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Both money and time may be tight for many motorists but when it comes to choosing a garage to maintain their car, trust beats both price and convenience as the most important factor, according to a new study from Kwik Fit.

Its research shows that almost half of motorists (45%) say their most important reason for returning to the same garage they’ve used previously is because they trust it will do a good job. This is almost twice as many as those who are most influenced by price (24%) while only one in five (20%) base their decision on convenience.

Kwik Fit’s research shows the extent to which motorists remain loyal to the garage they trust – over three quarters (78%) will stay with one garage where possible. One in three (30%) are so faithful they wouldn’t switch at any price.

It takes up to three successful visits to gain the trust of most drivers (74%). A sceptical 3% of motorists say it takes seven visits or more to a garage to have fully earned their confidence. One in ten (10%) motorists say they don’t generally trust garages.

Welsh are the most faithful

Motorists in Wales appear to be the most loyal as nearly half (44%) of Welsh motorists wouldn’t change garages under any circumstances. Londoners are the most price sensitive with more than four out of five (82%) admitting they would switch to another garage if it was cheaper.

Just one in 12 (8%) drivers will try a new garage for a service or MoT, but when it comes to tyres motorists are more willing to put loyalties to one side – a quarter (26%) say they would be prepared to go elsewhere.

Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, said: “It’s encouraging to see that even in times of financial hardship, motorists are not abandoning their loyalty to a decent garage. And it’s a credit to the industry that the majority of drivers who keep going to the same place do so because they have faith in its ability to get the job done properly.

“Price is also important and does factor in the average motorist’s decision of where to get their car maintained. That said, drivers are more willing to sacrifice loyalty for some services over others; for example, tyres seem to be the most sensitive to price changes and more motorists would be prepared to shop elsewhere for them than for any other garage service.

“To be successful over the long term it’s important for garages to score well across the board and that’s why we work especially hard to earn motorists’ trust by offering high quality service and competitive prices. Plus our network of over 600 centres means we’re conveniently located for the majority of motorists.”

Any motorist who is considering changing garage for tyres – or indeed brakes, exhausts, servicing or MoTs – can visit http://www.kwik-fit.com/ for a competitive quote and details of their nearest centre.

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Research carried out by ICM Research amongst a nationally representative sample of 2001 UK adults

Note to editors

The Kwik Fit Group is the largest independent automotive parts, repair and replacement specialist in Europe and one of the largest in the world. With 1,800 service outlets across Europe it employs 9,000 people. Kwik Fit has national UK coverage of 676 service centres and more than 200 mobile tyre fitting vehicles, making it the UK’s leading tyre, exhaust, brake and MoT specialist.

The Group was established in 1971. On 3 March 2011, ITOCHU announced its acquisition of the Group from PAI Partners.

For further information please contact:

Patrick Evans / Brandon Stockwell / Toby Clark

Citigate Dewe Rogerson Tel: 020 7638 9571

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Kwik Fit has today released its annual Tyre Wall of Shame calendar for 2012. Unlike other famous tyre calendars the images taken for Kwik Fit aren’t glamorous but they are just as mesmerising.

The Tyre Wall of Shame 2012 features twelve of the most shocking tyres removed from cars by Kwik Fit in 2011. They are all in incredibly poor condition and include some with almost no tread left, some with sidewall ruptures through under inflation, and even one worn down to the steel core.

Financial pressures could be to blame as 3.6 million (11%) motorists in the UK have knowingly delayed replacing worn tyres due to lack of funds, according to a Kwik Fit survey. However it is more likely a case of supposedly blissful ignorance because two in five (38%) drivers admit they don’t know how to check their tyre tread.

The study also found that over two-thirds (69%) of cars in the UK are being driven with under-inflated tyres, at least 3psi under the manufacturer’s specification. And just 4% of motorists are travelling on all four tyres pumped up to the recommended pressure.

An under inflated tyre could suddenly fail when driving – resulting in an immediate and dramatic loss of control. Motorists with an under inflated tyre may also experience poor handling and braking performance, as well as high fuel consumption.

The same can be said for tyres with tread depth below the legal minimum as this will have a profoundly adverse effect on a car’s ability to stop, particularly in wet, wintry conditions.

Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik-Fit, said: “We produced our first Tyre Wall of Shame calendar in 2008 and we hoped we wouldn’t have to compile another. Unfortunately we are still seeing thousands of cars come in with tyres in a shocking state, and the calendar has become an annual production.

“It’s worrying that this is just a snapshot of the tyres on Britain’s roads – we are replacing tyres in similar conditions every day of the year and could have filled the calendar multiple times over.”

Motorists who are concerned about unusual or extreme wear on their tyres should visit their local Kwik Fit centre as soon as possible to get them fully checked by experts.

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Sources

¹Research carried out by ICM amongst a nationally representative sample of 2026 UK adults

Note to editors

About Kwik Fit: The Kwik Fit Group is the largest independent automotive parts, repair and replacement specialist in Europe and one of the largest in the world. With 1,800 service outlets across Europe it employs 9,000 people. Kwik Fit has national UK coverage of 676 service centres and more than 200 mobile tyre fitting vehicles, making it the UK’s leading tyre, exhaust, brake and MoT specialist.

The Group was established in 1971. On 30 June 2011, the ITOCHU Corporation completed its purchase of the Group.

For further information please contact:

Patrick Evans / Brandon Stockwell / Toby Clark

Citigate Dewe Rogerson Tel: 020 7638 9571

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A new study reveals that those drivers who put off having their car serviced to save cash could be costing themselves more money in the long run. Research¹ commissioned by Kwik Fit shows that a full service history on a car could increase its value by 26%. With the average used car selling for £5,500², the findings indicate that a fully stamped service book could be worth up to £1,500 - over £10 billion to the used car market annually.

In fact Kwik Fit has found that for a third (34%) of drivers, the stamp is literally priceless as they say they would not buy any car unless it had a full service history (FSH).

With 2010 seeing the lowest number of used cars sold in a decade³ – 6.7 million cars - and buyers driving a hard bargain, having no service history will make selling a car at a decent price even harder.

Many motorists don’t see any value in the smoked glass and comfy chairs of a main dealer. Over 10.5 million (32%) drivers say they place the same value on a service history from an independent garage as they do from a main franchised dealer.

The over 65s are the age-group most likely to insist on a FSH, as one in two (48%) wouldn’t buy a car without it. For under-45s, this figure drops to 28% of motorists.

Londoners are prepared to pay the biggest premium for a car with a full servicing record – almost 40% more than one with no history. Scottish motorists are the second most discerning and are willing to pay a 28% premium for a FSH. Those in the North East, Wales and the West Midlands are the most relaxed about a documented history and would only pay 20% more for a car with a complete service book.

David White, customer services director at Kwik Fit, said: “It’s accepted that a fully stamped service book will increase the re-sale value of a car but this research has been able to put a figure on it: £1,500 is a significant number and makes a big difference to the value of a car when an owner comes to sell. For a more expensive car 26% will equate to a very big number indeed. Motorists with one or two stamps missing should bear in mind that some services will still carry a premium over none at all, particularly if they’ve been carried out more recently.

“It’s not just about the end value though, motorists who get their car serviced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations will be rewarded with greater efficiency, better performance and lower on-going running costs.

“The research also highlights that the gap between the perceived benefit of a dealer over an independent servicing centre is closing. Drivers don’t need to pay main dealer prices to maintain their car’s peak value. They can come to Kwik Fit, and we’ll put a stamp in their book which could be worth hundreds of pounds.”

Kwik Fit offers servicing to meet manufacturer’s schedules and which maintain the manufacturer’s warranty at significantly lower prices than those charged by main dealers. Bookings can be made online at http://www.kwik-fit.com/.

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Sources

¹Research carried out by ICM amongst a nationally representative sample of 2026 UK adults

²Average used car price for July – £5,633: http://www.british-car-auctions.co.uk/default.aspx?page=11946

³ Experian

Note to editors

About Kwik Fit: The Kwik Fit Group is the largest independent automotive parts, repair and replacement specialist in Europe and one of the largest in the world. With 1,800 service outlets across Europe it employs 9,000 people. Kwik Fit has national UK coverage of 676 service centres and more than 200 mobile tyre fitting vehicles, making it the UK’s leading tyre, exhaust, brake and MoT specialist.

The Group was established in 1971. On 30 June 2011, the Japanese ITOCHU Corporation completed its purchase of the Group from PAI Partners.

For further information please contact:

Patrick Evans / Brandon Stockwell / Toby Clark

Citigate Dewe Rogerson Tel: 020 7638 9571

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British parents drive their children 2.4 billion miles per year – an average of 491 miles each – in their bid to foster the next generation of sports stars. That’s according to a new survey from Kwik Fit, which found that almost five (4.9) million doting parents regularly drive their kids to football, swimming, athletics and other sporting meet-ups.

A staggering 20,000 parents travel over 12,000 miles a year in the pursuit of their child’s sporting excellence and a further 50,000 mums and dads drive over 500 miles a month.

It isn’t cheap developing a child’s sporting talent with parents in the UK spending an average of £392 a year on memberships, lessons and equipment for their aspiring kids. That’s in addition to car running costs, which could be why a third (36%) of motoring parents have delayed servicing their motor or replacing worn tyres, risking a breakdown, puncture or worse.

Athletes put the miles in

Football is the most common child’s sport that gets parents in the car, with swimming second. While football’s the most popular, parents only drive 72 miles a month for the sport. Athletics, on the other hand, accounts for the furthest average distance travelled by parents at 147 miles per month, and horse riding is second (140 miles). Climbing requires parents to travel the third furthest (125 miles per month on average) whilst swimming (97 miles) and running (83 miles) are fourth and fifth respectively.

Londoners drive the furthest – East Midlanders spend the most

Londoners drive the furthest for their children’s sporting pursuits (949 miles p/a), with those in the North East driving the second furthest (783 miles). East Midlanders are third in the distance travelled charts. However, that region’s parents spend a whopping £1,043, on top of car running costs, to support their kids’ participation in sport – the highest average across the country and more than five times the amount spent in Scotland (£188).

Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, said: “We are a great nation for sport and it’s clear that British parents are making huge sacrifices both in terms of time and money so that the next generation of sporting stars can break through. For those parents who are eating up the miles to support their kids, it’s all the more important that they keep on top of maintenance so their car is reliable, but more importantly, safe.”

Kwik Fit advises parents who are regularly on the road supporting their children’s sporting activities to ensure their cars are kept in peak condition with the company providing fixed price servicing to keep costs under control.

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Research carried out by ICM Research amongst a nationally representative sample of 2001 UK adults

Note to editors

The Kwik Fit Group is the largest independent automotive parts, repair and replacement specialist in Europe and one of the largest in the world. With 1,800 service outlets across Europe it employs 9,000 people. Kwik Fit has national UK coverage of 676 service centres and more than 200 mobile tyre fitting vehicles, making it the UK’s leading tyre, exhaust, brake and MoT specialist.

The Group was established in 1971. On 3 March 2011, ITOCHU announced its acquisition of the Group from PAI Partners.

For further information please contact:

Patrick Evans / Brandon Stockwell / Toby Clark

Citigate Dewe Rogerson Tel: 020 7638 9571

Hide full story

New research reveals that in these times of austerity many Britons are turning to the second hand market. 60% of UK adults (28 million) have bought something second hand in the last year as they look to trim their household spending¹. Of these, 1.9million bought part-worn tyres, previously used on another vehicle.

The second hand market ranges from books, bought by 17.3 million people this year, clothes and shoes (10.6 million) and toys (4.5 million), to household appliances (2.1 million) and sports equipment (1.5 million).

However, whilst it makes financial sense to buy many items second hand, experts warn that for certain products it is a false economy at best, and a serious safety risk at worst. Whilst purchases like books and clothes have few safety implications, without knowing the age, history and usage of a more complex item like a tyre, a purchaser has no knowledge of any damage or repairs that it may have undergone.

The study, carried out for Kwik Fit, found that 1.9 million people (6% of car owners) have bought used tyres for their car in the last year. In addition, 19.3 million (62% of owners) say that they would consider buying part-worn tyres.

This is particularly concerning in light of recent figures revealing that court convictions for driving on defective tyres are at a four year high².

Experienced drivers avoid part-worns

Drivers aged under 24 are three times as likely to have bought used tyres than drivers over 55. With the proportion of people buying part-worn tyres consistent across income groups, this suggests that greater motoring experience leads motorists to avoid part worn tyres.

There are also significant regional differences in the appeal of part-worn tyres. People in the North West are seven times more likely to have bought used tyres in the last year than those in the South West or East Midlands, despite being less likely to have bought second hand items in general.

False economy

Those considering used tyres say they would expect to pay an average of 47% less than the price of a new tyre. Astonishingly, Brits would expect to make a bigger saving on used household appliances or electrical equipment (both 53% compared to new prices) than on part-worn tyres, despite these items not being affected by use in the same way as tyres.

Research into the used tyre market has shown that the average part worn tyre sells for £20, but currently Kwik Fit has new tyres priced from just £18.

Experts recommend that tyres should be changed at 2mm, which on the typical tyre is around 75% worn. Research shows that part-worn tyres are generally sold with around 4-5mm of tread left, or 38-50% worn. This means that motorists buying used tyres could be paying the price of a new tyre but getting only a third of the tread and life expectancy.

In addition, motorists won’t know the reason why a part-worn tyre has been removed. It may have internal damage which is invisible to the naked eye and could cause the tyre to fail when driving.

David White, customer services director at Kwik Fit says: “It’s natural for drivers to try to keep their motoring costs low, especially in these times of economic hardship. However, with part-worn tyres, what seems a bargain at first glance just doesn’t add up. Drivers could get much more for their money with a new tyre, and even more importantly, will be able to drive in the knowledge that their safety hasn’t been compromised.

“We are encouraging all motorists to check the condition of their tyres and are currently offering 25% off the price of all tyres in centres. With prices currently starting from just £18, it makes second hand tyres look even more like a false economy.”

The popularity of second hand products is shown in the table below:

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Note to editors

About Kwik Fit: The Kwik Fit Group is the largest independent automotive parts, repair and replacement specialist in Europe and one of the largest in the world. With 1,800 service outlets across Europe it employs 9,000 people. Kwik Fit has national UK coverage of 676 service centres and more than 200 mobile tyre fitting vehicles, making it the UK’s leading tyre, exhaust, brake and MoT specialist.

The Group was established in 1971. On 30 June 2011, the Japanese ITOCHU Corporation completed its purchase of the Group from PAI Partners.

For further information please contact:

Patrick Evans / Brandon Stockwell / Toby Clark

Citigate Dewe Rogerson Tel: 020 7638 9571

Sources

1 - Research carried out by ICM in September 2011 amongst a nationally representative sample of 2024 UK adults

2 - http://www.tyresafe.org/media-centre/latest-news/54-car-tyres/326-defective-tyre-court-convictions-at-four-year-high