LOS ANGELES -

Dealership service drives already might be seeing fewer appointments for maintenance work such as oil changes and brake jobs because their customers aren’t using their vehicles as much because of the coronavirus pandemic.

New survey data on American driving and vehicle fueling habits shows that trends with that part of dealership operations might not be changing soon.

HONK Technologies, which provides a roadside assistance platform that connects drivers, towing professionals and insurers, found that motorists are fueling up far less frequently than they did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that most American drivers are reluctant to resume normal activity despite quarantine sanctions being loosened or lifted.

Prior to the pandemic, HONK Technologies said 56% of survey respondents filled up at least once a week, and 11% filled up once a month or less.

Currently, HONK Technologies indicated just 25% of respondents fill up at least once a week, and 45% fill up once per month or less.

Additionally, when motorists do drive somewhere, few are making trips beyond what is necessary for day-to-day needs, according to HONK Technologies.

When asked what destinations they had driven to in the prior seven days, 83% of survey participants said they had driven to a grocery store, pharmacy or some other store for necessary supplies. Just 17% had gone shopping, 21% to outdoor recreation activities, 25% to a restaurant or cafe, 31% to visit family or friends and 32% to go to work.

HONK Technologies discovered just 4% of respondents did not go out at all.

The online survey of 719 motorists was conducted by HONK Technologies from May 15 through June 4, 2020.

HONK Technologies runs a large GPS-enabled network of service vehicles in the U.S. and Canada.

To learn more, visit https://www.honkforhelp.com.