Yonder summary June 2025
The June 2025 survey, held between the 10 and 18 June, received 12,784 responses from AA members.
In this survey
Used car features
Respondents were asked which features they consider essential when buying a used car, and which retro features they miss.
Parking sensors or cameras were the most sought-after feature (55%), followed by built-in navigation systems (40%) and heated windscreens (34%).
Retro features drivers miss include full-size spare tyres (78%), physical buttons over touchscreens (44%), and cassette or CD players (37%).
Garage repairs
Respondents shared their views on garage servicing and customer experience.
Three in five (61%) prefer garage servicing over home servicing. Nearly half (47%) find garages more convenient, though 29% find them inconvenient.
Over half (53%) agree that garages are honest and upfront about costs, while 25% disagree. One in three (30%) report feeling pressured into repairs they didn’t fully understand, though nearly half (47%) say they haven’t felt pressured.
Three in five (62%) don’t think garage staff speak down to them. Two in five (40%) say they don’t enjoy the garage experience; only one in five (20%) do.
Tailgating
Respondents were asked about their awareness and adherence to the Highway Code’s two-second rule for safe following distances.
Two-thirds (67%) say they follow the rule consistently. Women are more likely than men to follow it at all times (74% vs. 63%). A quarter (25%) admit they sometimes fail to observe the rule.
Scenic drives
Respondents shared their preferred landscapes and rated enjoyment of popular UK driving routes.
Top landscapes: open countryside (80%), coastal roads (79%), woods/forests (51%).
Most travelled routes: Swanage to Lyme Regis (23%), Atlantic Highway (22%), Gower Peninsula (21%), Thetford to King’s Lynn (19%), Danby to York (17%), Northumberland 250 (16%), North Coast 500 (14%), M25 full circuit (13%), Giant’s Causeway and Bishops Waltham to Winchester (9%).
Most enjoyed routes:
- North Coast 500 & Giant’s Causeway (92%)
- Danby to York (90%)
- Northumberland 250 (89%)
- Gower Peninsula (86%)
- Swanage to Lyme Regis (84%)
- Atlantic Highway (78%)
Least enjoyed: M25 full circuit (60% found it unenjoyable).
Park and ride
Respondents were asked about their use of park and ride facilities and preferences for location, cost, and travel time.
One in three (31%) drive into cities monthly for leisure; one in five (22%) commute regularly. Nearly one in five (18%) are discouraged by parking issues; 10% by traffic or fines.
A quarter (24%) use park and ride; 23% would if available; 54% say it doesn’t work for them. Three in four (75%) prefer sites within three miles of city centres. A quarter (24%) accept up to 10 minutes extra travel time.
No clear consensus on cost: £2–£3 (25%), £2 or less (21%), £3–£4 (21%).
Summer events travel
Respondents shared their plans for attending summer events and how they intend to travel.
8% plan to attend music festivals (71% by car), 9% plan to attend other festivals (76% by car).
2% plan to attend the British Grand Prix (81% by car), 2% Wimbledon (61% by train), and 2% the Women’s Rugby World Cup (46% by car, 38% by train).
Oil checks
Respondents were asked when they believe engine oil should be checked, topped up, or changed.
Most believe an oil change is needed if the oil is black/sludgy (81%), milky/foamy (77%), every 10,000 miles (61%) or every 12 months (60%).
Top-up/check preferred when the dipstick reads below minimum (92%) or when the oil pressure warning light appears (78%).
Yonder summary May 2025
The May 2025 survey, held between the 13 and 21 May received 10,509 responses from AA members.
In this survey
Used EV purchase
Respondents were asked to rank their preferred sources for buying a used electric vehicle (EV), and the qualities they consider most important when choosing one.
Almost one in three (33%) preferred privately owned EVs, rising to over two in five (43%) among those aged 35–44. Ex-lease vehicles were the most popular second choice (29%), followed by ex-fleet vehicles (24%).
Battery range was the most important quality (24%), followed by battery health (21%) and service history (16%).
Speeding
Respondents were asked whether they had exceeded the speed limit—intentionally or unintentionally—on various road types in the past year, why they did so, and what level of speeding they considered acceptable.
Almost half (44%) admitted to speeding in 20mph zones, rising to nearly three in five (57%) in London. 30mph roads followed (38%), then 70mph (35%), 40mph (24%), 50mph (21%) and 60mph (22%).
The most common reason for speeding in 20mph and 30mph zones was being unaware of their speed. On faster roads, empty roads were the top reason—cited by nearly half of respondents in 40mph and 50mph zones, and over half in 60mph zones.
Across all limits, almost half of respondents said no amount of speeding is acceptable. However, 5mph over the limit was the most commonly accepted margin, chosen by around one in seven (15%) across most road types.
Motorway signs
Respondents were shown a motorway location sign and asked to identify its meaning.
Half correctly said it indicates the driver’s current location. Knowledge was highest among those aged 35–54, with two-thirds (66%) of 35–44s answering correctly. Over a third (35%) didn’t know what the sign meant, rising to nearly half (48%) in Scotland. One in ten (9%) thought it marked an emergency phone, and one in twenty (4%) believed it showed distance to the next exit.
Crash damage components
Respondents were asked to rank ten common vehicle components from most to least frequently repaired after a crash.
Over a third (36%) ranked bumper units as the most commonly repaired item. Front and rear bumper crash beams and fixings were the most popular second choices (31% each), and rear bumper fixings were also the top third choice (26%).
Almost half (48%) ranked the roof as the least commonly repaired item.
Private parking signage
Respondents were shown a private car park terms and conditions sign and asked which statements they agreed with.
More than a third (36%) strongly agreed they couldn’t read and understand the sign within ten minutes. Two in five (39%) said the information was unclear, and over two in five (43%) found it difficult to understand. Almost a quarter (23%) said they never read these signs.
Tyre checks
Respondents were asked if they knew how to check tyre pressure and tread depth, and when they last did so.
Almost all (96%) said they know how to check tyre pressure. Nearly one in three (30%) had checked pressure within the last week, and just under half (44%) had done so within the last month. Just over one in five (22%) had checked between one and six months ago.
For tread depth, nearly one in five (19%) had checked within the last week, over a third (37%) within the last month, and three in ten (29%) between one and six months ago.
Driving test
Respondents were shown a mix of driving test myths and facts and asked to identify which were true or false. They were also asked how confident they’d feel retaking the test today.
Nine in ten (90%) knew the theory test must be retaken if the practical isn’t passed within two years. Only two in five (39%) knew learners can drive on motorways with an instructor. Just over one in ten (15%) knew you can pass with up to 14 minor faults.
Almost three in four (73%) were confident they could pass the practical test today, but fewer than half (48%) felt confident about the theory test. The top concerns were outdated Highway Code knowledge (88%) and bad driving habits (73%).
Confidence was highest in areas like alertness (97%), observation at junctions (96%), eyesight (96%), speed control (94%), and hazard awareness (91%).
Things lost at festivals
Respondents were asked which items they thought festivalgoers are most likely to lose, have stolen, or leave behind.
Most commonly lost: house keys (79%), car keys (75%), eyewear (60%). Most commonly stolen: wallets/purses and tablets (both 59%). Most commonly left behind: tents (78%), camping chairs (58%), reusable water bottles (56%).
Yonder summary April 2025
The April 2025 survey, held between the 8 and 16 April 2025 received 11,575 responses from AA members.
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED)
This month’s poll explored awareness and attitudes towards VED. Among respondents, 61% drive vehicles registered between April 2001 and March 2017, subject to CO₂-based VED. Of these, 37% pay less than the current £195 flat rate, 21% pay about the same, and 29% pay more.
Over half (52%) were unaware of the cost difference compared to newer vehicles, rising to 60% among 25–34-year-olds. Half plan to keep their current vehicle to benefit from lower tax, while 65% disagreed with replacing their vehicle sooner to save on tax.
A quarter (24%) would consider choosing a vehicle under the older VED system when replacing their current one.
Fuel Duty
Nearly half (47%) of respondents support freezing fuel duty again, while 22% back an increase only if funds are used for pothole repairs. Just 10% favour an inflation-linked rise.
Driving instructors
Good instruction matters—64% credited their instructor for helping them pass their test, and 45% cited private practice. Calmness (65%), knowledge (57%), and friendliness (56%) were top traits of effective instructors.
Used car buying
Over half (54%) would travel up to 50 miles for the right used car, with an average willingness of 69 miles. Low mileage (64%), full-service history (49%), and competitive pricing (34%) were key motivators.
Confidence in dealers was significantly higher with AA approval—86% for franchised and 80% for independent dealers, compared to 36% and 18% respectively without AA backing.
Private parking fines
When faced with a disputed private PCN, 59% would appeal, while 14% would seek online advice. Only 5% would pay immediately. Among those who would pay, 53% cited convenience, and 13% doubted a fair appeal process. Confidence in appeal success was split evenly at 37%.
May bank holiday travel
Most drivers (83%–88%) plan short trips under 50 miles. On the 5th and 26th of May, 36% and 40% respectively plan to work. Family visits and shopping dominate weekend plans, with 39% visiting family on Sunday 4th May and 38% on Sunday 25th May.
Yonder summary March 2025
The March AA-Yonder survey ran between 19 and 24 March 2025 and received 11,162 responses
In this survey
- Car buying
- Car financing
- Signs of spring
- Parking issues
- Seat belts
- Car maintenance
- Easter travel
- Dashcams
- Car cleaning
- Perceived driving offences
Car buying
We asked respondents about their car buying plans. Four in five (79%) would pay the full amount up front if they had the money available. Less than one in ten would pay a deposit up front and the rest on finance. When asked about their car purchasing plans, 82% said they are not looking to buy a car. Only 6% are actively looking to buy one. Meanwhile, 4% want to buy a car but have delayed for up to a year, 3% have delayed for one to two years, and 5% have delayed for over two years.
Car financing
We asked respondents about their understanding of car financing terms. Respondents felt they knew what was meant by deposit (99%), personal loan (98%), credit check (98%), credit score (95%) and hire purchase (94%). Balloon payment (69%), loan to value (57%) and Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVA) (52%) were less understood in comparison.
Signs of spring
We asked respondents about their observations of spring. The majority (83%) agreed that spring is their favorite season for driving. Almost half (48%) said they enjoy the longer daylight hours, while 31% appreciate the milder weather. Less than one-fifth (18%) said they enjoy seeing flowers and trees in bloom.
Parking issues
We asked respondents about their parking preferences. We gave respondents a list of different parking spaces and most respondents said they are happy to park in the following places: A parking space where you have to reverse park/drive out (87%), a parking space where you have to forward park/reverse exit (84%), a town centre multi-story car park where you need to navigate tight spaces (ramps, pillars etc) (77%), and a street where you need to parallel park (77%). More than two-fifths are happy to park on a street where you have to park in heavy traffic condition (43%), but a similar proportion would try to find an alternative (46%).
Seat belts
We asked respondents whether penalty points should be introduced for people not wearing a seatbelt. Three in five (60%) believe penalty points should be introduced for people not wearing seatbelts, whilst half of this (30%) believe there shouldn’t be. Of those who believe penalty points should be introduced for not wearing a seatbelt, 74% think 3 points would be appropriate for not wearing a seatbelt, whilst 20% think 6 points would be appropriate.
Car maintenance
We asked respondents about their car maintenance practices. The majority (83%) agreed that their car is important to them, so getting it serviced at the correct time/mileage interval is important for peace of mind. Three in five (67%) think it’s best to get their car’s MOT and service done at the same time so that any faults are easily dealt with – with half actually doing so annually (47%). Despite this, for some respondents it could be quite expensive to do both at the same time. As two in five (37%) think that keeping the MOT and the servicing separate helps to spread the costs of running a car.
Easter travel
We asked respondents about their travel plans over the Easter holiday weekend. About half of those asked (49%) didn't plan to travel on Good Friday. However, a quarter (25%) had plans to drive somewhere but have not decided where, and 13% are planning to drive to visit friends or relatives. Similarly, on Saturday the 30th of March, two-fifths (44%) said they wouldn't be driving and just over a quarter (26%) will drive somewhere but are undecided and 13% will drive to visit friends or relatives. On Easter Sunday, half (52%) don’t have any plans to drive. Of those that do, almost a quarter (23%) have not yet decided where they will go and 16% will drive to visit friends or relatives. On Easter Monday, similar to the above, half wouldn't be driving (52%). More than a quarter (26%) of those who do plan to drive have not yet decided where and 11% will drive to visit friends or relatives.
Dashcams
We asked respondents about their use of dashcams. The majority (60%) said they use a dashcam while driving. Of those who use dashcams, 45% said they use it for safety reasons, while 30% use it to record incidents for insurance purposes. Less than a fifth (15%) said they use it for recording scenic drives.
Car cleaning
We asked respondents about their car cleaning habits. Almost half (48%) said they clean their car once a month, while 30% clean their car every two weeks. Less than a fifth (15%) said they clean their car once a week.
Perceived driving offences
We asked respondents about their perceptions of driving offences. The majority (89%) said they find driving with full beam lights on when passing other cars to be the most annoying. This was followed by drivers not pulling over for an emergency vehicle (86%) and not stopping at pedestrian crossings (85%).
Yonder summary February 2025
The February AA-Yonder survey ran between 25 February and 28 February 2025 and received 14,695 responses
Road incident reactions
We asked respondents how they would react in various road incident scenarios. The majority (92%) would turn on hazard lights if their vehicle broke down on a motorway. If broken down on a smart motorway, 85% would turn on hazard lights and 82% would call a breakdown provider. For incidents on A roads or dual carriageways, 93% would call a breakdown provider and 89% would turn on hazard lights.
Tyre campaign
We asked respondents about their awareness and practices regarding tyre maintenance. Over half (52%) said they regularly check their tyre pressure, while 38% check their tyre tread depth. A significant number (20%) admitted they rarely check their tyres. When asked about tyre age, 60% of respondents were aware that tyres have a manufacturing date, but only 30% knew how to find it on the tyre.
Motorways
We asked respondents to rate their experiences on motorways. Signage (38%) and road markings (30%) were most likely to be reported as excellent, whilst congestion (32%), the amount of litter (30%) and conditions of the road (22%) were most likely to be reported as poor. Overhead gantry and “hockey stick” road-side signage is used to alert drivers to incidents ahead through information, changing speed limits or alerting of lane closures. We asked respondents about their experiences of these signs on the motorway. Three quarters (75%) have seen lane closure signs but didn’t see an incident happening when they passed. Two in three (66%) have seen signs correctly indicating a congestion blockage, however a similar proportion (65%) saw signs with information about debris but didn’t see anything when passing the affected area. In addition to this, more than half (54%) have experienced traffic and congestion but there was no sign signalling this. Two in five (41%) have seen speed limit signs being removed and changed to ‘end’ when the traffic is still stationary/slow moving slow. And lastly a third (33%), have driven past a breakdown or collision but there was no sign signalling this.
Private parking
We asked respondents about their experiences with private parking companies. More than a quarter (27%) said they knew they were in the wrong, so paid the fine straight away. A similar proportion (23%) said they successfully appealed at the first stage. Over one in ten (11%) respondents said they weren’t sure if they were in the wrong but ended up paying the fine anyway.
Near miss collisions
We asked respondents about their experiences with near miss collisions. Almost half (47%) reported having a near miss collision in the past year. The most common reasons for near misses were drivers not paying attention (35%), speeding (25%), and poor road conditions (20%).
Yonder summary January 2025
The January AA-Yonder survey ran between 16 and 28 January 2025 and received 14,695 responses
Refuelling and Recharging
This month’s survey began by asking AA panel members about their primary method for measuring fuel spend when refuelling or recharging their vehicles. More than half of respondents (51%) use the “total cost to refill tank” as their main tool to gauge fuel spend, while almost a quarter (22%) use “miles per gallon (MPG)” as their principal measurement. As of November 2024, there are 8,353 fuel forecourts and 72,594 publicly available EV devices.
When asked if there were more fuel forecourts or publicly available EV charging devices, four in five respondents (80%) believed there are more fuel forecourts. Only 6% thought there are more EV charging devices, with this belief slightly more pronounced among men (8%) and London residents (8%).
We also asked respondents how many nationwide EV charge points would be needed to instil confidence for them to switch from petrol/diesel to an EV. Almost half (44%) said they would never buy an EV regardless of the number of chargers. More than three in ten (34%) didn’t know, and exactly one in ten believed between 400,001-500,000 UK EV chargers would be sufficient.
In previous surveys, panel members indicated hesitation to switch to EVs due to a perceived lack of charging points. Over half (56%) believe a clearer universal sign would help, 52% think Sat-Navs in petrol/diesel cars should include EV charge points, and 51% believe totem poles with pricing like fuel forecourts would help.
When shown two images of EV charging point signs, almost eight in ten (77%) selected image B as the most effective.
Vehicle Fires
This section asked respondents about concerns when considering an electric or petrol/diesel vehicle. Respondents showed more concerns for EVs compared to petrol/diesel vehicles. The top concerns for more than half (53%) were the risk of the vehicle catching fire following a crash, lack of vehicle noise alerting pedestrians/cyclists, and software malfunctions. Fewer respondents were concerned about these possibilities for petrol/diesel vehicles (22%, 14%, and 19% respectively).
Close to half (47%) were worried about harming the battery in an EV when driving through a flooded area, compared to 28% for petrol/diesel vehicles. Other concerns included the risk of an EV catching fire while parked (42%), mechanical malfunctions (41%), and the threat of remote hacking (41%). Lesser concerns included the vehicle's weight (38%), complicated infotainment systems (37%), safety at public charging stations (36%), and personal safety when charging in public (30%).
Motorway Insights
We asked drivers to rate motorway features like road markings, conditions, signage, lighting, congestion, and litter. Signage (38%) and road markings (30%) were most likely to be rated as excellent, while congestion (32%), litter (30%), and road conditions (22%) were most likely to be rated as poor.
Regarding overhead gantry and “hockey stick” road-side signage, three quarters (75%) have seen lane closure signs without an incident, two in three (66%) have seen signs correctly indicating congestion, and 65% saw signs about debris without seeing any. More than half (54%) experienced traffic without a sign, 41% saw speed limit signs removed while traffic was still slow, and 33% drove past a breakdown or collision without a sign.
We also asked about observed driver behaviours on motorways. More than four in five (88%) witnessed speeding, middle lane hogging, driving too close, and undertaking. Similar proportions saw swooping (83%), tailgating (83%), changing lanes without signalling (82%), and changing lanes during heavy traffic (79%). Using mobile phones while driving was observed by 63%, with 35% seeing phones in cradles. Crossing chevrons towards the exit was seen by 61%, and 47% saw others crossing chevrons back to the motorway. Not using seatbelts was seen by 15% of drivers and 14% of passengers.
When asked about behaviour at joining slip-roads, 73% would pull into lane 2 to make it easier for merging traffic, 18% would stay in lane 1 but adjust speed, and 4% would hold their position/speed.
Cost of Parking
Statistics indicated that Town Centre High Streets with paid parking saw a decline in footfall, while retail parks and out-of-town shopping centres with free parking saw an increase. Two in five (37%) respondents would be discouraged from trips if parking costs were between £5 and £10, 21% if costs ranged from £10 to £15, and 12% if costs were £5 or less. Another 12% said the cost of parking is irrelevant due to poor shopping experiences in major towns and cities.
Speeding
We asked panel members about the acceptability of using average speed cameras and static speed cameras. The majority found both acceptable (84% and 82% respectively), with a small proportion finding them unacceptable (14% and 16%).
Most respondents (86%) have not attended a speed awareness course in the last three years, while 13% have. Of those who attended, 80% feel more aware of their speed, 68% are driving more slowly, and 65% think they are generally safer drivers. Despite this, 19% felt the course had an initial effect but have lapsed back into bad habits. Four in five (79%) would recommend the course to others.