Study: Valvoline Leads in Auto Maintenance, With Consumers Valuing Prices Most

Market Force Information’s recent Automotive Panel Study shows what brands are leading in automotive maintenance, and what the most important factors are for consumers in choosing a provider.

What Consumers Value

The study surveyed drivers of all vehicle types, from economy cars to high-end models, and across various age groups and income levels. 

The most important factor in choosing a service provider for these drivers was pricing, which was the response three times more often than the second-biggest reason, which was quality of service. 

Closely following behind that was convenience, and previous positive experiences, with 50% of those surveyed saying that they would not return to a brand after having a negative experience.

Leading Brands

When looking at popular brands, Valvoline came out on top with a customer loyalty score of 4.6 out of 5, and a trust rating of 4.25. In addition, the brand has seen 75% of its customers return for future visits, according to the survey.

Walmart and Jiffy Lube were alongside Valvoline in dominating market share, with dealerships accounting for 38% of all service visits.

Brands that appear to be struggling right now includes Firestone Complete Auto Care, of which just 38.8% of its customers said they would recommend its services. The brand also had the highest reported problem incidence rate of 16.3%.

Walmart has also had a high incidence rate as well, with 15.6% of those surveyed reporting issues.