Data Point
Car Shoppers Vote Free Maintenance Most-Appealing Offer by Wide Margin
Tuesday June 25, 2019
Article Highlights
- In a recent survey on Kelley Blue Book’s website, car shoppers which free offering would be most influential in their next vehicle purchase.
- Free maintenance for 2 years was the top-ranked offering by a wide margin.
- Roadside assistance and monthly car washes finished a distant 2nd and 3rd in the survey, demonstrating that car buyers will be most tempted by free maintenance, likely to help keep ownership costs down.
In a recent survey of car shoppers visiting Kelley Blue Book’s website, free maintenance for 2 years was voted the top most-appealing offer when purchasing their next vehicle, by a wide margin. Roadside assistance and monthly car washes finished a distant 2nd and 3rd in the survey, demonstrating car buyers will be most tempted by free maintenance, likely to help keep ownership costs down.
Assuming the below offerings are free which would be most influential in your next vehicle purchase (select top 3)?
| Maintenance (oil changes, tire rotations, air filters) for 2 years | 71% |
| 24-Hour Roadside Assistance for 5 years | 37% |
| Monthly car washes for 1 year | 20% |
| Vehicle pick-up and delivery for 2 years | 10% |
| Vehicle-connected mobile app for 4 years | 10% |
| In-Vehicle Wi-Fi for 3 months | 9% |
Total Votes: 726
Interestingly enough, free maintenance with new-car purchases is more widely available than many consumers might guess. According to a recent Kelley Blue Book article, 16 different auto brands offer at least some form of free maintenance with a new car purchase, including Chevrolet, Jeep, Ram and Toyota. In fact, ToyotaCare offers exactly what KBB shoppers want: Normal factory scheduled service for 2 years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first. Good news for new-car buyers. For those seeking the peace of mind that comes with free maintenance, it’s out there.