Jeep drivers have the most hands-on approach to DIY car maintenance

eBay, one of the UK’s largest online automotive marketplaces, has identified the UK motorists who are most inclined to roll up their sleeves and handle car maintenance themselves, with Jeep owners leading the pack. According to eBay’s research, Jeep drivers are the most likely to get their hands dirty, with Chevrolet and Peugeot owners not far behind.

In the study, Jeep owners were found to be 81 times more likely to carry out their own maintenance than the average car owner. Chevrolet owners were 62 times more likely to engage in DIY car maintenance, while Peugeot owners were 47 times more likely to handle their own repairs. Other brands with high DIY maintenance inclinations included MINI, Vauxhall, SEAT, Škoda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, and Fiat.

From January to June of this year, the most popular Jeep part purchased on eBay was a replacement battery, followed by a set of two door edge protector strips. Replacement outside under door mirror air temperature sensors for the Jeep Renegade came in third.

eBay’s marketplace features millions of new, pre-owned, and Certified Recycled parts. Certified Recycled parts, in particular, are up to 70% cheaper than OEM parts RRP, providing shoppers with peace of mind since all items are vetted, warrantied, and sourced from approved end-of-life vehicles. The platform’s “My Garage” search function makes it simple for users to find the correct parts for their vehicles by just entering their registration number.*

eBay also hosts official brand stores for BMW, Ford, Lexus, MINI, Suzuki, and Toyota, along with classic brands like Jaguar Classic and Land Rover Classic.

Abir Tewari, UK Director Commercial Operations Parts & Accessories at eBay, said: “With average garage labour rates in the UK now exceeding £75 per hour, taking on your own car maintenance is a practical way to cut running costs. Our findings show that Jeep drivers are particularly hands-on – they’re nearly twice as likely to perform their own maintenance compared to the average car owner.”

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tesla drivers are the least likely to do their own car maintenance, being 79 times less likely than the average UK car owner.

The study used data from GlobalWebIndex (GWI) to evaluate car owners’ attitudes towards DIY car maintenance. New car owners were excluded from the research, as they are more likely to use professional services to maintain their vehicle warranties, which usually require routine maintenance to be performed by VAT-registered garages.

DIY Maintenance Index (100 = average car owner inclination towards DIY maintenance)

Rank 1: Jeep – DIY Maintenance Index: 181
Rank 2: Chevrolet – DIY Maintenance Index: 161
Rank 3: Peugeot – DIY Maintenance Index: 147
Rank 4= MINI – DIY Maintenance Index: 131
Rank 4= Vauxhall – DIY Maintenance Index: 131
Rank 6: SEAT – DIY Maintenance Index: 129
Rank 7: Skoda – DIY Maintenance Index: 127
Rank 8: Mitsubishi – DIY Maintenance Index: 125
Rank 9: Suzuki – DIY Maintenance Index: 123
Rank 10: Fiat – DIY Maintenance Index: 120

Parts:

Rank 1: 017TE Exide EA1000 017 019 Car Battery
Rank 2: Black Door Edge Protector Strip 2x 12″ Door Protector Black
Rank 3: Jeep Renegade B1 BU Outside Air Temperature Sensor Under Door Mirror
Rank 4: Swirl Valve Bypass Resistor Plug Fix for Jeep V6 Diesel OM642
Rank 5: 12V Universal Windscreen Wiper Motor with Arm and Blade for Willys Jeep
Rank 6: ATF +4 Automatic Transmission Fluid MS-9602 MS-7176
Rank 7: Rear Wiper Blade 10 Jeep Compass
Rank 8: 10x VVO® Front Wheel Arch Flare & Trim Moulding Clips Jeep Renegade
Rank 9: Jeep Renegade 2015 to 2018 Tailored Carpet Car Floor Mats Black 4pc Set
Rank 10: Gearbox Automatic Transmission Dipstick For Jeep