Percentage of people that do their own vehicle maintenance at home.

[64bawagon]

Is it just my perception or does it seem like fewer people are handling their own oil changes and vehicle maintenance at home ? In this crowd it seems pretty high but have the normal people moved more to having it done by a shop ?

 

[SwampSurvivor]

A few weeks ago I was helping some friends move. They're in a nicer neighborhood in the 'burbs. I was actually surprised how many people were doing brake jobs / oil changes / etc in their driveway. I didn't expect to see that.

 

[Kira]

No data means we'd all be guessing.

The 'automotive' section in my local Target store has shrunk to wiper blades and car wash. What does that mean?

 

[jeepman3071]

Most people don't do their own maintenance for several reasons.

1. lack of time. Even some of my friends who used to DIY a lot of stuff simply can't anymore due to work schedules, young kids, etc.
2. lack of tools
3. modern cars are not as easy to work on

 

[Kira]

I was actually surprised how many people were doing brake jobs / oil changes / etc in their driveway.

Was it a weekend day?

 

[wavinwayne]

Wouldn't surprise me if some busy body HOAs prohibit folks from working on cars in their driveways. Where I live currently I never see any neighbors working on their cars, but that could just be me not paying attention.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I am 99% sure I am the only one on my block that services cars. Neighbors do ask for some help, from time to time.

 

[supton]

Was it ever a thing to work on one's car but not at home? I know there has to be a few mechanics who work on their cars while at work; coworker of mine used to work on his at the base (maybe they had bays for enlisted, no idea, didn't ask).

I tend to think it was never that common to work on one's own car. It was always a minority thing. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe a good portion of people did. The cars are certainly more complicated today, that doesn't help.

 

[TomYoung]

No data means we'd all be guessing.

The 'automotive' section in my local Target store has shrunk to wiper blades and car wash. What does that mean?

Probably reflects Target's lack of commitment to the automotive segment. Walmart seems very happy to have this business. On the overall question, I think that fewer folks are interested in working on their cars. I am doing my best to counter the trend...

 

[SC Maintenance]

I posted this actual survey here a couple months ago. I was actually surprised by the number.

Walmart wouldn't have a whole isle of filters and oil if the volume was low.

Thread 'Gen X most likely to change their own oil - according to survey'

Nov 2, 2024

Relatively small sample size of 1100 car owners, presumably randomized.

Interesting read.

Gen X most likely to change their own oil at 11.4%. Also most likely to take it to a national chain?

Boomers most likely to go to the dealer - at 39%.

Gen Z most likely group to pawn it off on a friend or relative - 18.6%.

full survey: https://associationdatabase.com/aws/MAPSA/page_template/show_detail/552807?model_name=news_article

• SC Maintenance
• Replies: 64
• Forum: Automotive General Topics

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[Kira]

Walmart seems very happy to have this business.

Ha-ha...I was just in the Garfield store and they're moving the oil + filter from the East wall to 2 aisles in AND it all seems smaller to me.
The endcap battery rack has not been downsized.

 

[TomYoung]

Ha-ha...I was just in the Garfield store and they're moving the oil + filter from the East wall to 2 aisles in AND it all seems smaller to me.
The endcap battery rack has not been downsized.

I go to a Walmart that is between urban and suburban communities. The knocks on the oil aisle would be an eternally broken minicomputer lookup, oil packages that have been opened/ tampered with (why) and filters that do not match their box. A lesser issue is lack of Euro oils... no chance on BMW LL17fe+ and low odds on VW 502-505. On the plus side are great prices on oil and filters (although Kirkland's periodic oil sale is insurmountable), a large selection in all the big brands and NEVER a "***, why is that price so high" situation. The section remains big, but I suppose you have to be awake when shopping. I find Amazon and WM neck and neck, although Amazon stuff shows up at your home like magic.

 

[IndyIan]

I think down at a certain income, there's lots of people with an older simpler car that do at least some of their own work, or have a family member, or the handy neighbor work on it. The $100 oil change, doesn't make much sense when that's your take home pay for 7-8 hrs.

I think the trend of big "dumb" box stores with poor inventory management(walmart, etc) is that keeping track of the larger number of automotive basics, is "too hard" or too expensive?
I'm glad Canadian Tire here, got serious with their website and inventory system, so its searchable by store and updates pretty quickly, with even their auto parts searchable by vehicle. Makes walmart just a PITA to deal with, compared to that.

Probably more new car buyers are now trading in before major work is required, and never lift the hood, so they aren't shying away from complex vehicles, as they aren't keeping them for that long.

 

[PF52]

The Walmarts by me have also shrunk their automotive sections. Cut in half would be my estimate.

I don't see anyone in my neighborhood working on their vehicles, unless I install a mirror in my driveway. I don't think it was particularly common, at least not in my lifetime.

 

[Urshurak776]

I am 99% sure I am the only one on my block that services cars. Neighbors do ask for some help, from time to time.

Same. Neighbors ask me all the time. Our HOA does NOT allow it. Whatever.....

 

[dubber09]

I'd say those who live in a house are more likely to do their own maintenance, younger ones who live in condos or share rental with roommates would not. City people are less likely to do it. Some don't even have and don't want to have a car; I had a boss like that at one of the prior jobs, he was making good money and lived downtown with everything within walking distance while taking taxi on rare occasion.

 

[The Critic]

Some interesting data can be found here:
https://www.aftermarketmatters.com/...eversed a 20,decline in 2020 market strength.

 

[SevenBizzos]

I think it's very few. Maybe 10-15% overall.

 

[BHopkins]

No data means we'd all be guessing.

The 'automotive' section in my local Target store has shrunk to wiper blades and car wash. What does that mean?

Target has never catered to the automotive DIY customer, for at least the 20-25 years that I have infrequently shopped at Target stores, so I don't think I would measure the size of the auto DIY community by Target.

I've also pondered how many people still do at least some of their own auto maintenance. As I get older, I do know fewer my age that still do their own car work. And since I associate most with people my own age, I see less of it being done. But when I talk to younger people, at church and in the community, I find many that do their own work. I also see neighbors working on their cars.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Is it just my perception or does it seem like fewer people are handling their own oil changes and vehicle maintenance at home ? In this crowd it seems pretty high but have the normal people moved more to having it done by a shop ?

The DIY'ers are aging out.

Unless you live in SUV/TRUCK country the largest impediments are probably space, tools, and lack of ability to easily get the car in the air.

For example I have a 1-car garage and my driveway is sloped. I cannot back into the garage because I'll badly scrape the front end. I cannot jack up the car because I have no room for the jack handle.

The garage leaves a little over 2' of space on either side of the vehicle to walk by. Now when my cars had dipsticks I could change the oil using a Topsider but that stopped over a decade ago.

I could slide in a QuickJack and do more. Especially brakes but it would be tight for brake work.