1 in 5 British Drivers Rarely Clean Their Car, New Study Reveals

Britain, You Should be Ashamed of Yourselves!

It turns out that there’s some seriously dirty driving going on, and by that, we don’t mean undertaking on the motorway or middle lane hogging. A recent survey has revealed some eye-opening statistics on how regularly drivers in the UK give their car a full clean inside and out.

What We Asked the Public

A sample of 1,490 drivers was asked the following question, “How often do you give your car a full clean inside and out?” and were presented with the following choice answers:

• Never
• Weekly
• Monthly
• Every 2-3 months
• Less than once every 6 months

Here are the overall findings

• 3% of those surveyed claim to clean their vehicle weekly
• 7% of those surveyed claim to clean their vehicle fortnightly
• 19% of those surveyed claim to clean their vehicle monthly
• 26% of those surveyed claim to clean their vehicle every 2-3 months
• 14% of those surveyed claim to clean their vehicle every 4-6 months
• 22% of those surveyed claim to clean their vehicle every 6 months
• 6% of those surveyed claim to have never cleaned their vehicle

We were pleased that only 6% of those surveyed replied ‘never’. Even though this figure is still high, it’s a vast improvement from our last survey completed in 2014. However, 28% of those surveyed only clean twice a year or never. As a reasonably sizable sample was used, this means it’s very likely that over a quarter of Britain’s cars are a nest for germs, dirt and grime. This is something that people should be aware of when leasing a car, as once the vehicle is returned, the condition is inspected, and you could find yourself with additional charges based on your contractual agreement. See our Fair Wear and Tear Guides for more information when returning your vehicle.

Why should we clean our cars more?

Cars are a breeding ground for different germs and viruses. 

We all use our vehicles for a variety of reasons—work, pleasure, or daily chores. Each journey creates an opportunity to contaminate the interior of your car with whatever you may come into contact with. Whether you’re picking up a takeaway meal, doing your weekly shop, or inviting people into your car, each action brings an element of risk with what bacteria could grow.

A clean home, a clean car

A car is no different from your house. We all know the value of cleaning the interior of our homes because this is where we live. We also ‘live’ in our cars, with many of us enduring lengthy commutes to and from work every day. We also do a lot of what we’d do at home in our cars—eating, drinking, and touching things. Putting the same level of focus into cleaning your car as you do your home is important.

What Is The Difference Between Men and Women Drivers?

We know that almost 30% of UK drivers don’t consider cleaning their car necessary, but how does this split filter down when comparing the answers from both men and women? (Responses to the survey were split evenly between those who identify as male or female.)

In 2014, out of those who answered ‘Never,’ 57% were male, and 43% were female, showing in no uncertain terms that men take the least care of their cars in terms of cleanliness. We are delighted that these figures have dropped drastically since our latest survey. Now, only 27% of men clean their car twice a year (or never), and 28% of women clean their car only twice a year (or never). In comparison to 2014, this time, only 6% of men and 6% of women admitted to never cleaning their car – a significant improvement.

Is age a factor in whether you clean your vehicle?

All those surveyed were over the age of 18, ensuring accurate results from daily drivers; here are the findings:

• Those aged 18-24 were most likely to clean their cars every 2-3 months
• 27% of 18-24 year olds only cleaned their cars once every 6 months
• 6% of 18-24 year olds have never cleaned their car
• These figures were consistent amongst all the different age groups
• The oldest group (55+) were also most likely to clean their cars every 2-3 months (28% – the same as 18-24 year olds)
• Those aged 55+ were the least likely age group to rarely or never clean their car

Although splitting up the different age groups gave consistent and similar results, the most noticeable figures came from the over-55s, who were the most likely to clean their vehicles. Factors such as more free time could explain why.

Are you more likely to clean your car if you work?

Working status is another demographic that we looked at regarding these results, and some of the figures could shock you:

• Full-time workers claim to either clean their car once every 2-3 months or once every 6 months
• 26% of part-time workers claim to clean their vehicles once every 2-3 months
• Part-time workers also had the highest figures for never cleaning their cars, with 11%
• 40% of full-time students claim to clean their car every 2-3 months
• Full-time students were jointly least likely to never clean their cars along with the retired (3%)
• The unemployed had the second highest figures for never cleaning their cars, with 9%

Many would have predicted that the two groups most likely to clean their vehicles would be those with the most free time—part-time workers, students, the unemployed, and the retired. This is the case with full-time students and the retired, but those without work and those who work only limited hours are the ones who answered ‘never’ most frequently.

Which region’s residents are best at cleaning their cars?

Age and occupation are both demographics that focus on factors such as free time. As such, we wanted to see if there were any interesting figures regarding the regions and where those surveyed are currently living:

• The North of England had the second most drivers who clean their vehicles weekly (4%), while the Welsh had the most (5%)
• Most regions were fairly consistent. However, 15% of Scottish drivers clean their vehicles fortnightly
• This figure was also high in the Midlands (12%) even though the other regions were in single low figures
• Londoners had the highest percentage of those who fail to clean their car at all (11%)
• Northern Ireland had the highest percentage of drivers who only cleaned their car twice a year.

The figures to look out for most here are those from London. Free time could also be a factor with regions as Londoners eclipsed all others, admitting to never having cleaned their car. London is the UK’s capital, and its inhabitants tend to work longer hours, have less free time and spend more time commuting by public transport. Pollution could potentially also be a reason why they never clean their cars. What’s the point in cleaning a car if it will be dirty again tomorrow?  This is understandable to a degree, but it’s the wrong mentality.

There could be many different scenarios as to why these figures have improved. We are proud of the British public for finally getting their sponges dirty. That being said, 20% of drivers still fail to clean their car more than twice a year, which can be dangerous…

The dangers of not cleaning your car

Cleaning your car is not just a vanity task; it is essential.  There are many very real safety risks associated with not cleaning your car. Besides the risks we’ve already mentioned based on the germs and bacteria in the interior, the exterior is also essential when considering road safety. Windows need always to be clear to prevent the possibility of road traffic collisions. Reacting to hazards can be impeded without the total vision from your windscreen and mirrors.   Besides putting you at risk of immediate accidents, dirt on the car’s exterior can – such as bird droppings –  can corrode paint over time. This may not sound dangerous, but it will prove costly at the end of your lease contract.  So, to avoid accidents and costly repair bills, it really does pay to keep your car clean.

The cleanliness of your car’s interior is important, especially considering the recent pandemic. A YouGov survey conducted at the time showed that 63% of the British public have become more conscious of their personal hygiene since the pandemic, and there’s no reason why personal hygiene should not extend to our cars. If not for your sake, then for the sake of your passengers!