Unsurprisingly, young drivers are not buying the same cars as the Baby Boomers
Are the kids leading us in the right direction? A recent study released by Insurify, an online auto insurance broker service, indicates a shift to smaller vehicles among the youngest of our drivers. It’s an American release, but many U.S. statistics line up with Canadian ones, particularly when it comes to the cars we buy and drive. These latest results might mean the newest drivers are leading us in the right direction.
The survey broke down the generational habits along the lines we’re all familiar with:
- Baby Boomers: 1946–1964
- Generation X: 1965–1980
- Millennials: 1981–1996
- Generation Z: 1997–2012
What age-related factors affect car buying?
Insurify surveys its entire database, so when asked if the Gen Zers are simply running what someone else gave to them, the company replied, “it’s definitely possible that some of these cars are hand-me-downs. That said, a lot of new drivers start with older, used cars so the model year isn’t necessarily indicative of it being passed down.”
Cassie Sheets, a data journalist from Insurify notes that, “people on the coast gravitate toward smaller, more affordable cars, most likely because of congestion and parking. A Toyota Camry or Honda Civic is more fuel-efficient and cost-effective than a Chevrolet Silverado if you’re stuck in Los Angeles traffic. Most East Coast cities are a nightmare to park in, so smaller cars are also helpful if you’re doing a lot of parallel parking.”
Politics can affect the car buying process
Another thing that separates the generations is perhaps even more interesting. “Ford’s all-American reputation may boost its popularity with Boomers. Half of U.S. adults aged 55 and older say they’re extremely proud to be Americans, compared to just 18 per cent of those aged 18–34, a 2023 Gallup poll found,” from the study. It’s revealing how politicized even something like vehicles has become. We’ve seen it with electrics, but this would indicate an even broader cut.
Speaking of electric vehicles, they’re still not hitting on anyone’s top 10 list, perhaps unsurprisingly: they’re still not being sold in big numbers. Insurify found that “deterrents like too few public charging stations and higher-than-average vehicle costs are still major barriers to EV adoption.” If they redo this survey in five years, they might find EVs creeping up, especially for younger generations. Resale prices are tumbling, and infrastructure is ramping up. These enviro-conscious kids might be all over them.
Do younger drivers want self-driving technology?
For all the headlines surrounding self-driving technology, you’d think the most tech-savvy generation in history would be lining up for it. You would be wrong. “Despite the hype, self-driving cars might not be the next big thing…28 per cent of Gen Z-ers said they don’t like the idea of giving control of their vehicle over to technology. Another 17 per cent said they’d never buy one because they love driving.” Any chance we can save some manuals while we’re at it?
According to Sheets, “most drivers like infotainment system, but ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) might be a bigger draw for older drivers than younger ones. Gen Z is surprisingly wary about driving technology. Safety is one of their biggest concerns about autonomous vehicles.”
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