No one on the planet thinks that Gen Z is capable of managing basic car upkeep.

      A young man is replacing a flat tire on his vehicle after a road incident.

      (blackday/Adobe stock image)

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      Imagine you’re in a remote location. It could be hot and dry, and you’re running low on water. Suddenly, a gust of wind blows something into the road. You attempt to avoid it, but you clip it with a rear tire. You hear the unmistakable sound of a tire losing air, and the TPMS light begins to flash at you frantically before you can even pull over to the side.

      For car enthusiasts, this scenario might seem like a minor inconvenience. Most of us can have a spare tire changed (or at the very least, use a tire sealant) in minutes—maybe a bit longer if it’s our first time with that particular car—but if you’re a less experienced (or incapacitated) driver, you might suddenly find yourself stranded.

      Visualize that moment. Now, consider this: When headlights appear in the distance, who do you hope is behind the wheel?

      According to Autotrader, you might be inclined to say, “Anyone but Gen Z.”

      Generational birth year ranges. Pew Research Center

      This information emerged from the used car dealer's U.K. division, where researchers surveyed 3,000 drivers globally, asking which generations they would trust to help them out of basic automotive maintenance issues. The only other generation that scored as low as Gen Z is—let’s put it bluntly—no longer around.

      While I’m sure there are still a number of octogenarians capable of changing tires, the oldest members of the Silent Generation will turn 100 in 2028. Primarily, this group consists of individuals either no longer driving or nearing the point of retiring from driving altogether. A larger portion of drivers over 65 are Baby Boomers, who, despite scoring well for credibility in the UK, had limited representation in the survey highlights.

      Most comments focused on younger generations, whose knowledge (and mechanical skills) are not particularly respected by others.

      “Worldwide, only 2% of drivers trust Gen Z, those currently aged 14 to 29, most with changing a tire,” the report states. “In the UK, USA, Portugal, and Australia, that figure drops to zero.”

      While the youngest drivers may lack global confidence, some of them do have confidence in their own abilities. Between 30% and 45% (depending on the country) of surveyed Gen Z drivers believed in their capacity to carry out basic repairs, with many even stating they had successfully completed one or more.

      “Of the Gen Z drivers who attempted a repair, the majority claimed they didn’t worsen the situation: 88% in Italy, 86% in the UK, and 85% in the Netherlands reported the same,” the study mentioned.

      So, Gen Z’s reputation may be somewhat unfair, but even those Gen Z drivers who felt assured in their skills still placed their trust in older generations when it came to knowledge. Otherwise, the list wouldn’t appear this way:

      Which generation is the most and least trusted?

      Country | Most Trusted Generation | % Trusting Them | Least Trusted Generation | % Trusting Them

      --- | --- | --- | --- | ---

      USA | Gen X | 67% | Gen Z | 0%

      Portugal | Gen X | 64% | Gen Z | 0%

      Netherlands | Gen X | 63% | Gen Z | 2%

      Ireland | Gen X | 62% | Silent Generation | 0%

      Spain | Gen X | 62% | Silent Generation | 0%

      UK | Gen X | 61% | Gen Z | 0%

      New Zealand | Gen X | 60% | Silent Generation | 0%

      Greece | Gen X | 59% | Silent Generation | 0%

      Australia | Gen X | 58% | Gen Z | 0%

      Germany | Gen X | 56% | Silent Generation | 2%

      Italy | Gen X | 56% | Gen Z | 1%

      Canada | Gen X | 55% | Gen Z | 1%

      France | Gen X | 53% | Silent Generation | 1%

      Poland | Gen X | 50% | Silent Generation | 1%

      South Africa | Millennials | 46% | Silent Generation | 1%

      Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the trust spectrum, Gen X seems to have earned its reputation through traditional means, which is likely to remain intact.

      “Car knowledge has always been transmitted through hands-on experience—via parents, mechanics, and years of learning on the road,” said Tom Roberts, a car selling expert at Autotrader. “What we’re witnessing now is a generational shift in how that learning takes place, not a decrease in interest. Gen