Technicians facing ‘classic’ test

Autodata is advising technicians to be prepared to accept a growing number of “classic cars” for repair in their workshops.

The average age of cars on the road in the UK now is 8.4 years old, while in the EU is 11.5 years. Meanwhile, the figure for light commercial vehicles (LCVs) in the EU now rests at 11.6 years.

Jamie Willis, technical support supervisor at Autodata said: “The Covid-19 outbreak is seen as a more recent protagonist for this latest trend, as drivers opt to hold on to their cars for longer. But that’s not the only reason. Some drivers still think switching to an electric vehicle is their next move; however, many are nervous due to the technology and cost, and simply want to continue in their current vehicle until the time is right for them to change.”

He suggests there is also a longer-term trend: “As vehicles have become more reliable, better built, and able to handle the higher mileage needs that age throws at them, drivers have increasingly been keeping vehicles, with many turning into collectors’ items.”

Now, Autodata is seeing an increasing number of repairs being conducted on cars from the 1960s to the 1990s, meaning the onus on the aftermarket to service these older vehicles with a wider range of issues.

Chris Wright, managing director of Autodata, said: “We’re delighted to see so many classics and modern classics being serviced in workshops with our data. With electric and hybrid legislative deadlines on the horizon, we anticipate consumers will keep vehicles longer than we’ve experienced before.

“This makes staying current on service data for a vehicle extremely important. Service data for a vehicle doesn’t stay constant and, at Autodata, we regularly update our information to reflect manufacturer updates for vehicles 30 years old and older.”