Are red cars faster? Which car colour is best for resale? Which is the dirtiest Australian state when it comes to cleaning cars? Budget Direct survey reveals secrets and beliefs of car owners

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Some Australians believe red cars are faster, one in 10 believe silver cars have better resale value, and Queensland is the messiest state when it comes to cleaning cars, according to a 2025 Budget Direct survey on car-ownership habits.

These were just some of the revelations after leading insurance brand Budget Direct surveyed hundreds of Australian adults about their car-buying and car-owing habits. 

Some of the results may surprise, and some may down right shock you. But how someone else treats their car is their business; we just listen and we don’t judge. (Okay, maybe we will judge those who have never cleaned their car, sorry!)

KEEPING YOUR CAR CLEAN

There isn’t a huge difference between states when it comes to keeping their car the cleanest. Whether it is weekly, monthly, a few times a year, or after a long drive/trip, results were relatively close. 

The most shocking result related to those who cleaned their car only once a year. Every state sat at about four or five percent, except South Australia where only 1.4% decided once a year was enough to give their vehicle some love. 

The survey suggests Queenslanders have the dirtiest vehicles, with 1.5% never cleaning their car, while no-one in Western Australia would ever dream of neglecting their beloved automobile as not one survey respondent clicked ‘Never clean my car’.

PERSONALISED PLATES AND STICKERS

Ever wondered how many people are still using those once so popular family stickers on their cars? Well, Victorians are the keenest in expressing their personality on the outside of their vehicle, with 19% slapping on a bumper sticker. Queensland followed close behind at 15%, and men are more likely than women to use stickers.

Some people are personalising their car with bumper stickers, while others are using personalised number plates to make their car their own. Queenslanders like their personalised plates the most, with 17% of survey takers ticking yes, and South Australians were the lowest ranked at 10%. Those sticking with regular rego plates were in the minority, at 17%. 

NEW OR USED CAR?

Purchasing a car – whether new from a dealership or second hand via classifieds is a big deal, as you’re spending a decent amount of your hard-earned cash. So what is the preferred method to buy your new (or new to you) vehicle? 

Unsurprisingly, 44% of survey takers prefer to buy a brand new car, while 20% prefer second hand. More than a fifth of respondents (21%) said keeping to their budget was more important than new or used.  

New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland choose to purchase new between 44 and 48%, while South and Western Australia are only purchasing new 31 and 35% of the time. 

A strong majority of the Aussies (77%) who completed the Budget Direct survey favoured purchasing their car from a car dealership. 

Family and friends are still being generous out there with their second-hand cars it seems, with 6% family and 4% of friends selling on their beloved car. 

20% of Gen Zers were the ones bravest to buy their most recent car from Facebook Marketplace. While the older age brackets trusted their mechanic, with 1% of 38 to 65 year olds purchasing from them.