Drivers appreciate their cars more after Covid-19, study finds

New research has found that 34% of drivers appreciate their car more than before the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The study was carried out by our sister site, Auto Express, to coincide with the two-year anniversary of the first Covid lockdown.

That headline figure comes despite a quarter of respondents saying that they now commute less than before the start of the pandemic.

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Many drivers now use their cars less frequently for leisure than before, which may have been compounded by the UK’s current high fuel prices. It means that even though the average mileage of UK drivers has decreased, those drivers now appreciate their cars more than before.

The main positives of car ownership were said to be freedom and independence, ahead of factors such as practicality, convenience and the car's ability to deliver a level of social distancing that isn’t possible on public transport.

By comparison, the least important factors were privacy and the status of owning a car, suggesting that flexible lease schemes such as Care by Volvo will become even more popular in future.

Steve Fowler, Auto Express Editor in Chief, said: "The key insight is that we Brits have an enduring emotional connection with our cars. For example, our research also reveals that an overwhelming 84% of people enjoy driving and that they most value the feelings of freedom and independence when they get behind the wheel, rather than just the convenience and practicality afforded by car ownership.

"Our findings are good news for a motor industry working hard to recover from disruptions to their supply chains and to the lives of their customers. It will be music to their ears to learn that a significant number of people love their cars even more today, even if they use them less."

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