Talking to your car: do women do it more than men?
The idea that a car can be a confidant is not new. People speak to their vehicles for comfort, to vent, or even to celebrate a smooth ride. The question that many find curious is who talks to their car more often—men or women. A recent study commissioned by CosmosDirekt, a German insurance company, sheds light on this quirky habit. It reveals that nearly one in five female drivers admit to talking to their car at times to praise it, scold it, or simply say something nice. The share sits at 19 percent for women, a figure that prompts reflection on how people relate to their machines.
Men show a notably different pattern. Only about 9 percent report talking to their cars. Experts explain that this gap seems less about nationality or culture and more about how individual perceptions of reality can be shaped by gender. The study invites a broader consideration of how emotion and everyday technology interact in different segments of society.
When it comes to deeper bonds with a vehicle, the gender gap is smaller but still present. About 18 percent of women and 17 percent of men describe their car as a good friend and companion. A sense of pride in the vehicle is expressed by 12 percent of women and 18 percent of men. And naming the car is a practice more common among women, at about 11 percent, compared with roughly 7 percent for men. These numbers illustrate that attachment to a car can take multiple forms, from emotional ties to a simple sense of identity tied to the vehicle.
The data originate from a poll conducted in Germany in October 2022, involving 1,020 drivers aged 18 and older. The findings offer a snapshot of contemporary attitudes toward cars and the ways people form connections with their vehicles. They also highlight how gender can influence the way people describe and relate to their everyday tools and machines, including the car that travels with them on daily routes. The results invite readers to consider their own interactions with their vehicles and what those interactions might reveal about preferences, routines, and personal style.
In the broader context, talking to a car may be part of a larger pattern of personifying technology. Some drivers treat their vehicles as trusted partners, a practice that can reflect comfort with automation, routine reliability, and a preference for predictable feedback from a familiar machine. Others see cars as practical tools, with little room for sentimental language. The study’s takeaways suggest that while gender differences exist, the spectrum of attachment is wide, and personal narrative often shapes how people describe their experiences behind the wheel. CosmosDirekt notes that these patterns are not about right or wrong, but about the varied ways people relate to the everyday technology that surrounds them. The results remind readers that a car can be more than metal and rubber; for some, it becomes a character in daily life and a companion on the road. The implications touch on consumer behavior, brand storytelling, and how automotive experiences are communicated in everyday conversations. Researchers emphasize that understanding these nuances can enrich conversations about car design, user experience, and customer engagement. The study underscores the human tendency to infuse personality into objects that move through daily life, turning a routine drive into a small, meaningful story. CosmosDirekt provides the data to reflect on how people of different genders form attachments to their vehicles and what that might reveal about broader attitudes toward technology and mobility. The insights also encourage marketers and researchers to consider emotional resonance when describing cars, features, and the experience of driving. The findings invite ongoing exploration into how people bond with machines that share the road, whether through words spoken aloud or the quiet, consistent reliability that makes a car feel almost alive on the daily commute. Eventually, these conversations about cars become conversations about people themselves, their routines, and the way daily life is narrated through the vehicles that are part of it. The study offers a starting point for discussing how identity, emotion, and technology intersect in modern driving. It becomes a reminder that even a simple drive can be a small, personal moment shaped by who we are. At the end of the day, the car remains more than transportation; for many, it is a partner in every journey and a canvas for personal expression on the road ahead. CosmosDirekt observes these patterns as part of a broader look at how people connect with the machines they rely on every day, inviting further inquiry into the delicate balance between function and feeling behind the wheel.