Car ownership becoming “even more vital for young people”
Contrary to speculation, the latest consumer analysis from Auto Trader reveals that car ownership not only remains vital to young people, but the need to own a car among 17-24-year-olds is increasing. However, from a backlog in driving tests to the rising cost of motoring, young people face significant barriers to ownership, making the need for a more transparent, connected and convenient car buying experience more important than ever to help young drivers get behind the wheel of their first car.
In a study of over 2,000 17-24-year-olds, 90% said car ownership was important to them, citing the need to “get around” (70%) and the independence (67%) it gave them as their primary reason for wanting a car. However, this age group isn’t motivated just for practical reasons; the UK has always been a nation of car lovers, and the younger generation is no exception, with over half (54%) wanting their own set of wheels for the pure enjoyment of driving.
The UK’s “unreliable” public transport network was also highlighted as a major factor. Of the 50% who cited it as a major reason why car ownership is important to them, 80% pointed specifically to the ongoing train strikes.
Reassuringly for the automotive industry, the need for ownership shows no sign of waning among this age group. In fact, 70% of the 17-24-year-olds surveyed said that having their own car has become even more important over the last 12 months, which is more than double the percentage of drivers aged over 45 (31%) who felt the same. Young people also believe they’re driving more, with nearly four times the proportion of young people (43%) claiming to use their car more today than they did a year ago compared to their older counterparts (12%).
