Cars remain central to daily life in Australia. But over the past two years, the cost of keeping a car on the road has climbed sharply – and Australians’ behaviour is changing along with it.
The Youi Generational Car Care and Costs Report returns in 2026, building on our inaugural 2024 study to unpack generational differences in car care, spending, maintenance and attitudes in today’s cost-pressured environment.
This year’s research shows driving costs have become one of Australia’s most significant cost-of- living pressures. In 2026, 56% of Australians say they’re spending more on car-related expenses – placing driving alongside other important and unavoidable household costs.
Reflecting this shift, one in two Australians now say driving is less affordable than it was 12 months ago.
Read on to explore what does and doesn’t matter to each generation.
How much are Australians spending on car care and driving in 2026?
Cost‑of‑living pressure is front of mind for most Australians. Groceries remain the biggest strain (57%), closely followed by car expenses, with 56% spending more on driving than a year ago.
Rising car costs are being felt across every generation. 60% of Gen Z, 55% of Millennials, 54% of Gen X and 55% of Boomers say they’re spending more on fuel, car payments or insurance.
Yet the true dollar impact to wallets is more evident among younger Australians, as monthly running costs skew higher among them. Gen Z (24%) and Millennials (26%) are around three times more likely than Boomers (7%) to spend $600 or more per month, while Boomers are most likely to spend under $200 (39%).
Cost pressures are driving a rise in vital maintenance delays
In 2024, 35% of drivers delayed at least one maintenance task, not including car cleaning. By 2026, that figure has jumped to 47% – one of the most significant behavioural shifts across the study.
The top 3 deferred tasks remain unchanged, though they have all become more common: car cleaning, tyre replacement and oil changes. Cost is the core driver for deferring maintenance, cited by 60% of Australians – far outweighing time or motivation (15%).
Delaying routine maintenance doesn’t just affect vehicle performance – it can also increase the risk of breakdowns or avoidable incidents due to worn tyres, low oil or missed servicing.
Maintenance delays have increased across all age groups, but the jump is most pronounced among younger drivers. This year, 79% of Gen Z and 76% of Millennials report delaying maintenance or a cleaning task, compared with 62% of Gen X and just 37% of Boomers. This mirrors higher monthly running costs, with younger generations around three times more likely than Boomers to spend $600 or more per month.
Most Australians still service their car at least once a year (84%). However, fewer are servicing regularly. Just 32% now service their car every six months or more – down from 46% in 2024. At the same time, those servicing less than once a year has risen from 7% to 16%.
Car cleaning habits reflect a similar practicality. Australians are most likely to thoroughly clean their car when it matters socially – with dating the strongest trigger (53%) among those for whom it’s applicable. After the dog has been in the car (43%), driving the in-laws (39%) or driving work colleagues (32%) follow most closely, while everyday solo driving ranks lowest (20%).
When cars do get cleaned, most Australians do it themselves. Nearly half (48%) clean at home, while just 10% use professional services.
That same pragmatic approach shows up in refuelling habits, with 70% proactively keeping their tank or battery topped up, and only 6% regularly pushing their luck.
Day to day, cars are relied on more for life admin than lifestyle. Over 80% use their car weekly for groceries and errands, while social trips, exercise and road trips are far less frequent. The picture is clear: cars are managed sensibly, cleaned selectively, and prioritised when they matter most.
Car dependence hasn’t eased – even as affordability has worsened
Despite rising costs, cars remain deeply embedded in everyday life. In 2026, 51% of Australians say they would face major disruption within five days of losing access to a car, rising to 71% within seven days. Only 11% say it wouldn’t be a major issue.
Driving frequency has shifted only slightly. Daily driving dipped from 48% to 46%, while those driving multiple times a week remained steady at 44%. While only a small change, more Australians are reporting driving less often.
Generational differences are clear. Gen Z (39%) and Millennials (38%) are most likely to say they’re driving more than they were a year ago, while Boomers (56%) and Gen X (48%) are saying they’re driving less.
Boomers also led in practicing considered behaviours, with nearly half saying they’re being much more careful about when and where they drive (49%) and combining trips (43%).
Overall, 88% of Australians report making at least one behavioural change in response to rising costs. These changes focus on reducing, optimising or rationing driving – not giving it up altogether.
Boomers are most likely to have begun driving less frequently (51%), planning trips carefully (49%) and combining errands (43%). Gen Z use public transport more often (36%), delay refuelling or recharging (31%), and cut back elsewhere to afford driving costs (41%).
While affordability has declined sharply since 2024, car dependence has barely shifted. Instead, Australians are managing costs by changing driving behaviours and, more alarmingly, delaying maintenance.
Budget now leads the car buying decision over brand
Rising costs are reshaping how Australians choose their next vehicle. When asked to compare to their experiences from a year ago, Aussies priorities have shifted away from brand and towards value- driven considerations like affordability, efficiency and reliability.
71% say an affordable purchase price is more important than a year ago, with just 4% saying it matters less.
Fuel efficiency and running costs show an even greater shift. 79% say this factor is more important – the highest increase across all attributes – reflecting a growing focus on total cost of ownership.
Reliability also continues to climb. 63% say it’s more important than before, reinforcing its role as a non-negotiable in uncertain financial times.
Priorities differ by generation. Gen Z leads the value driven mindset, placing the greatest importance on fuel efficiency and running costs (84%), purchase price (78%) and reliability (74%).
Millennials place greater weight on usability and features, with a focus on family-friendly practicality (60%), safety features (60%), performance (58%), technology (49%) and brand (48%).
Technology rises in importance, but function comes first
Technology is playing a bigger role in car choice, with 68% saying it’s more important now than five years ago. But enthusiasm remains practical. One quarter want even more technology, but the majority of Australians (58%) don't mind either way or are fine so long as basics are covered..
Everyday tech use centres on functional features. Reverse cameras (55%), Bluetooth (50%), USB charging ports (45%) and GPS navigation (43%) are used most often.
Only one feature stands out as truly essential. Reverse cameras top the list, with 20% saying they couldn’t live without one. GPS (13%) and Bluetooth (12%) follow at a distance, while advanced automation features rarely register as non‑negotiable.
Gen Z relies most on connectivity features like Bluetooth (61%) and USB charging (57%). Boomers prioritise visibility and assistance, regularly using reverse cameras (60%), keyless entry or push-button start (42%), adaptive cruise control (33%) and lane-departure or lane-keeping assistance (29%).
In a cost-of-living crisis, has our relationship with cars changed?
Australians’ relationship with cars remains grounded in practicality. 81% see their car simply as a way to get from A to B, with just 6% disagreeing.
Cars are no longer widely viewed as status symbols. Only 29% agree with that idea, while nearly half (48%) actively reject it. Still, cars aren’t purely utilitarian. Almost half of Australians feel emotionally attached to their car (48%), and 44% say it reflects their personality.
These emotional connections are strongest among younger Australians. Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to see their car as part of their identity and lifestyle, not just a functional tool.
Older Australians take a more no‑nonsense view. Nearly nine in ten Boomers (88%) see cars primarily as a practical necessity.
The verdict? Cars still matter – but usefulness, not status, remains firmly in the driver’s seat.
A reminder not to neglect what keeps you moving
As costs rise and behaviours shift, at Youi, we encourage Australians to keep up with essential car maintenance, even in tight financial conditions. Staying on top of servicing and safety-related upkeep can help reduce the risk of larger, more expensive repairs down the track – especially while cars remain essential to everyday life.
More importantly, neglecting car maintenance can also compromise safety, with worn tyres, low oil and missed servicing increasing the risk of breakdowns or avoidable incidents.
Explore the data in more detail using our interactive tool below, or you can revisit insights from the 2024 Generational Car Care and Costs Report.
Explore the 2026 survey data
See what's changed since 2024
Disclaimer
This data is sourced from a survey conducted by Dynata Global between 13 April 2026 and 21 April 2026, involving 2,061 individuals aged 18 and above from all states and territories within Australia. Some percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Survey results have not been independently verified by Youi and may not be representative of the general population. Youi makes no representation or warranty of any kind of the accuracy, adequacy, reliability, or completeness of the data and accepts no liability for any loss or damage of any kind suffered as a result of the use of or reliance on the data. Individual experiences may vary.