Toronto, Ontario — Sept. 23, 2019 — AIA Canada’s latest report “Under the Hood” is a breakdown of how Canadian motorists view their vehicle’s maintenance and repair. Based on responses, it deduces how important maintenance and repair is to vehicle owners, how vehicle owners are reminded and would prefer to be reminded of the maintenance their vehicle needs and the cost/quality trade-off for specific parts of their vehicle, among many other areas.
Quorus Consulting Group conducted the research for the report, garnering responses from 2,061 people across the country. An example of its findings includes the assessment that between men and women, women are more likely to prioritize safety when conducting maintenance and repairs. As well, it finds that drivers in Atlantic Canada are most likely to consider themselves car-savvy when it comes to vehicle repair. It also found the likeliness of a driver prioritizing resale value decreases with age.
According to the report, about 64 percent of vehicle owners consider maintenance and repair to be a high priority. On average, owners are taking their vehicles in twice a year for maintenance and only once a year for repairs. For both maintenance and repairs at the same time, the study found owners visiting about once every two years.
As for part quality, respondents showed that around 60 percent of Canadians want higher quality for obvious parts such as tires and brakes, but only about 51 percent want higher end quality for parts that are less obvious, like batteries or suspension parts. When an owner neglects maintenance, it is found that it is usually tire- or oil-related.
In most cases, consumers are choosing what part is used in the maintenance and repairing process, with only 8-20 percent leaving it up to the technician depending on what work is necessary.
The study concludes that it is vital for any collision repair centre to understand a customer’s point of view, and what variables can change it. “Under the Hood: How Canadians View Vehicle Maintenance and Repair” is available now for $199.
