Naming, greeting and buying gifts: UK drivers treat their cars in some surprising ways
Drivers in Britain have deeper relationships with their cars than previously thought, according to a new survey.
Vertu Motors’ research has found that vehicle owners name, greet and even give their cars gifts at Christmas time.
The survey of 1,000 people revealed 42% of drivers say “hello” when they approach their car, whilst 23% purchase festive gifts such as wiper blades and air fresheners.
A further 23% said they hadn’t bought their cars Christmas presents but would like to in the future.
Results also suggested that men are likeliest to greet their cars or buy them presents, but are also prone to engaging with vehicles in aggressive ways – with 73% of males admitting they show anger or resentment towards their car if it performs badly.
Further analysis revealed that men tend to name their cars after people or films, music artists, or beloved relatives, whilst women name their cars based on what they believe reflects their personality.
Younger drivers were found to be the most sentimental of all – with 18-24 year-olds likeliest to name their car, greet their car, or buy it a Christmas present.
61% of Brits admitted they gave their very first vehicle its own moniker.
When asked about naming conventions, 25% of survey respondents said they have named their car in the past and 63% are likely to name their next car.
Ford owners were among the likeliest types of drivers to name their vehicles (36%).
Some of the top reasons Brits said they name their car are:
| Ranking | Reason | Percentage |
| 1 | The name fits the car’s “personality” | 38 per cent |
| 2 | Because of the colour of the car | 26 per cent |
| 3 | Because I like to think of my car as a member of the household | 26 per cent |
| 4 | Named it after a character from my favourite film | 21 per cent |
| 5 | Named it after a beloved family member | 19 per cent |
A Vertu Motors spokesperson commented: “It is wonderful to see so many car owners not only naming their vehicles, but also treating them to special gifts and treating them like one of the family.
“The sentimentality that many of us share with our motors remains strong for the majority of Brits, from the very first car and beyond.
“More than just being a means of transport, our cars become our closest allies in times of need and often become a focal feature of many car owners’ biggest life events. There is a strong bond there, which we completely understand here at Vertu Motors.”
For further insights from Vertu Motors, visit the Vertu Motors blog.
