Women risk being stranded due to poor car knowledge

Women are putting themselves at risk of being stranded by the side of the road as they fail to make the everyday checks that keep their cars in tip-top condition, according to research by Churchill Car Insurance.

The research addressed how confident men and women are when it comes to basic car maintenance skills. It then put them to the test by asking them to identify points under the bonnet, such as the brake fluid and the windscreen washer fluid reservoirs.

The research shows that men are more knowledgeable when it comes to their motors and, as a consequence, are buzzing with more confidence than women.

In fact, whilst well over a quarter of men (28 per cent) consider themselves to be an ‘expert', only one in twenty women (5 per cent) rate themselves this highly. At the other end of the spectrum, only one in ten men (10 per cent) consider their basic car maintenance skills to be poor or non-existent compared to nearly a third of women (31 per cent).

It seems as though male confidence comes with good reason - when put to the test, the research shows they do have more knowledge when it comes to basic car maintenance skills:

Percentage of motorists who failed to identify basic maintenance points:

Where to check oil levels
Men 21% Women 44%

Where to add extra oil if the level was low on the dipstick
Men 7% Women 37%

Where to check the brake fluid
Men 35% Women 72%

Where to check the windscreen washer fluid
Men 63% Women 76%

The research also addressed motorists' reactions to their vehicle suffering a mechanical breakdown. Men are more likely to attempt to fix it themselves (34 per cent compared to 5 per cent) whilst women are more likely to phone a friend or family member with knowledge for support (34 per cent compared to 12 per cent).

Women seem more comforted by being able to contact someone to help them if their car breaks down. Two thirds of women (66 per cent) said they feel much more secure in the knowledge they can contact someone to help them if their car breaks down compared to nearly half of men (46 per cent).

Claire Foster, spokesperson for Churchill Car Insurance, says: "Our research shows that many drivers lack essential car knowledge. In particular, many women told us that they don't feel knowledgeable when it comes to their cars. However, having basic car maintenance knowledge can not only help prevent car breakdown situations, but can keep motorists, especially women, feeling more confident on the roads."

For added peace of mind on the roads, Churchill is currently offering free breakdown cover for new car insurance customers.