repairpal 2014 car care survey - key results
TRANSCRIPT
Annual Car Care Survey ReportApril 2, 2014
Digitally Disconnect or Pump The Brakes?
85%would rather live without their
smartphone than their car
Certification Comes First
68%of respondents hate the financial burden
and headache of finding a trustworthy mechanicmost about taking their car to a repair shop
Certification Comes First
Most look for certification ofquality and fair pricing and a
knowledgeable staff
59%over convenience of location
4%when choosing a repair shop
Certification Comes First
Both mechanics*
91%and respondents
38%agree that certification is the top
factor when searching for a qualityauto repair shop
*According to the 2014 RepairPal Certified Shop Survey
Transformation in Trust?
52%(compared to 66% in 2013 *)
still believe they are being takenadvantage of by auto repair shops
*According to the 2013 First Annual RepairPal Car Care Survey
Transformation in Trust?
There’s miscommunicationabout maintenance:
86%of respondents say they are
vigilant with oil changes, while
40%of mechanics report it is neglected
to the detriment of the vehicle*
*According to the 2014 RepairPal Certified Shop Survey
Transformation in Trust?
It’s worse for women:
61%of respondents believe mechanics
perform more unnecessary repairs for women than men
Auto Repairs Cause Painful Anxiety
18%say they would rather buy a new car than
take their existing one to an auto repair shop
6%would choose a root canal
26%would opt to give up their cell phone for a week
Auto Repairs Cause Painful Anxiety
49%of respondents report unexpected automotive costs as
a leading cause of financial anxiety, alongside fear of unemployment
52%and emergency home repairs
50%
Auto Costs Are Overlooked
A whopping
64%report they do not include
automotive maintenance and repairs into their budgets
Auto Costs Are Overlooked
31%of respondents spend more on auto repairs
than gifts for their significant others
Safety and Dependability Trump Price
75%say they primarily conduct regular maintenance to extend the lifetime
of their car
55%of respondents say they maintain
the health of their car to keep it safeon the road
Safety and Dependability Trump Price
When buying aused car:
58%of respondents believe
how well it was previously maintained is the most important
factor
And only
16%say that price is the top
aspect to consider before purchasing
About RepairPal
RepairPal is the definitive source for trusted information on auto repair and service. RepairPal Certified shops are independently and rigorously screened for quality, skill, parts, pricing, and a proven track record of customer satisfaction — well beyond traditional consumer reviews. There are close to 700 shops in the RepairPal Certified Shop Network across 44 states that all guarantee the quality of their work with a minimum warranty, commit to charging fair prices within the range of RepairPal's RepairPrice Estimator™, pass a comprehensive assessment by RepairPal’s team of ASE-certified master technicians, and consistently deliver world-class service, which RepairPal verifies through personal interviews with customers of every shop. RepairPal’s RepairPrice Estimator is licensed by respected brands, including NAPA, Consumer Reports, and AOL Autos. This commitment to quality, unbiased information, and integrity brings unprecedented transparency to the auto repair industry, ensures that consumers get quality work done at fair prices, and rewards the auto repair shops that are doing excellent work for their customers.
For more information on RepairPal or this survey,please contact:
Libby [email protected] ext. 5
About the Survey
Methodology
The RepairPal Annual Car Care Survey polled 2,532 consumers who own or lease a car about their attitudes and behaviors relative to the automotive repair industry, including specific feelings about auto repairs and maintenance, finances, trust and general feelings related to leasing/owning a car. The online survey was conducted between February 27, 2014 and March 4, 2014 – all respondents are located in the United States and are ages 18 or older. The margin of error for this survey is +/- 1.95 percent.