Recommendations from friends and relatives are key to choosing a garage for younger drivers according to the latest JD Power 2018 UK Customer Service Index Study.

The latest survey found that the latest generation of drivers place more importance than ever on personal recommendations. Josh Halliburton, vice president and head of European operations at JD Power commented, “These results illustrate the importance of developing passionate advocates, not only for the product but also for the garage itself, when trying to attract younger people as new customers. Recommendations among customers in this group are far more important than advertising, promotional materials or coupons.’

Other key findings of the 2018 study highlighted the importance of good service advisers and that many businesses fall down when it comes to digital communication options.

With regard to vehicle makes, Land Rover was ranked highest among premium brands for a second consecutive year, followed by Volvo and Mercedes-Benz. MINI ranked highest among volume brands, with Honda second and Kia third.

The study was based on responses from almost 8000 UK new car drivers.