Trust Is The Key For Drivers
by Tim Barnes-Clay, the man behind the wheel.
Date: 25 January 2012
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.
Research from Kwik Fit shows that almost half of motorists (45 per cent) 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 per cent) while only one in five (20 per cent base their decision on convenience.
The study reveals the extent to which motorists remain loyal to the garage they trust – over three quarters (78 percent) will stay with one garage where possible. One in three (30 percent) 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 per cent). A sceptical 3 per cent of motorists say it takes seven visits or more to a garage to have fully earned their confidence. One in ten (10 per cent) motorists say they don’t trust garages.
Welsh Are The Most Faithful
Motorists in Wales appear to be the most loyal as nearly half (44 per cent) of Welsh motorists wouldn’t change garages under any circumstances. Londoners are the most price sensitive with more than four out of five (82 per cent) admitting they would switch to another garage if it was cheaper.
Region Percentage of motorists that wouldn’t switch from their garage at any cost
Wales 44%
North West 35%
Yorkshire & Humberside 35%
Scotland 32%
South West 30%
West Midlands 30%
East of England 29%
East Midlands 29%
North East 27%
South East 22%
London 18%
Just one in 12 (8 per cent) 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 per cent) say they would be prepared to go elsewhere.
