showing nation’s drivers maintain their cars well, but there is room for improvement in the year ahead
Best performers are: Those who report having a vehicle service contract (Index Score = 80) Households with children under 18 (77) Urban and rural drivers (77) SUV (77) and Sedan (76) drivers
Studio City, CA, January 22, 2015 – An informative new National Car Maintenance Index was released today by Toco Warranty Corp. The Car Maintenance Index provides a useful snapshot of how well drivers in the U.S. are maintaining their cars.
The Car Maintenance Index is 76, out of a possible score of 100. In order to earn a perfect score, drivers had to indicate that they perform, or have a professional perform, each prescribed car maintenance item at the recommended frequency (or more often). Of course, drivers should always check their owner’s manual for specific maintenance recommendations from the manufacturer.
For more information, view the infographic and read the blog.
“As drivers make their New Year’s resolutions, it is important to remember that good car care maintenance habits are essential to protect and extend the life of your car. With the average car owner keeping their car for 10 years, drivers should resolve to stay on top of their car’s recommended maintenance schedule,” said George Laird, a Toco spokesperson.
“Toco felt it was important to develop a consistent, easy-to-understand way of measuring how well people do the things necessary to help keep their car running well, and the National Car Maintenance Index does just that. It can be used to assess changes in car care habits over time, and we hope will serve as a friendly reminder of the important role maintenance plays in keeping your car – and life – running well,” said Laird.
The Index was developed by conducting a nationwide online survey, on behalf of Toco, of 1,001 U.S. car owners/lessees age 18 and over. Respondents were asked whether and how often they perform, or have a professional perform, a number of basic car maintenance items. The index measures performance based on the survey results evaluated against generally accepted recommendations for how often such maintenance should occur.
“In our Survey, we found that drivers have an almost perfect track record of performing the car maintenance items, but fall behind in doing them as frequently as recommended. In fact, some items that drivers should be doing often, such as checking the battery and engine belts, are ones fewer drivers are doing as often as recommended,” said Laird.
National Car Maintenance Index Key Findings
The following groups score better than others on the Car Maintenance Index, meaning there is a statistically significant difference in their car maintenance performance against the comparison group:
Those who said they …
|
…have a significantly higher Car Maintenance Index rating than those who said they:
|
|---|
Have a vehicle service contract
(Index Score = 80)
|
Do not have a vehicle service contract
(Index Score = 75)
|
Have children under the age of 18 living in the household (77)
|
Have no children under the age of 18 living in the household (74)
|
Have children under the age of 18 in the household who drive the family car (80)
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Have children under the age of 18 in the household who do not drive (77)
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Live in an urban (77) or rural (77) area
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Live in a suburban area (75)
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Drive an SUV (77) or Sedan (76)
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Drive other types of cars (74)
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Spent money on routine maintenance or repairs in the past 12 months (77)
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Did not spend money on routine maintenance or repairs in the past 12 months (68)
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Have later model year cars: 2001-2010 (76)
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Have model year cars 2000 or earlier (74)
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Are male (77)
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Are female (74)
|
Who Performs Maintenance: Owner or Professional?
- Majorities reported that they have each car maintenance item performed by a professional, with the exception of checking the tire pressure/condition (60% do themselves) and washing the car (70% do themselves).
- Those in the Northeast are significantly more likely than those in the South and Midwest to enlist the help of a pro with all car maintenance items except changing the oil, checking the tire pressure/ condition and washing the car.
Is Maintenance Performed Often Enough?
- Though virtually all respondents perform the maintenance items on their cars, only 75% or fewer perform any of them at the recommended frequency applied in the Index. In fact, some car maintenance tasks that drivers should be doing often, such as checking the battery or the engine belts, are things fewer drivers are doing on time.
- Half to three-quarters of drivers polled perform, or have a professional perform, the following tasks at the recommended times, according to the survey:
- Check the brakes (75%)
- Change the air filters (73%)
- Change the coolant (antifreeze) (62%)
- Check the spark plugs (59%)
- Wash the car (to remove road salt and grime) (57%)
- Change the oil (50%)
- Less than half do the following maintenance items at the suggested frequency:
- Check tire pressure and condition (41%)
- Check the battery, including terminals and cables (38%)
- Check the engine belts (27%)
How Much Money are People Spending on Maintenance?
- Eight out of 10 surveyed drivers (83%) report having spent money on routine maintenance and repairs to keep their cars running in the past 12 months.
- The average spend across all drivers polled was approximately $549.
- More than a third report having spent less than $250 on routine maintenance and car repairs.
- Nearly one out of five people (19%) reported that they have a vehicle service contract (in other words, a contract for repair, or replacement for an operational or structural failure of a vehicle)
Summary of Maintenance and Timing
|
% who perform service
|
% who perform service at the recommended intervals
|
|---|
Check the brakes
|
98%
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75%
|
Change the air filters
|
98%
|
73%
|
Change the coolant (antifreeze)
|
97%
|
62%
|
Check the spark plugs
|
98%
|
59%
|
Wash your car (to remove road salt and grime)
|
96%
|
57%
|
Change the oil
|
98%
|
50%
|
Check tire pressure and condition
|
98%
|
41%
|
Check the battery, including terminals and cables
|
98%
|
38%
|
Check the engine belts
|
97%
|
27%
|
Methodology
The Toco Car Maintenance Survey was conducted online among a nationwide sample of 1,001 car owners and lessees age 18 years and older in the U.S. Data was gathered in late 2014 by global data collection service provider, Critical Mix, on behalf of Toco.
Using car maintenance recommendations based on industry sources, Toco’s National Car Maintenance Index was created to provide a snapshot of how well drivers in the U.S. are maintaining their cars. Respondents earned 5.55 points for each of nine common maintenance items performed (whether by themselves or by a professional) and earned 5.55 points for each item performed at the generally recommended frequency (or more often). A perfect car care score would be 100
[2] if a person performed each maintenance item at least as often as recommended. The Index is based upon the following maintenance items and frequency intervals:
Car Maintenance Item:
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Performed at Least:
|
Check Tire Pressure and Condition
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Every month
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Wash Your Car (to remove road salt and grime)
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Every month
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Change the Oil
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Every 3mo/3,000 mi
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Check the Battery, including Terminals and Cables
|
Every 3mo/3,000 mi
|
Check the Spark Plugs
|
Every 12mo/12,000mi
|
Change the Air Filters
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Every 12mo/12,000mi
|
Check the Engine Belts
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Every 3mo/3,000 mi
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Check the Brakes
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Every 12mo/12,000mi
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Change the Coolant (antifreeze)
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Every 12mo/12,000mi
|
About Toco Warranty Corp.
Toco is revolutionizing the VSC industry by basing its approach on the belief that no one should ever be grounded by auto repair bills they can't afford. The way we see it, a VSC should be a simple and affordable monthly expense, much like the utility bill. By paying an affordable amount each month, with no interest or down payment, you can keep your vehicle running well. Our plans maximize coverage based on mileage and age while keeping fees affordable. Benefits include:
- A low monthly payment,* with NO down payments, and NO interest charges.
- It only takes a first month’s payment to sign up.
- Our “pay as you go” system allows customers to cancel any time before the next monthly billing cycle; however an administrative fee may apply.
To learn more about Toco, visit.
http://tocowarranty.com/About-Us.
* A deductible applies. See contract terms and conditions.
# # #
All plans require a mandatory Waiting Period before coverage takes effect, which starts from the contract purchase date and vehicle's odometer mileage at contract purchase date. Covered services are also subject to a $100 deductible, per visit. See Registration Page & terms and conditions for full coverage details. Not all vehicles are eligible for coverage; discuss with your Toco Warranty representative to confirm your vehicle's eligibility. Plans referenced herein are not contracts of insurance; they are Vehicle Service Contracts (except in AK, CA and NJ, where the plans are sold as mechanical breakdown insurance, which is not the same as bodily injury/property damage liability automobile insurance that may be required by your state).
Click here for information regarding the plans available in AK, CA, and NJ.
Plans are not available in MO and WA.Information provided herein is for summary purposes only. Terms and conditions apply; contact Toco for a copy of the full terms and conditions of the plans referenced herein.
Vehicle Service Contract coverage is provided and administered by Warrantech Automotive, Inc. In the following states, coverage is provided by: in FL – Wesco Insurance Company (as obligor and administrator), 59 Maiden Lane, 43rd Floor, New York, NY 10038, License #01913 and Toco Warranty Corp. (as seller), 10960 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604, License #W139014; in OK – Warrantech Automotive of Florida, Inc. (as obligor), P.O. Box 959, Bedford, TX 76095. Not affiliated with any manufacturer or dealership.
