Can YOU change a tyre? Shocking stats show just how bad Brits are at fixing cars
Basic car maintenance is out of reach for young drivers, according to a new study
BRITS are clueless when it comes to changing tyres - and millennials are to blame, according to a new study.
A poll of 2,000 drivers revealed that just 27 per cent of 18-23-year-olds reckon they can switch rubber at the roadside.
More than a third of millennials also admitted they would struggle to confidently open a car bonnet while 34 per cent don’t know what power steering does.
And only half of under 35s, polled by TV show Flipping Bangers, know how to check and top up the oil level on their car.
As a result, 63 per cent of millennials have never tried to fix, repair or modify a car they have bought.
It's better the older you get as more than four in ten of those aged 36 and above could confidently change a wheel.
Flipping Bangers host Gus Gregory said: “Most people get into their cars, turn the key and drive away, without really knowing anything about the reasons why something goes wrong when it does.
“It seems under-35s are the least equipped to deal with basic issues and repairs such as changing a tyre or replacing a windscreen blade.
“We think it’s a good idea for everyone, no matter what age, to learn the basic and normally most vital principles of car maintenance.
“As seen in our show, Flipping Bangers, even some of the simplest mechanical knowledge can turn an old and rusty banger back into beautiful and iconic car.”
Top 20 things millennials would struggle to do
- Fix a leaky tap
- Re-wire a plug
- Change a headlight bulb
- Bleed a radiator
- Change a car tyre
- Jump star a car with a flat battery
- Replace the wiper blades
- Change a fuse
- Check the tread depth on car tyres
- Put up a shelf
- Unblock the sink
- Descale a kettle
- Connect your phone to the car radio
- Build flat pack furniture
- Top up the oil in the car
- Change a lightbulb
- Check the tyre pressures on the car
- Find the spare tyre
- Check the oil levels in a car
- Fill up the screenwash
Co-host, Will Trickett added: “Thanks to the internet there are loads of ways to learn how to fix things in a car.
“All it takes is a bit of time and elbow grease and you could save yourself a lot of money.”
Researchers found more than one in ten under-35s believe power steering is designed to help the car brake, and the same amount have no idea ABS stands for ‘anti-lock braking system’.
Four in ten millennials would even struggle to know how to top-up their levels of screenwash to keep their windscreens clear.
However, young drivers do have one ace up their sleeve – they’re more likely than their older counterparts to know how to connect their phone to the car’s Bluetooth system.
Interestingly, more young than old people rate their general knowledge of car parts and maintenance as ‘excellent’, despite the evidence.
When they’re looking for information on car repairs, almost twice as many millennials will consult YouTube for data, while the older generation are more likely to browse a book for the answer.
It’s not only in the car where the younger generation’s lack of knowledge is evident, as many of them also struggle with basic DIY tasks.
car maintenance guide
Three times as many over-36-year-olds would be confident wiring a plug, compared to their younger counterparts.
And twice the number of non-millennials will have a bash at fixing a leaky tap than those aged under 36, who would immediately run for help.
The results also found millennials are twice as likely to call someone else for help with car or general DIY maintenance.
Flipping Bangers, on every Friday at 9pm from 6th April, will be followed by Strippers: Cash for Cars, at 10pm, as part of Car Night on BLAZE. Test your knowledge of cars by taking the .
