Keeping your car clean could be the key to a second date, according to a new poll. The survey of 2,000 adults found that for 45%, an untidy car could turn a first date into a last, with strong smells, cigarette ash, and old food packaging among the biggest turn-offs.
Grimy Interiors a Major Red Flag
Grimy interiors are also a major red flag, with marked seats, crammed door compartments, and coats of pet fur all potential relationship killers. But it is not just dirt; novelty add-ons like fluffy dice, car eyelashes, and even personalised number plates could put the brakes on a budding romance.
Study Findings
The study, commissioned by car care brand Turtle Wax, discovered that while 58% consider a filthy vehicle unhygienic, others confessed it would lead them to wonder how their date keeps their house. Moreover, over half believe it suggests their date has not bothered to make an effort.
Love Island winner Casey O'Gorman joked that his dirty car might be the reason he is still single. He said: "As someone who has spent plenty of time talking about dating and relationships, I could not believe a dirty car was such a big turn-off for so many people. But when you think about it, it makes sense – if you are picking someone up for a date, your car is one of the first impressions they get of you. Nobody wants to sit surrounded by old wrappers, strange smells, and clutter, so keeping your car clean is an easy win. It does not take much effort, but it could make all the difference between getting a second date or getting the ick."
Driving Behaviour Matters Too
The research also revealed that 55% believe it is crucial a potential partner can drive and has access to a motor, while 38% confessed they would be more likely to date someone with a 'nice' car. It makes a positive first impression for 44%, while 38% reckon it demonstrates someone has got their act together, and a further 37% think it displays pride in their belongings.
However, it is not simply what your motor looks like. According to the survey conducted by OnePoll, your behaviour at the wheel can be equally decisive. Aggressive speeding (70%), texting while driving (68%), and playing music too loudly (51%) are all major put-offs for Brits.
Car-based dates are still popular, with a drive to the coast (52%), a countryside cruise (46%), and a trip to the drive-in cinema (26%) among the top choices.
Expert Advice
Steve Millard from Turtle Wax, which has launched its Car Icks Kit designed to tackle the most common turn-offs, added: "First dates are all about putting your best foot forward, and your car is often part of that first impression. No one would turn up to a date in stained clothes or looking unkempt – and the same should apply to your car. It is an extension of you, and people will naturally make judgments based on what they see and experience. Ultimately, something as simple as tidying your car could help avoid an early 'dealbreaker' moment and give romance a better chance to flourish."
Top 20 Car Turn-Offs
- Strong odours (e.g. stale food, smoke, damp)
- Cigarette ash, ashtrays, or cigarette ends
- Old food wrappers or empty drinks/coffee cups
- Stained or visibly dirty seats
- Rubbish stuffed into door pockets or footwells
- Crumbs in the seats
- Pet hair on seats
- Extremely dirty exterior
- Dusty or sticky surfaces
- Mud, dirt, or debris on the floor
- Blasting music without asking
- Loose items rolling around in the boot/footwells
- Flat or poorly maintained tyres
- Grubby steering wheel/gear stick
- Novelty accessories (e.g. fluffy dice, car eyelashes)
- Dirty or streaky windows/windscreen
- Old receipts, papers, or parking tickets piling up
- Scratches, dents, or damage that has been ignored
- Clothes or coats thrown across the seats
- Personalised number plates
