Car finance company, Go Car Credit, reveal Volkswagen (VW) drivers are the messiest, spending the least time cleaning their cars (14 minutes / week).

Renault and Nissan drivers were not far behind, spending roughly 16 minutes per week cleaning their vehicles, 20% less than the national average.

As well as being messy, VW drivers may also neglect vehicle upkeep, as VW drivers were found to spend the least amount of time maintaining their vehicles.

Bentley car drivers are the cleanest, spending twice as much time cleaning their cars than the average person. Bentley owners spend 40 minutes per week cleaning their car compared to just 20 minutes from the average UK car driver.

With the season of spring-cleaning upon us, Go Car Credit was keen to find out which car drivers are the cleanest and which were the messiest. Surveying 1000 car owners, the data revealed Bentley drivers were also the most car proud, spending 50% more time cleaning and maintaining their cars than cleaning their own homes. Bentley drivers also spend the most time maintaining their vehicles (44 minutes per week compared to 19 minutes of the average driver).

The survey also found that men spend 25% more time cleaning their cars than women (18 minutes compared to 22 minutes per week).

Other key findings include:

• VW owners spend the least time cleaning their cars (14 minutes / week)
• Londoners are the cleanest car owners (27 minutes / week)
• Mini drivers spent 4 times as much time cleaning their homes than their cars
• The average UK car driver spends 20 minutes per week cleaning their car

Looking at differences between the owners of specific car brands, the research revealed that Aston Martin drivers were the most car proud, spending 84% more time cleaning and maintaining their cars than cleaning their homes (64.57 minutes compared to 25.86 minutes).

Keen to uncover which cars are the cleanest, Go Car Credit created a ranked table of car brand owners and the time they spend cleaning and maintaining their cars:

Although Volkswagen drivers were the least clean, spending on average 14 minutes per week cleaning their cars, Mini drivers were the most house-proud car owners. They showed the biggest difference, spending over 4 times as much time cleaning their homes than their cars (20 minutes cleaning their cars compared to 114 minutes cleaning their homes per week).

Looking at regional difference, Londoners were the cleanest car owners, spending 27 minutes per week cleaning their vehicles, spending 7 minutes more than the national average of 20 minutes per week. The South-East spends the least time cleaning their cars, dedicating only 15 minutes per week to cleaning their vehicles. House-proud Scotland saw the biggest difference, spending 108 minutes cleaning their homes compared to 17 minutes cleaning their cars each week.

As a result of the study, Go Car Credit launched a competition to find the UK’s messiest car. Go Car Credit’s Marketing Manager Hayley O’Connor said; “We wanted to see just how messy people let their cars get and if a VW driver would come out on top.”

UK drivers submitted photographs of their messiest vehicle interiors to Go Car Credit’s Facebook page. Following a selection process by a panel of judges from Go Car Credit, it can now reveal the winning entry came from Tammy from Norfolk with her Vauxhall Astra.

The winning image contained empty McDonald’s packaging, lateral flow tests, empty drinks bottles, sweet and crisp wrappers, an ice cream stick, discarded clothing, magazines, and paper towels.  Hayley continued: “We found a whole range of messy motorists. We recommend car drivers take care of their vehicles for health and safety reasons.”

According to research by findandfundmycar.com driving test pass rates vary for different days of the week. Road use may fluctuate throughout the working week. Mondays can be chaotic with morning traffic and lunchtime rushes, as can Fridays for the same reasons, whereas the weekends might be quieter unless significant events like a football match are on.

Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) statistics show that, surprisingly, Monday is the day you are most likely to pass your driving test, with it having a 49.58% pass rate – just 0.49% higher than the runner-up, Tuesday. In stark contrast, the worst day to book your test is Sunday, with a pass rate of 45.14% – 4.44% less than Monday.

Here are pass rates for the days of the week:

Monday – 49.58%

Tuesday – 49.09%

Thursday – 48.54%

Wednesday – 48.25%

Friday – 47.38%

Saturday – 47.15%

Sunday – 45.14%

When is the best month to book your driving test?

Statistics from the DVSA point towards April as the best month to book your driving test, while January has emerged as the worst month.

April has a pass rate of 50.19%, with March and May coming in second and third with 49.53% and 48.71%, respectively. On the opposite end of the scale, January has a pass rate of 46.7%.

The list of pass rates is as follows:

April – 50.19%

March – 49.53%

May – 48.71%

July – 48.34%

August – 48.11%

June – 48.01%

February – 47.4%

November – 47.05%

September – 47.1%

October – 46.9%

December – 46.79%

January – 46.7%

Which season is best for booking your driving test?

Due to March, April and May having the highest pass rates, spring is the best overall season for booking your driving test. Spring leads summer by slightly over 1%, while winter and autumn complete the order thanks to a score of 47.59% and 46.81%, respectively.

Here are the results for each season:

Spring – 49.17%

Summer – 48.01%

Winter – 47.59%

Autumn – 46.81%

Which day of the month is best for booking your driving test?

So, we have the best day of the week and month for booking our tests. At this point, we could easily call it a day and claim that any Monday in April would be the best for your driving test – but that’s not enough.

For the most significant statistical advantage, we wondered if there was any merit around which day of the month you should be looking to book your test. Spoiler alert, there is.

Across all the possible days of the month, the 24th has come out as being the most successful day for booking your test. The 24th has a pass rate of 49.53%, with the 1st following closely behind with a rate of 49.46%. It’s interesting to note that both these days sit on opposite sides of the month, with the remaining days floating around the 47-48% mark.

So, which day should I book my driving test?

This information confirms that Monday, April 24th is the most statistically advantaged day for passing your driving test. Of course, this isn’t to say that booking your test for this day will guarantee a pass, but it could potentially tip the odds ever so slightly in your favour.

This day and date combination has already gone for 2023, with it not being seen again until 2028 or 2034.

You can find more driving information and guidance from findandfundmycar.com

Sponsored content

With spring and summer comes warmer weather, Bank Holidays, and an increase in the number of people making road trips – all of which can see the UK’s motorways become jam-packed with cars.

Failing to plan properly for a road trip could mean the whole day or weekend is spoilt, so here’s Start Rescue’s guide to help you avoid traffic nightmares if you’re planning to hit the road on Bank Holidays.

Research the journey

Take the time to research your journey before setting off. Spending a few minutes using a service like Google Maps to plan your journey can help you map a route and get a rough estimate as to how long it would take to get to your destination on a normal day.

Of course, as we know, Bank Holiday traffic can often mean a longer journey time compared to what you would normally expect.  Setting off as early as possible is a good idea, helping to reduce the amount of time you’ll spend in queues of traffic.

Keep in mind that the worst congestion is likely to be in the vicinity of airports, ports, coasts, national parks and the south-west of England – so if you’re planning on heading to any of these, add extra time to your journey and expect delays.

Checking local news is also a good idea, as this will let you know if there have been any accidents en route to your destination, allowing you the time needed to re-plan your journey.

Carry out our pre-journey vehicle checks

Check your tyres

Figures from National Highways report that 1 in 5 motorway breakdowns are caused by tyre problems, highlighting the importance of checking your tyre tread and pressure.

Ensure your tyres have at least 3mm of tread (the legal UK minimum).
Also check your tyres are pressured to the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Underinflated or low-tread tyres make your vehicle harder to control and uses more fuel more quickly. They will also increase your stopping distance when braking.

Check your oil level

It’s always advisable to check your car’s oil level before heading off on any long journey.

Oil is essential to ensure your car’s engine works smoothly and effectively.

Its main function is to lubricate the engine’s internal moving parts, but it also helps cool the engine by evenly distributing heat.

Top up your screenwash

Bird droppings, bugs, or dirt from rain showers can all impair your vision when driving.

Ensure that your screenwash levels are topped up before setting off on any journey, to make sure you have a clear view of the road.

Water and coolant.

Your engine’s coolant level should be checked regularly to avoid causing serious damage to your engine. 

Low levels of water and coolant can lead to your engine overheating, especially in the warmer months so it is always a good idea to check the levels ahead of making any long journeys.

Keeping costs down

When undertaking long journeys in the car, drivers are advised to take regular breaks from the road, which can prove costly if all these are taken in motorway service stations.

Fill up your fuel tank before you set off at a local garage to avoid inflated prices.

Taking packed lunches with you will avoid the need to buy food when you stop.

Keeping the family entertained

Long car journeys can see children become bored and agitated, which can make the driver stressed. Therefore, it’s an idea to pack plenty of toys and books to keep youngsters entertained.

Playing games in the car is always a great way to pass the time and keep the kids happy.

You should also encourage them to have a nap on the way, as this will help them to be well-rested by the time you get to your final destination.

Ensure you have suitable breakdown cover

Whilst pre-journey vehicle checks can help lessen the likelihood of a breakdown, having suitable cover in place can help to ensure that help is on hand should it be required.

A Which? Recommended Provider for Breakdown Services for four years running, policies from Start Rescue are available from as little as £19.75 per year.

Rated excellent on Trustpilot, Start Rescue repair over 80% of vehicles at the roadside.

With unlimited callouts, misfuel cover and accident recovery included as standard, arranging breakdown cover with Start Rescue will provide you with peace of mind ahead of setting out on your Bank Holiday road trip.

For more information or to get a quote, visit www.startrescue.co.uk