Driven By Emotion: 4 In 10 Americans Say They’re In Love With Their Cars

For many Americans, the bond with their vehicle runs deeper than simple appreciation — its love.

A new survey reveals that 40% of car owners openly admit they love their car, with nearly all (90%) expressing some degree of fondness.

Commissioned by Ziebart and conducted by Talker Research, the nationwide survey of 2,000 car owners explored just how emotionally connected people are to their vehicles. Among the more telling results: 21% of respondents have named their cars, giving rise to monikers like “Boogie Mobile,” “Purrrsilla,” “Betty White,” “Vroomer,” and “Zoom Zoom.”

These names often stem from deeply personal memories. On average, respondents could recall 11 major life milestones that happened in their current car — from road trips and quiet moments of reflection to life-altering events. One driver recalled helping an injured dog they later adopted, while another shared, “My wife delivered our first child in this car, my son Johnny. [We] named the car after him, Big Johnny.”

The survey also found that cars often serve as rolling sanctuaries. More than a quarter (27%) said they use time in the car to think about life and plan for the future, while 21% use that time to mentally process work or personal events.

When it comes time to say goodbye to their cars, 49% said theyd be devastated — and nearly half (48%) believe theyre currently driving their “forever car,” which theyll hold onto until it completely gives out.

“Our cars are oftentimes a focal point in our lives,” said Thomas A. Wolfe, chief executive officer at Ziebart. “As one of lifes largest and most meaningful investments, our cars deserve a bit of love and care to ensure we can keep them around and get the most life out of them.”

In fact, 46% of respondents have recently upped their car maintenance routines to extend the life of their vehicles. That includes more frequent interior cleaning (57%), exterior cleaning (51%), checking tire pressure (43%) and oil levels (43%), and taking their vehicles in for tune-ups (33%).

Drivers also have a keen eye on signs of aging. More than a quarter (26%) said rust is their top concern, followed by paint deterioration (23%), damage to the undercarriage (22%), and wear and tear on leather or fabric interiors (17%).

“When it comes to car care, its easy to remember to keep up with mechanical maintenance,” said Wolfe. “What people often forget is that things like rust can be very damaging to a cars longevity. So knowing how important our cars are to us, dont forget to keep an eye on rust, chipping paint, undercarriage damage and fabric or leather interior deterioration.”