New research from automotive diagnostics specialist Carly suggests UK drivers are still making their minds up when it comes to trusting car tech – or just going with their gut.
According to a survey of 2,000 motorists carried out with OnePoll, the numbers are almost perfectly split. Around 28% of drivers say they trust their car’s software more, while 27% still back their own judgement. Meanwhile, 38% sit somewhere in the middle, trusting both equally.
In other words, no one’s entirely sure who’s really in charge anymore.
There’s also a clear generational split. Younger drivers, particularly those aged 25-34, are far more likely to trust in-car systems, with 44% leaning towards software. At the other end of the scale, just 20% of over-65s say they’d put their faith in the tech.
Not hugely surprising – if you’ve grown up with smartphones and apps running your life, trusting your car probably feels like the next step.
Carly positions itself right in the middle of this shift. Its app and OBD-based diagnostics tools give drivers access to real-time vehicle data, from fault codes to performance insights – essentially letting you see what your car is actually thinking.
“Drivers are being asked to trust technology more than ever before, but without always having the tools to understand it,” says Emma Brown, UK growth manager at Carly, “That’s where uncertainty comes in. What we’re seeing is not a rejection of technology, but a desire for clarity. People want to know what their car is doing, why it’s doing it, and whether they can rely on it.”
As cars continue to move towards more software-led systems, that balance between human judgement and machine input isn’t going anywhere. If anything, it’s only going to get more important. Because whether you trust the car or yourself… you probably still want to know what’s actually going on under the bonnet.
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