60% Of UAE Residents Are Not Sure How Often A Car Should Be Serviced

A survey commissioned by Audi Abu Dhabi reveals a lack of awareness about car health checks in the UAE, with nearly half (47%) of respondents believing that cars need to be serviced only once every three years.

The survey conducted by Censuswide was shared with 1,000 UAE residents and identified eye-opening statistics on misconceptions relating to the servicing of a vehicle. Participants were asked to respond ‘true’ or ‘false’ to a statement that claimed a car should be serviced once every three years. Only 40% responded correctly claiming the statement to be false, with the remaining participants either agreeing with the statement (47%) or stating they are unsure (13%).

“How often a car should be serviced depends on its mileage as well as the driver’s intuition. If you regularly take long distance journey’s, hear any strange sounds or see any alerts, take your car to a professional as it’s often a sign that something needs to be fixed,” commented Jeff Stagg, After Sales Manager at Audi Abu Dhabi.

With almost two thirds of 16-34-year-old respondents (64%) within this age range displaying the biggest lack of awareness on how often a car should be serviced, followed by 35-44-year-old respondents sharing the same opinion (52%) it’s clear there is a major misconception on how best to maintain a vehicle. Generation X (45-54 years-old) was the most informed with only 27% responding incorrectly to the statement, highlighting that more needs to be done to raise awareness of regular car health checks among Generation Z and Millennials.

Additionally, 44% of all respondents agreed that when it comes to servicing their car, they are unsure of what their role is, or what the role of the professionals is. Less than a third (32%) know what role they play as a car owner.

“Maintaining a good vehicle service history is essential to maintaining its safety, performance and resale value. The frequency of having a car serviced is not set in stone. However, it is important to have it checked regularly, particularly if the vehicle does significant mileage, and as we face harsh desert weather conditions in the UAE. Similarly, it is our duty as servicing professionals to conduct all vital checks and ensure the car is in perfect working condition,” added Stagg.

Dust is a common culprit for car issues as it can affect the quality of the engine oil, congest the air filter and reduce airflow to the engine, resulting in cars overheating. However, surprisingly, over a third of survey respondents (34%) do not believe that dusty weather conditions can affect how frequently a car needs servicing. Similarly, over half of the respondents are either not aware (31%) or are unsure (24%) that tires should be checked and pumped every month.

When it comes to seeking help if facing any car problems, the majority of respondents (61%) go to professionals rather than calling on friends (34%), partners (23%), parents (20%) or colleagues (19%). However, Generation Z (36%) and first-time car buyers (26%) have a higher tendency to call their parents when they face car issues.

“It is great to see that most people do take their cars to a professional when needed. However, the survey results highlight the need to educate and empower the younger generation and new drivers on the importance of ensuring their cars are safe for the road. As we are fast approaching the summer season, it’s never too soon to proactively take your car for a simple health check. It’s very easy to do so with most petrol stations around the capital and the UAE in general offering such services, as well as brand service centres like ours,” added Stagg.

The Audi Service Centre is fully equipped with state-of-the-art Audi approved equipment and technology in line with international brand standards. Customers can benefit from full factory support and warranty on all retail repairs. Workmanship is at its finest with fully trained Certified Audi staff across all business operations.

To find out more about Audi Aftersales and how to maintain a service history, contact Audi Centre Mussafah 02 5026564/ Audi Al Ain Centre 03 7131555 or visit www.audi-abudhabi.com for more information and to discover the full range of products and services.