Consumers Put Car Care Over Personal Care

For many people, taking care of their car trumps taking care of themselves, according to a new survey.

Cars.com, an online marketplace for vehicles, surveyed 2,385 drivers in six metropolitan areas to get their thoughts about their personal vehicles. The regions the samples were taken from were Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Los Angeles, San Francisco and St. Louis.

An overwhelming majority of respondents ⁠— 73% ⁠— said they love their cars a lot and 69% said they take a lot of pride in what they drive. In fact, many drivers spend more time pampering their cars than they do pampering themselves. Approximately 63% of survey respondents said they service their vehicles more regularly than they visit the dentist, and 57% said they take their cars in for service more often than they see their doctors.

Not only are drivers focused on keeping their cars running efficiently, but they want their cars to look good, too. More than half ⁠— 57% ⁠— said they would prefer to take their car to the car wash than make an appointment to get a haircut.

Survey respondents may believe others would be less careful in their rides as 68% said they would not let their vehicles be used for a ride-sharing service. On top of that, 37% said they would not loan their car to a friend or even another family member.

Though there are likely drivers from all across the country who shower love upon their vehicles, motorists in some parts of the country are more enthusiastic about their cars than others.

Los Angeles drivers were the most dedicated to their vehicles, as 76% said they loved their cars. Nearly half ⁠— 46% ⁠— said they wash their vehicles more frequently than they water their plants. Also, 56% said they service their vehicles more often than they visit their doctor.

Boston fell on the other end of the spectrum and tend to put themselves before their cars. Of all metropolitan areas surveyed, the smallest percentage of drivers in Boston ⁠— 64% ⁠— said they loved their vehicles. Boston respondents also were more likely to get a haircut than wash their car.

San Francisco drivers were most likely to ban passengers from eating fast food or drinking coffee in their cars while St Louis drivers, on the other hand, were most tolerant of those eating fast food during the ride.

The longer you can keep your car running efficiently before having to replace it, the more money you can save in the long run. For that reason, it’s a good idea to put some energy into servicing your vehicle regularly. Also, be proactive about making necessary repairs. Car repair insurance could be helpful in keeping such expenses affordable. If you do get in an accident or want to sell your car, a well-maintained vehicle may help you negotiate a higher value with an auto insurer or a higher price from an interested buyer. However, it should go without saying that taking care of yourself should be your No. 1 priority, no matter how much your love your vehicle.