Are you a dipstick when it comes to cars?

Nearly half of adults are baffled by their cars and have no idea where to put the screen wash, how to pop the bonnet – or even what size engine is under it.

A study of 2,000 drivers found 44 per cent find cars ‘confusing’, with three in 10 unaware how to pump up their tyres – let alone know how much pressure they need in the first place.

A quarter have no idea how to check the tread depth on their tyres, while 24 per cent could not confidently locate the dipstick.

But one in 10 are also puzzled about how many miles per gallon their car can do and 41 per cent do not know the difference between horsepower and miles per hour.

As a result, the study by YesAuto found buying a new car is considered more stressful than starting a new job, taking an exam or managing deadlines at work.

“We’re not all ‘petrol heads’ – but that shouldn’t make buying a car harder, or more strenuous,” said Stuart Palombo of YesAuto.

“It’s evident that it’s not just the car itself that is confusing for drivers, but the buying of a car as well.

“Which is why at YesAuto we want to make this journey enjoyable and easy enough for every driver, by ensuring each car buyer doesn’t need an expert to advise them to understand their car.

“Before being connected with a dealer on the YesAuto platform, the buyer can head to our content page to learn more about the different specifications and features different cars have, which will give them further learning and understanding before buying their ideal car.”

The research also revealed the reasons why motorists find vehicles bemusing, including never being shown how to do certain things with cars, or that there is too much jargon for them to follow.

This lack of knowledge and know-how means 53 per cent find the car buying process stressful.

And nearly a quarter of drivers dislike it because they find their lack of knowledge embarrassing, according to the OnePoll data.

It also emerged 55 per cent wished purchasing a car was an easier process, as they don’t know what questions to ask, how much things should cost or what they even need in the first place.

In fact, drivers would be more fussed about the colour of the car or size of the boot rather than the spec of their new set of wheels.

This bewilderment when choosing a new car means the average driver spends nearly two weeks looking for a vehicle due to the lack of knowledge.