Motorists lose 565 hours to car-related admin over a lifetime

Drivers “lose” up to 565 hours of their lives to car-related admin and maintenance planning.

A poll of 2,000 drivers, of all vehicle makes and models, revealed that on average, they spend the equivalent of a full day each year thinking about service schedules, MOTs, and potential issues – time that could be better spent elsewhere.

More than six in 10 (63%) have missed important occasions because they couldn’t get there due to a car-related problem. In fact, drivers reported having to change plans an average of four times a year due to undetected car issues.

The research was commissioned by BMW, whose Proactive Care service is designed to give drivers added confidence and convenience, working quietly in the background to help keep them moving with greater peace of mind.

Available on every BMW less than 10 years old, the technology uses real-time vehicle data to alert drivers to potential issues before they become problems, remind them about scheduled maintenance, or offer immediate support following an accident.

To bring this to life and raise awareness of this intelligent technology, BMW used car tyres to create a striking clock visual sculpted in beach sand to symbolise the precious hours that could be reclaimed.

The study also found that many drivers still rely on traditional methods to stay organised, with more than half (52%) using diaries to manage service schedules, 37% waiting for a dashboard alert before acting, and 37% admitted to actively delaying visits to a garage.

The impact this has on car ownership is significant, with over two thirds (68%) of motorists saying they’d enjoy driving more if they had greater peace of mind.

“Time is the ultimate luxury and shouldn’t always be lost to car admin or unplanned maintenance,” said Werner Pagenstert, Customer Support Director at BMW Group UK.

“Proactive Care helps drivers reclaim those 565 lost hours and spend more time doing the things that matter most to them.”