The report reveals how the rising cost of living is impacting Australian vehicle owners’ habits

New research from mycar Tyre and Auto has revealed how cost-of-living challenges are reshaping mobility in Australia, with three in five vehicle owners (60 percent) changing their vehicle maintenance habits amid economic pressures and over three-quarters (77 percent) performing some form of car maintenance themselves.  
The inaugural mycar Mobility Index revealed key insights into the sentiment and outlook of Australian drivers across EVs, vehicle servicing and maintenance, the role of technology in cars, and the future outlook for mobility in Australia.
Of the 2,004 car or vehicle owners surveyed, nearly a quarter (24 percent) have extended intervals between regular maintenance services and a fifth (21 percent) have opted for lower-cost maintenance services or repairs when available. 
Financial pressures are prompting half (49 percent) of vehicle owners to adjust their insurance coverage, with over one in ten (11 percent) dropping it entirely, and over a quarter (27 percent) opting for cheaper policies. Meanwhile, 14 percent missed or struggled to make a vehicle insurance payment due to the rising cost of living. 
Drivers are taking a hands-on approach to vehicle maintenance, with nearly a fifth (17 percent) claiming to handle complex tasks like brake pad replacements or brake system maintenance themselves, which can be hazardous if done incorrectly.  
The survey also found that as cost-of-living pressures mount, electric vehicles (EVs) are an increasingly attractive choice with current combustion engine drivers citing the potential cost savings on both fuel (40 percent) and maintenance (32 percent) as key factors for their next car or vehicle purchase.
In addition, close to a fifth (18 percent) of Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) drivers said they would consider switching to an EV due to concerns about their carbon footprint. 
Despite a growth in interest, the majority (88 percent) of those surveyed still rely on petrol- or diesel-powered vehicles. Close to half (46 percent) of those cited the servicing and maintenance of EVs as one of the major barriers for entry, alongside the limited range of EVs and limited availability of charging infrastructure (40 percent) and high upfront costs for EV, hybrid or hydrogen vehicles (38 percent). 
This perception, however, contrasts with the majority (82 percent) of current EV owners who report high satisfaction with their vehicles’ reliability and durability. 
Drivers were also found to be apprehensive about the integration of emerging technology such as autonomous driving (44 percent), in-car data collection/monitoring for personalised services (36 percent), biometric recognition (26 percent) and virtual assistants such as ChatGPT (24 percent) or Amazon Alexa (26 percent). 
Further, over a quarter (27 percent) of drivers stated they believe more government policies are needed in support of sustainable transportation.

For more information about mycar’s Mobility Index and to download the report, please visit  www.mycar.com.au/car-advice/cost-of-living-is-impacting-australian-vehicle-owners-habits