Motorists turn to the “Garage of Dad” - eBay
New study reveals almost 80% of UK motorists have relied on help from their dad in the last 12 months to fix their car
22% visited the “Garage of Dad” two occasions in the last year
The most common fix was to change a wheel (40%) while 38% asked for advice when doing an oil change
Over half (54%) called for help as they felt their dad knew what to do, while 48% put it down to wanting to save money
Those not turning to their dad or male guardian tend to ask their friends and partners for the help needed
Almost 80% of motorists have turned to their dad or male guardian for automotive advice in the past 12 months, with 22% of these doing so on at least two occasions, and almost 15% doing so three times.
With the UK aftermarket industry worth £50 billion**, motorists are looking closer to home to try and slim down their spending with 48% of participants in the study admitting to asking for help to saving money.
More than half (54%) said they asked as they knew their dad would know what to do but it wasn’t just knowledge and financial benefits people were interested in – 39% put it down to enjoying learning from them and more than a fifth (23%) did so for the bonding experience.
Asking for guidance on shorter, simpler jobs seemed to be the focus for a lot of drivers, with most people (26%) spending less than one hour carrying out jobs with their dad, with two-hour jobs the next most common (25%). One-hour jobs accounted for 20% of requests for help.
Dr Tony Tong, Head of Automotive at eBay UK, said: “It’s no surprise that motorists are enlisting the help of dads and other family members to help carry out minor car repairs. Not only is it easier and more cost-efficient, but fixing a car together can be a great bonding experience and a lot of satisfaction comes from finding and fitting a part yourself. That’s why we’re focused on providing huge breadth across our inventory, to give all motorists the direct access to the tools and parts they need to upskill and save when it comes to DIY repairs.”
The most common problem causing people to turn to the DIY advice of their dad was for tyre / wheel changes, with 40% of respondents having needed help for this. This was followed by changing oil (38%) and replacing a headlight / bulbs at 34%.
People not opting for the “Garage of Dad” have instead been turning to the help of friends (28%) or their partner (24%). But, despite the constant request for help, the majority of motorists (62%) would prefer to carry out repairs themselves rather than having to ask for advice.
eBay UK’s “Built Different” campaign calls for vehicle owners to repair, rather than replace. The one-stop-shop wants to inspire consumers to do more for themselves, offering all the parts needed to enable them to take the challenge. Find out more here.