The Rise of Automotive Apps: Convenience Meets Low Adoption Rates

As technology transforms the automotive industry, all major car manufacturers now offer apps to streamline the driving experience. From remote function control and monitoring to navigation and route planning, they provide instant access to vehicle information from a mobile device. Despite their convenience, new research has revealed that the adoption rate of these apps is low. 

Nearly half (48%) of UK motorists have never used their manufacturer’s app, while 18% are unaware that such apps even exist.

In terms of what’s holding drivers back from using the apps, almost two-fifths (37%) of non-users consider them unnecessary. Meanwhile, 12% said their vehicle isn’t compatible, due to age or model. A further 8% also have data and privacy concerns.

App Functions Align With Non-users’ Expectations

When non-users were asked what features they would expect the apps to include, the functions identified aligned with what the apps already do, suggesting that they may have limited awareness, low digital confidence, or underestimate the practical benefits of the features.

For instance, maintenance reminders help drivers avoid missing a service, status checks flag issues before even getting in the car for a journey, and security alerts can prevent theft or vandalism.

App Users Are Satisfied With Performance

Despite the low uptake, among those who do use the apps, satisfaction levels are high. Over three-quarters of users (79%) reported being satisfied with their manufacturers’ app performance.

In fact, the most popular features among this group closely match the expectations of non-users.  For example, over two-fifths (45%) rely on maintenance reminders, and 38% use security alerts.

Apps from popular car brands also have high ratings on the app store. For example, MINI, My BMW, Mercedes-Benz, FordPass, MyToyota, Myškoda, and My CUPRA App all have an average rating of 4.5 stars or higher.

Uswitch car insurance expert, Leoni Moninska, shares tips on what to consider if you use, or are thinking about using, car manufacturers’ apps:

“Utilise security features: Using safety and security features such as theft detection, find my vehicle, remote locking and emergency assistance can improve your personal safety and prevent theft. If theft is included in your insurance policy, reducing the likelihood of a claim for it can help maintain your no-claims bonus (NCB), which in turn can lead to lower premiums. Based on Uswitch data, between June 2024 and June 2025, drivers with a one-year NCB paid on average 31% less for their annual car insurance than those with no NCB[4].

“Check maintenance reminders: These apps can offer support in taking care of your vehicle, which is a key aspect of ownership. It’s a good idea to utilise maintenance functions such as status checks/monitoring and turn on automatic reminders for both general services, as well as aspects like oil changes or low tyre pressure.

“Protect your personal data: Manufacturers collect and store driver data via their apps, so it’s important to consider protecting your privacy. You should ensure you read the terms and conditions to understand how your data is being processed. You should also limit your apps’ permissions (e.g. by opting out of tracking), use a strong password and review/amend your privacy settings. Additionally, it’s important to always install the latest software update both on your app and in your car, as these may include security revisions to fix any vulnerabilities detected and introduce new security features.”