A new survey commissioned by BMW suggests that UK motorists are losing up to 565 hours of their lives to car-related admin and maintenance planning.
2,000 drivers across all makes and models were surveyed, and the research found that the average motorist spends the equivalent of a full day each year just thinking about service schedules, MOTs, and vehicle issues.
Perhaps more worringly, around 63% of the drivers surveyed said they’ve missed important occasions due to a car problem, and drivers reported changing their plans an average of four times a year because of undetected car issues.
In response, BMW is highlighting its Proactive Care service, an in-built support feature available on all BMWs under 10 years old. It runs quietly in the background, using real-time vehicle data to flag issues before they become problems, remind drivers about upcoming maintenance, and even offer immediate support after an accident.
To illustrate the time-saving potential of this technology, BMW created a large-scale clock in sand, using one of its cars.
“Time is the ultimate luxury and shouldn’t always be lost to car admin or unplanned maintenance. Proactive Care helps drivers reclaim those 565 lost hours and spend more time doing the things that matter most to them. With so many people valuing this quality time away, we wanted to offer drivers the chance to do exactly that, whilst demonstrating the peace of mind that Proactive Care provides.“
Werner Pagenstert, Customer Support Director at BMW Group UK
The study also revealed how much mental space car upkeep takes up. Nearly half of drivers (46%) said vehicle admin eats into their headspace, with many still relying on manual tools like diaries (52%) to track schedules. A third wait for dashboard alerts before taking action, while 37% admit to actively putting off garage visits.
According to the findings, 68% of drivers would enjoy motoring more if they had greater peace of mind. When asked how they’d rather spend the time saved from car admin, 33% said they’d read more, 32% would exercise, and a quarter would book a holiday.
Interestingly, the average Brit reportedly spends only 10% of their day doing what they actually want!
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BMW has partnered with the Seren Collection hotels in Wales to offer one lucky driver a two-night luxury stay for two, complete with a tasting menu experience, and use of an all-electric BMW for the duration of the trip.
Entries are open from 24 July to 24 August 2025. Entrants must be aged 21 or over; driving licence restrictions apply. For full terms and conditions and to enter, visit https://www.bmw.co.uk/en/campaigns/proactive-care-competition.html
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