expected to see.

“It’s really interesting to have looked at approaches from different generations and it does appear, given the Gen Z responses, that doing simple tasks may become something of a lost art.”