Study: Drivers Prefer Parking Sensors and USB Ports Over Pushy Driver Aids

Forget complex safety tech and blinking dashboard alerts - British drivers still swear by good old parking sensors and Bluetooth. At least, that’s what a new eBay survey reveals. When asked which technologies they value most, UK motorists ranked parking sensors as essential - topping adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems by a clear margin.

The survey, which polled 2,000 drivers across the UK, found that 37 percent considered parking sensors more important than modern automated systems. Coming in close behind were USB charging ports (29%) and Bluetooth connectivity (29%), prized for keeping hands on the wheel and fines at bay.

With nearly a third of UK cars over 12 years old - roughly 11.4 million vehicles - many drivers are navigating the roads without even basic modern conveniences. To prove retrofitting is not only possible but practical, eBay took a 2005 BMW 330Ci and loaded it with modern gear: Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, blind spot alerts, and a reversing camera. The result? A nearly 20-year-old coupe with a better kit than some new base-model crossovers.

But while infotainment and comfort features are embraced, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) trigger more anxiety than appreciation. A striking 38 percent of respondents said automatic emergency braking or lane-keeping interventions feel more scary than useful. In fact, over half of drivers (51%) admitted they've never used some of their vehicle’s built-in driver aids, like cruise control or lane-change assist.

BMW features prominently not just in eBay’s retrofitting experiment, but also as the most searched-for brand in its UK parts and accessories category. Through eBay’s “My Garage” tool, drivers can easily match parts to their exact vehicle, ensuring that modernizing an older ride is a smarter, simpler process.

UK drivers' most-wanted car features:
Parking sensors – 37%
USB charging – 29%
Bluetooth – 29%
Reversing camera – 27%
Power steering assist – 20%
Heated seats – 17%
Smartphone mirroring (CarPlay/Android Auto) – 14%
Dashcam – 13%
Blind spot warning – 11%
Upgraded sound system – 10%