Recent findings from Youi’s Car Confessions survey indicated that many Australians view their vehicles as more than just a means of getting from one place to another.
The survey, which gathered responses from over 2,000 participants, showed that 45% of Australians feel an emotional connection to their cars.
This sentiment is especially strong among younger drivers, with 58% of Gen Z respondents reporting such a bond.
The research also revealed that the majority of Australians use their cars for activities unrelated to driving.
Ninety-two percent of those surveyed reported engaging in non-driving activities inside their vehicles, and 43% said they sometimes spend time in their cars without actually going anywhere.
Common activities include:
Youi’s head of product – vehicle and leisure, Marni Jackson, noted that cars have become important personal spaces for many Australians.
“Our cars have become an extension of ourselves – a place where we feel in control, safe, and even free to be vulnerable,” she said.
Generational and gender differences were observed, with 67% of Gen Z drivers listening to music or podcasts in their cars, compared to 43% of Boomers.
The survey also found that 36% of men reported napping in their cars, compared to 29% of women.
The survey found that Australians often use their cars as storage spaces for a variety of items.
Blankets (36%), spare clothing (24%), and toilet paper (23%) were among the most commonly reported items.
Younger drivers, particularly those in Gen Z and Millennial groups, are more likely to keep hobby materials, clothing, and stuffed toys in their cars than older generations.
Personalisation also extends to how drivers relate to their vehicles. One in four Australians has given their car a nickname, and one in five said they talk to their vehicles. Thirteen percent reported that their car “knows all their secrets.”
Among Gen Z drivers, 22% said they give their car pep talks when facing challenges such as driving up hills, and half reported having special memories tied to their vehicles, including first-time ownership or solo drives.
Nathan Moore, a consumer behaviour scientist at the University of Technology Sydney, explained that emotional bonds with cars are shaped by their role in fulfilling psychological needs such as freedom and safety.
“Our emotional attachment to cars stems from their role as extensions of the self. They carry our memories, represent our freedom, and often reflect our identity. This connection deepens when we start to relate to cars almost as if they have personalities of their own. Our shared experiences with them, the way they feel to drive, the sounds they make, and their appearance can all evoke emotions and shape how we see them, not just as machines but as companions in our lives,” he said.
Moore cited the survey’s results, noting that 42% of Australians associate special memories with their cars, such as their first solo drive (27%) or bringing home a new baby (32%).
Eighty-three percent of respondents said they are proud of their cars, often due to reliability, sentimental value, or the effort required to obtain them.
However, separate research from AAMI’s 2025 Crash Index has found that one in five Australian motorists disables at least one Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) in their vehicles.
The index, which reviewed responses from over 2,000 drivers and analysed more than 480,000 insurance claims, identified lane departure warning and lane keeping assist (45%), adaptive cruise control (17%), parking assist (17%), automatic emergency braking (16%), and forward collision warning (11%) as the most commonly deactivated features.
Drivers who chose to turn off these systems most frequently cited irritation, distraction, or oversensitivity (69%) as their reasons.
Others felt they did not need the assistance (23%) or doubted the reliability of the technology (13%).
Mary Kennedy, AAMI’s motor prevention manager, encouraged drivers to become familiar with these technologies and use them to support safer driving.
“In-car safety features aren’t just gadgets; they’re designed to help protect us and make our roads safer. We should be embracing these features, not turning them off,” she said.
Kennedy also noted that nose-to-tail collisions remain the most common type of crash on Australian roads, and that many of the safety features being disabled are effective in reducing such incidents as well as other preventable accidents.
