DRIVEN TO LEARN: 7 IN 10 UK MOTORISTS WANT EQUAL FOCUS ON CAR MAINTENANCE IN UK DRIVING TEST

• 69% of drivers believe there should be equal focus for vehicle operation and car maintenance within the UK driving tests  

• Over half of motorists (58%) cannot change a tyre by themselves, despite voting it the most important skill to learn

• It takes the average driver nearly a year (11.8 months) to feel comfortable handling basic to intermediate car upkeep

• Halfords partners with MoneySuperMarket to launch a new interactive tool to boost driver confidence, alongside expanding doorstep services across the UK

LONDON, 21st July 2026 -  UK motorists are calling for a more balanced approach to learning to drive, with 7 in 10 (69%) believing the current UK driving test focuses too heavily on vehicle operation and should place an equal focus on how to maintain basic safety features, according to new research by Halfords.

The new study of 2,000 motorists from Halfords has exposed a massive ‘confidence gap' across the nation. While the vast majority of drivers are comfortable with low-effort tasks like topping up screenwash (71%) or adjusting tyre pressure (65%), confidence completely plummets when it comes to mechanical or emergency fixes.

According to additional research from MoneySuperMarket - which has partnered with Halfords to encourage motorists to feel more confident carrying out car maintenance - this lack of early-stage education is breeding a cycle of anxiety. 30% avoid carrying out their own car maintenance because they worry they’ll make a mistake and damage their vehicle, while a quarter (25%) say they lack the tools or equipment needed.

Despite these barriers, there is a strong appetite for self-sufficiency. Over half of UK drivers (58.5%) admit they would feel more independent if they could handle minor car issues themselves.

The research from Halfords highlights a glaring safety paradox: changing a tyre was voted by motorists as the single most important skill to learn (37%), yet over half of drivers (58%) confess they lack the confidence to do it without professional help. A further 53% admit they couldn’t temporarily fix or inflate a flat tyre on their own.

This anxiety translates directly into real-world behaviour: MoneySuperMarket’s companion research reveals that 58% of drivers have actively sought professional help to change a tyre, rather than attempting it themselves.

Beyond tyres, 93% of motorists surveyed by Halfords admit they cannot fix their air conditioning or heating and 91% cannot fix a broken window. Even a task as common as replacing a headlight or taillight bulb leaves 67% of drivers in the dark.

According to the data from Halfords, achieving true motoring self-sufficiency requires a steep learning curve. Even for those who eventually mastered these skills, it took a significant "confidence timeline" after passing their practical driving test:

• 18 months to fix air conditioning or heating

• 12.5 months to confidently replace a headlight or taillight bulb

• 12 months to jump-start a car

• 11.3 months to replace a windscreen wiper blade

• 10.5 months to confidently change a tyre

This lack of foundational education has led to a culture of vehicle neglect, with 17% of motorists (roughly 1 in 6) going over a year without completing or arranging any maintenance on their vehicle.

On a mission to bridge this confidence gap and help drivers save money, MoneySuperMarket has partnered with Halfords to launch a new interactive tool. The digital tool provides step-by-step guidance on simple car fixes, while helping motorists understand when a problem requires professional support.

For motorists looking to build their skills or hand over more technical jobs, Halfords’ 12,000 trusted experts are on hand to help in-store or at your doorstep. The Halfords Mobile Expert service has expanded its mobile ICE servicing across the UK, with Mobile EV servicing rolling out from August, ensuring more essential maintenance than ever can be delivered directly to homes or workplaces.

Try the new MoneySuperMarket x Halfords interactive car maintenance tool here. 

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Notes to Editors

Halfords’s data: Mortar Research: Survey of 2,000 UK motorists commissioned by Halfords from 9th July to 10th July 2026.  

MoneySuperMarket: Survey of 2,002 UK drivers aged 18 and over who have regular access to a car, commissioned between 27th April 2026 and 1st May 2026.

For media enquiries, product samples, or imagery, please contact: Halfords Press Office: halfords@vccproar.com

About Halfords

Halfords is the UK's leading provider of motoring and cycling products and services. Customers shop at 404 Halfords stores, 3 Performance Cycling stores (trading as Tredz and Giant), 604 garages (trading as Halfords Autocentres, McConechy's and National) and have access to more than 200 mobile service vans. Customers can also shop at halfords.com and tredz.co.uk for pick up at their local store or direct home delivery, as well as booking garage services online at halfords.com.