Three in four brits would rather drive than get public transport as car showrooms reopen
Many of us have had to adapt our daily routines over the past 12 months and our latest research shows that cars have become more important to our lifestyles.
The study by our data insights team found that 76% of people in Britain are more likely to travel in their own vehicle as opposed to getting public transport due to Covid-19.
The news comes as car showrooms reopened in England and Wales earlier this week (12th April).
Regionally, it’s people in the Midlands who feel most strongly about private travel, with 81% of people likely to choose driving their own vehicle over public transport due to Covid-19, followed by the North of England (78%) and Scotland (78%).
We also found that British people now place increased importance on the role private vehicles play in our everyday lives in light of Covid-19.
At a regional level, this sentiment is again strongest for people in the Midlands, with 65% of respondents saying they agree that their car or van has become more important over the past 12 months. The North of England (61%) and Scotland (60%) are the other regions where people feel most strongly on this issue.
How do different age groups feel?
Generationally, the importance of having a private vehicle in lockdown has increased the most for young people.
Our study found that 73% of people aged between 18 and 34 agree that their vehicle has become more important to their lifestyle due to Covid-19, followed by the next youngest group – people aged between 35 and 54 (60%).
And because private vehicles have grown in importance over the past 12 months, our research also found that 83% of Brits feel off-street parking is now a priority when home-hunting.
Off-street parking is particularly important for female home-hunters, with 86% of women agreeing that it is a priority.
People with new cars also felt strongly about this issue, with 86% of this group agreeing that off-street parking is a priority when looking for a new home.
What do the experts say?
Mike Todd, CEO at VWFS, explained that Covid-19 has impacted the way people feel about travelling around the country.
He said: “Over the past 12 months, many of us have had to adapt our lifestyles to suit a changing landscape and I think our research clearly highlights a shift in the way people choose to travel.
“Private vehicles have grown in importance for a significant amount of the population, and our study shows that the vast majority of people would now rather drive their own vehicle than travel on public transport.
“This has created a completely new set of needs for motorists and the automotive industry needs to be agile enough to react to these issues.
“That’s why at VWFS we’re constantly creating better ways to solve the current problems of our customers, so whether you need a car in 30 days, a particular finance package or wish to rent a car instead, our innovative products can cater for a variety of needs.”
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