With gas prices at five-year lows, a new survey from DMEautomotive shows that car travel is the way to go for 35% of travelers over the winter holidays; and these consumers are making sure their ride is safe: 90% plan pre-trip maintenance.
DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. – With gas prices at five-year lows, new research from DMEautomotive (DMEa) reveals that a whopping one-third of consumers plan to drive out of town for the 2014 winter holiday – and the vast majority (79%) of those will be hitting the road in their own wheels versus renting a car. These 2014 winter holiday travelers are driving far: over 50% say they intend to drive 400+ miles round trip, with one in six planning to rack up over 1,000 miles on their odometer.
“Gas prices are the lowest they have been in five years, so it makes sense that a large number of consumers are reporting that they plan to drive long distances over the winter holidays,” said Mary Sheridan Ph. D., DMEa Manager of Research and Analytics. “We are pleased to see that consumers are taking care to ensure their vehicles are ready to hit the road. Auto service centers should take note: 90% of these travelers plan some pre-trip vehicle prep, including oil changes, fluid and tire checks, and, for more than one third of those driving over 600 miles, a full vehicle inspection.”
The findings from the study of approximately 2,000 consumers come at a time when gas prices have been on a non-stop 60-day decline, with the current national average price of a gallon of gas at $2.81 a gallon2 – all just in time for the holidays.
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PLAN TO DRIVE OUT OF TOWN FOR WINTER HOLIDAYS |
|
|
Yes |
34.5% |
|
No |
49.3% |
|
Undecided |
16.3% |
Pre-trip maintenance appears to be a priority for these road travelers, with nine out of ten planning at least some vehicle prep before hitting the road. Checking tire air pressure, topping up fluids, getting an oil change and cleaning the vehicle rank as their most performed pre-trip tasks. Not surprisingly, those consumers who are driving the longest distances are the most likely to perform pre-trip maintenance, with nearly 80% of those driving over 600 miles planning to check air pressure in their tires, 66% filling up fluids, 53% getting an oil change and over one-third planning a full vehicle inspection.
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PLANNED SERVICES PRIOR TO DRIVING VEHICLE FOR WINTER HOLIDAY TRIP |
|
|
Check tire air pressure |
70% |
|
Clean vehicle |
63% |
|
Fill fluids |
57% |
|
Get oil change |
46% |
|
Check tire treads |
37% |
|
Check spare tire air |
29% |
|
Rotate tires |
25% |
|
Replace wiper blades |
25% |
|
Full vehicle inspection |
22% |
|
Test battery |
21% |
|
Check heating system |
18% |
|
Flush antifreeze |
15% |
|
Put on winter tires |
11% |
|
Do nothing |
10% |
|
Other |
2% |
The survey also indicates that rental companies should see a spike in business, with one in six consumers reporting that they plan to rent a vehicle for the trip. The long distances planned by these holiday travelers are contributing to this trend, with those traveling over 600 miles round trip more likely to rent a vehicle than those driving under 600 miles.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
