What’s the most annoying car tech?

A recent Tempcover survey [1] has revealed the modern car tech that drivers love to hate. While features like air conditioning are considered non-negotiable, many other technologies are deemed annoying or overwhelming.

Factors that were flagged as bringing about annoyance or frustration include:

• Lane assist - 22%
• Voice recognition - 17%
• App subscriptions e.g. remotely locking your vehicle - 17%
• Auto stop/start - 14%
• Touchscreen dashboard control - 13%

What are the essential car features?

The car tech survey found that, if buying a new car, drivers prioritise practical features that make driving easier and more comfortable. Their top must-haves include:

• Air conditioning - 42%
• Parking sensors - 29%
• Reverse/360 cameras - 24%
• Cruise control - 15%
• Speed limit notifications - 15%

What are the benefits of car technology?

Rigorously tested to help keep roads safer, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are designed to help drivers prevent accidents and improve the driving experience. This can range from flagging when you unintentionally leave a lane to giving a notification if you’re driving over the speed limit.

The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety’s Manifesto for Road Safety 2024 outlined ‘four strategic priorities for the government aimed at revolutionising road safety’.

• Developing a National Road Safety Strategy
• Establishing a Road Safety Investigation Branch
• Introducing Graduated Driver Licensing.
• Adopting Advanced Vehicle Safety Regulations

The fourth point recommends ‘Immediate implementation of the world-leading vehicle safety standards, mandating critical technologies such as Automatic Emergency Braking and Intelligent Speed Assistance’.

This means, despite some drivers’ frustrations with the tech, features like Intelligent Speed Assistance will come as standard in new cars that are being manufactured. With that in mind, drivers can expect more beeps and notifications whenever they change car.

Which?’s ‘Is technology ruining new cars’ article flags the following as the safety features drivers are likely to turn off.

• Lane assist - Detects which lane or side of the road you’re driving on and will send an alert if you start to drift over. Due to its impact on Euro NCAP safety ratings, this is regarded as an important part of modern cars.
• Automatic emergency braking - Detects pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles. It will stop the vehicle automatically to avoid collisions.
• Anti-fatigue technology - Uses cameras to track signs of tiredness in drivers’ eyes and in their facial features. DS Automobiles claims this can potentially help save 50 lives a year on UK roads.
• Blind spot monitoring - Identifies when an object is seen in a driver’s blind spot.

Although Auto stop/start is not highlighted here, it was a key annoyance in our (and various other) car tech polls. Often turned on whenever you start a car, this feature is designed to reduce the time your engine spends idling and could reduce your overall fuel consumption, potentially leading to cleaner air and a healthier bank balance.

What do you miss from old cars?

As cars increasingly rely on new tech, the Tempcover survey found that the following features from older models would be missed the most:

• A full-size spare wheel (instead of repair kits or sealants)
• Physical buttons and knobs (for heating, radio, lights etc)
• A manual handbrake (rather than electronic)
• Simple, less computerised controls
• The feeling of ‘pure’ driving without driver aids

From these results, especially the desire to bring back buttons and dials, it appears drivers miss the traditional and physical aspect of touching things to turn features on and off.

From unreliable rain-sensing wipers to built-in Sat Navs that don’t offer real-time traffic reporting, modern car tech can often be viewed as confusing or distracting. The Reddit thread ‘Most annoying new car features’ finds car owners listing their personal pet peeves when it comes to modern cars:

• Touchscreens are seen as a distraction
• Constant beeps can get annoying quickly
• Using digital oil measurements instead of an oil dipstick makes some users nervous
• People not knowing how to use daytime running lights is also a sticking point

Top tips for modern car buyers

The Tempcover survey on driver’s opinions on car technology found:

• 60% of drivers say they feel overwhelmed or confused by the sheer number of features in modern cars, yet 58% still believe technology is making driving more enjoyable overall.

This shows that (despite the frustrations) car tech is widely accepted, especially as it’s designed to help you drive safer. Here’s some practical advice to help you navigate in-car technology before buying your next vehicle:

• Decide your must-haves before you buy

Identify the features that will enhance your driving experience, e.g. air con.

• Test the tech before you commit

Know someone with the car you have your eye on? Take out temporary car insurance and borrow it so you can enjoy an extended test drive and try out all the features.

• Don’t overpay for unused tech

App based subscriptions and premium add-ons can quickly drive up costs. Leave them if you can do without.

What’s next in the world of car tech?

Remember, even if the beeping is winding you up, this tech is designed to keep you safe. As technology continues to evolve and manufacturers respond to driver feedback, car tech will become smarter, more significant and hopefully less intrusive overall.

While the tech is tested in real-world settings and software is improved on a regular basis, one issue or incident can knock a driver’s confidence. This is an issue where further advancements will hopefully provide more reassurance.

While the United Kingdom is not part of the EU, EU regulations for ADAS systems still apply. The majority of cars on UK roads have been designed to work across Britain and Europe.

Consider modern car tech as an aid, not a replacement. The rules of the road still apply. You still shouldn’t drive tired and make sure you’re active, alert and concentrating whenever you’re behind the wheel.

Sources

[1] This online survey of 2,000 UK drivers was commissioned by RVU on behalf of Tempcover and conducted by market research company OnePoll, in accordance with the Market Research Society's code of conduct. Data was collected between 25 June and 1 July 2025. All participants are double-opted in to take part in research and are paid an amount depending on the length and complexity of the survey. This survey was overseen and edited by the OnePoll research team. OnePoll are MRS Company Partners, corporate membership of ESOMAR and Members of the British Polling Council.

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