Almost two thirds of car TikToks are misleading, Auto Trader reveals
Now more than ever drivers are turning to TikTok for guidance and advice for all things relating to their cars. #CarTok has become a booming niche, with over 876 million videos around tips and hacks, interior trends and more for your vehicle [1].
With a growing number of #CarTok videos, the UK’s largest automotive marketplace, Auto Trader, has analysed over 100 TikTok videos to determine whether the advice given should be followed by drivers or should be met with caution.
The #CarTok niches that should be met with caution
81% of car cleaning videos could lead to more damage to your vehicle
After analysing a sample of car cleaning related videos on TikTok, Auto Trader found that 81% contained tips which should not be followed as they could damage your vehicle.
Many of the ‘hack’ videos used household items like toothpaste or coconut oil to remove marks, while others advised drivers to use items such as a mop to clean the exterior of their car. In some cases, drivers were even advised to attach a toilet brush to a drill to remove dirt from their car mat. While drivers might find using common household objects to clean their cars appealing, Auto Trader advises people to always use specialist products to avoid potential damage from harsh chemicals or unsuitable objects.
90% of car repair videos should be met with caution
TikTok searches for “car repairs” reach a staggering 365,000 searches each month, as an increasing number of drivers are turning to TikTok for help with their vehicles [2]. Many of the car repair videos analysed were from mechanics showing how to professionally fix damages such as car scratches or how to perform a car service. While these videos offer practical advice, these hacks shouldn’t be followed if you are inexperienced as it could lead to more damage in the long run.
The #CarTok niches with the most helpful advice
72% of car maintenance tips are helpful to drivers
Many drivers may not understand the preventative maintenance checks they can do regularly to spot any issues ahead of time, with drivers increasingly turning to TikTok for advice on car maintenance.
Auto Trader’s research found that 72% of car maintenance videos are helpful to drivers. Many of these TikTok videos were created by professionals offering accurate, detailed and useful advice. Some tips included how to check your shock absorbers, prepping your vehicle for colder weather conditions and how to check your oil and tyre pressure.
68% of driving tips videos are helpful, especially for learner drivers
TikTok is known for its short form content, allowing complex information to be condensed into more manageable chunks. Many of the videos around driving tips are targeted towards learner drivers. 68% of these videos offer practical advice for learner drivers and are often created by driving instructors. They provide practical tips ahead of your driving test or how to know when you’re ready to take your test.
TikTok is becoming one of the go-to search engines, offering inspiration and education content from experienced creators. But drivers should be wary as many videos on TikTok are intended to shock audiences and to gain traction and engagement. We found that a staggering 59% of the videos offer advice that is not recommended to drivers and could potentially leave your vehicle with more damage if followed.”
Lease vehicle owners should be cautious of car hacks they see online. While these tips might offer quick, cost-effective solutions, they can lead to further damage that your lease agreement won’t cover. Although maintenance packages within your lease agreement cover basic wear and tear, drivers are advised to consult professionals to avoid any unexpected charges at the end of their agreement.
Sources
[1] Number of TikTok posts
[2] Keyword tool
Methodology
130 videos were analysed in total on TikTok across the niches: cleaning, driving tips, maintenance, modifying a car, repairing a car and car leasing. To select the videos each niche was searched on TikTok, videos were transcribed in order of appearance. Videos that didn’t offer transcribable tips or guidance, or weren’t in English were omitted. The advice given in the videos was then analysed to determine if they would be recommended or not to the everyday driver.
Using Auto Trader experts, we determined whether these videos were recommended for drivers, from this we were able to calculate the overall percentage of recommended #CarTok videos.
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