The pandemic, along with the rising cost of living, seems to have forced people to be smarter about using their cars.
Research commissioned by Supercheap Auto and conducted by YouGov said 33 per cent of Australians surveyed had learned to service their vehicles since the outbreak began.
A total of 1054 adults aged 16 and over were surveyed in December 2022.
Figures show that a third of vehicle owners are worried about the rising costs associated with car maintenance with two in three wishing they knew more about their car.
50 percent of those surveyed said they knew how to check the engine oil in their car, while only 29 percent of them admitted they could change the engine oil and filter themselves.
The results also show that 43 percent of people know how to replace wiper blades with 29 percent of those surveyed saying they can also change a car battery.
About 40 percent of people admit they don’t know what to do if they break down in the middle of the situation.
Respondents’ concern about cost increases is reflected by the study from Australian Automobile Association carried out in the fourth quarter of 2022, which examines the average cost of living by transport, including costs related to vehicle repayments, fuel, servicing, car insurance and public transport.
On average, 15 percent of a person’s total income is spent on transportation expenses, whether it’s the cost of owning a vehicle or the cost of riding public transportation.
On average annual transportation costs increased by $198 since the third quarter of 2022 with people now spending an average of $20,013 per year across the country.
The first study of its kind was conducted in early 2016 and claimed the average annual expenditure was $17,034 on transportation and 13.7 percent of a person’s overall income.
The average cost per week for a household in Australia is $417.39.
Unsurprisingly, Sydney was the most expensive city with each household spending an average of $492.52 per week on transport costs while Hobart came in cheapest at $363.28 per household.
Households in rural areas average $347.68 per week for transportation.
Servicing and tires comprise about 8.2 percent of the total transportation-related costs.
On average, servicing and tires totals around $1600 per year for a vehicle owner.
The highest service costs and tire related expenses were borne by Bunbury in Western Australia with a very high related expense of $1901 per year.
It’s no surprise that car repayments are the highest ticket item to spend, with people on average spending around $160 per week.