A newly released Auto Trader UK study has found that two-thirds of car TikToks are misleading. 

Auto Trader, UK’s largest automotive marketplace, analysed 130 TikTok videos to determine whether the advice should be followed by drivers, according to a news release. 

“TikTok searches for ‘car repairs’ reach a staggering 365,000 searches each month, as an increasing number of drivers are turning to TikTok for help with their vehicles,” the release says. 

It says many of the car repair videos were created by mechanics showing how to professionally fix damage, such as car scratches, or how to perform a car service. 

“While these videos offer practical advice, these hacks shouldn’t be followed if you are inexperienced as it could lead to more damage in the long run,” the release says. 

Ninety percent of car repair videos reviewed by Auto Trader should not be attempted by inexperienced mechanics, the release says. It also found that 81% of car cleaning videos could lead to more damage. 

In contrast, the study found 72% of car maintenance tips are helpful to drivers, and 68% of driving tip videos are helpful, especially for novice drivers. 

Drive, an Australian media publication, spoke with Stuart Charity, the chief executive officer of the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) about TikTok repair videos following the release of the Auto Trader study. 

“You see influencers making things like brake replacements, timing belt swaps, or even Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) calibrations look easy, and that’s dangerous. A small mistake in these repair tasks can have massive safety implications,” Charity told Drive.

Charity told Drive that not everyone making the vehicles has training. 

“What really concerns us is the rise of misleading content. The idea that you can fix a major issue with a cheap workaround. In some cases, these DIY mistakes don’t just affect the person doing the repair – they can put other road users at risk too,” Charity told Drive.  “But what these videos don’t tell you is what happens when it goes wrong. If you install the wrong part, damage something else in the process, or fail to calibrate a critical system, you could be looking at a much bigger repair bill.”

Charity noted that modern cars have sensors, computer-controlled systems, and software updates. 

“A lot of these DIY videos completely skip over things like electronic resets, software flashes, or ADAS calibrations, and that’s where drivers can get caught out,” Charity said in the article. “They think they’ve saved money. But in reality, they’ve just created a bigger problem down the track. While DIY can be great for simple maintenance jobs, when it comes to safety-critical repairs or anything involving modern car technology, the cheapest option is to get it done right the first time by a qualified professional.”

The Society of Collision Repair Specialists also has a Consumer Tip video on the subject titled “Social Media is not Real Life.” 

“I’ll be the first to admit that I love a good YouTube video or a Facebook Reel but let’s be honest, when it comes to getting your vehicle repaired, that is just not realistic,” Mike Anderson, president of Collision Advice, says in the video. 

Anderson says that social media experts often use a lot of workarounds that could be unsafe for technicians DIYers and vehicle occupants. 

In the video, Danny Gredinberg, DEG administrator, says it may be easy to make a paint job look good in a video, but not show what is lurking beneath the surface. 

“These videos are actually giving you a false sense of expectation,” Gredinberg said. “A false sense of hope that these cars are easy to fix. Many times, these cars were prior salvage vehicles, and they were deemed not cost effective to repair by the repair professional and the insurance company. There’s a reason why it went to a salvage yard.” 

Gredinberg said these vehicles are often fixed with recycled parts that have not been tested or approved. 

“They’re just trying to make a car look pretty but they don’t tell you the real story or you have no idea if that car is fixed correctly,” Gredinberg said.

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