When it comes to basic car maintenance, many Aussies are a bit out of their depth. Our survey found that changing air filters, headlights, and tyres tops the list of tasks drivers feel least confident in. A significant 58% of drivers surveyed admitted they’d be unsure how to handle an air filter change, closely followed by 57% feeling the same about headlights. Meanwhile, two in five (41%) lack confidence in changing a tyre. In fact, over a third confessed they’re extremely unconfident when it comes to changing air filters (35%) and headlights (34%), while almost a quarter (24%) feel similarly about tyre changes.

Other routine tasks that some consider simple, like jump-starting a car or checking and changing the oil, leave plenty of drivers feeling uncertain as well. Nearly four in ten Aussies (38%) are unsure of how to jump-start a car, with one in five (21%) extremely unconfident. Meanwhile, more than a third (35%) say they’re not confident with checking or changing their oil.

Even the basics can feel daunting: about one in five Australians aren’t confident they’d know what to do if their car didn’t start (22.1%) or if a warning light appeared (18%).

Fortunately, most people know how to fill their car with fuel. Good start.

And most people feel confident in how to pop the hood, and what to do in case of a minor accident or a dead battery.

CONFIDENCE LEVELS IN DRIVER KNOWLEDGE AMONG AUSTRALIANS

Gender differences in driving knowledge

Our survey highlights some clear differences in confidence between men and women. For women, a few tasks stood out as areas where confidence was lacking. Changing the air filter, for example, had over three-quarters of women surveyed (77%) feeling unconfident. Tackling a headlight replacement followed close behind, with 76% expressing uncertainty, while changing a tyre proved challenging for 63% of women.

Men, while more confident overall, had their own top challenges. Like women, they reported the most uncertainty with changing an air filter, with almost four in ten (39%) men surveyed saying they weren’t comfortable with the task. Headlight replacement was another sticking point, with 38% of men admitting uncertainty. Checking or changing the oil and jump-starting a car also posed a challenge, though only one in five (20%) felt unconfident in these areas.

GENDER IMPACT ON CONFIDENCE IN DRIVER KNOWLEDGE

Age differences in driving knowledge

Our survey shows that car confidence often comes with age, but there are some surprises in how different age groups handle essential car tasks. Young drivers aged 18-24 generally feel the least confident with car basics, whereas those aged 45-54 are the most confident.

Over a third (37.9%) of 18 to 24-year-olds surveyed are unsure of what to do if their car breaks down, and nearly four in ten (38.5%) wouldn’t know how to proceed if their car won’t start. These numbers improve with age, with fewer than one in ten of those over 65 feeling uncertain in similar situations.

Checking or changing the oil also remains challenging for younger drivers, with nearly 43% of 18-24-year-olds surveyed lacking confidence. In contrast, confidence in this skill peaks among older drivers, especially those aged 55-64, with over two-thirds (71%) feeling capable of handling an oil check or change.

Interestingly, a routine task like filling up the windscreen washer fluid stumps nearly a quarter (24%) of 18-24-year-olds, while confidence levels remain high across other age groups.

Headlight changes present a universal challenge. Over half of every age group, especially those over 65, feel unconfident about changing a headlight. The highest uncertainty appears among those over 65, where 67% struggle with this task.

THE LEAST CONFIDENT STATES

Location differences in driving knowledge

When it comes to car knowledge, confidence levels vary widely across Australia, with Western Australian drivers feeling the most unsure overall^. An average of 27% of Western Australians lacked confidence across all 18 questions. The biggest hurdles for WA drivers? Changing air filters (65% lack confidence) and swapping out headlights (60% are unsure).

Brendan Griffiths, Executive Manager at ROLLiN' comments:

“Being a confident driver goes beyond just navigating the road – it’s about knowing your car and feeling prepared for whatever comes your way. Our research shows that while Aussies are generally confident drivers, many feel less assured with essential car care tasks, like changing an air filter, swapping a headlight, or replacing a tyre. Knowing how to handle these basics is not only a practical skill but can be a real lifesaver in emergencies.

“It’s surprising to see how many Australians feel unprepared for these tasks, especially considering the difference they can make in staying safe on the road. For those who want to feel more prepared, even a quick online tutorial or practice session can be a game-changer. Having suitable car insurance can also help you feel protected against life’s curveballs, which means one less thing to worry about as you build your road knowledge and confidence.”

About the data

The data from this analysis was drawn from a survey executed by Pureprofile conducted on behalf of ROLLiN’. Conducted in October 2025, we surveyed 1,004 Australians to find what the biggest knowledge gaps were when it came to operating their vehicles, basic maintenance tasks and navigating some common, but tricky situations.

We asked respondents to rank what their level of confidence was when dealing with 18 different tasks and situations on a 5-point Likert scale. The survey was conducted in line with the nationally representative percentage targets for age, gender and location (state).