2026 Survey on 'First Car' and 'Driving with Children' - No. 1 Problem is 'Kids Making a Mess Inside the Car' (Part 4)
Sony Assurance Inc. conducted a survey of 1,000 people aged 18-39 who purchased their first car within the last three years. For parents of preschool children, the top problem during drives was 'children making the car's interior dirty' (21.7%). The survey also covers how parents deal with fussy children and what they prioritize when choosing a child seat.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 3, 2026 at 19:30
## Survey on 'First Car' and 'Driving with Children' 2026 (Part 4)
Sony Assurance Inc. (President: Takayuki Suzuki, Headquarters: Ota-ku, Tokyo, hereafter 'Sony Assurance') conducted an internet research survey titled 'Survey on "First Car" and "Driving with Children"' from February 20 to February 24, 2026. The survey targeted 1,000 men and women aged 18-39 who had purchased their first car within the past three years.
This release is an excerpt from the 'Survey on "First Car" and "Driving with Children" 2026' announced by Sony Assurance on March 31. The full survey can be viewed at the following URL:
https://from.sonysonpo.co.jp/topics/pr/2026/03/20260331.html
*Survey Overview*
- Survey Title: Survey on 'First Car' and 'Driving with Children'
- Survey Target: 1,000 men (500) and women (500) aged 18-39 from NetAsia Research's internet monitor panel who purchased their first car within the last 3 years.
- Survey Period: February 20 - February 24, 2026
- Survey Method: Internet survey
- Survey Region: Nationwide
- Valid Responses: 1,000 samples extracted from valid responses
- Implemented by: NetAsia, Inc.
*Usage Conditions*
The diagrams and text in this article can be freely reproduced, provided all the following conditions are met. However, we may request the cessation of publication if we deem it inappropriate.
1. Please clearly state 'Sony Assurance Inc.' as the source of the information.
2. When used on a website, please link to the Sony Assurance auto insurance top page as the source.
https://www.sonysonpo.co.jp/auto/
## *Survey Summary*
### - Problems When Driving with Children: 1st 'Children making the car interior dirty', 2nd 'Child gets fussy' and 'Worried about the child's condition'.
### - How to Deal with a Fussy Child: 1st 'Talk to them', 2nd 'Play their favorite music' and 'Show them videos/DVDs'.
### - Top 2 Points for Choosing a Child Seat: 'Safety' and 'Price'.
We asked 341 people with preschool children what problems they face when driving with their kids. 'Children making the car interior dirty' (21.7%) was the most common, followed by 'Child gets fussy' and 'Worried about the child's condition' (both 19.1%), 'Place/timing for diaper changes' (18.5%), and 'Child dislikes the child seat' (13.2%).
(Figure Caption: What problems do you face when driving with children?)
We also asked how they deal with a child who gets 'fussy' during a drive. The top answers were 1st 'Talk to them' (28.7%), 2nd 'Play their favorite music' and 'Show them videos/DVDs' (both 22.6%), 4th 'Give them their favorite snacks' (21.7%), and 5th 'Give them a toy' (20.2%).
(Figure Caption: How do you deal with a 'fussy' child during a drive?)
We asked 341 people with preschool children what they prioritized when choosing a child seat. 'Safety' (27.3%) was the most common. This was followed by 'Price' (24.0%), 'Type (rotating/fixed)' and 'Installation method (seatbelt/ISOFIX)' (both 22.0%), and 'Manufacturer/brand' (19.1%).
(Figure Caption: What did you prioritize when choosing a child seat?)
*Please see the full survey results at the link below.*
https://from.sonysonpo.co.jp/topics/pr/2026/03/20260331.html
Sony Assurance Inc. (President: Takayuki Suzuki, Headquarters: Ota-ku, Tokyo, hereafter 'Sony Assurance') conducted an internet research survey titled 'Survey on "First Car" and "Driving with Children"' from February 20 to February 24, 2026. The survey targeted 1,000 men and women aged 18-39 who had purchased their first car within the past three years.
This release is an excerpt from the 'Survey on "First Car" and "Driving with Children" 2026' announced by Sony Assurance on March 31. The full survey can be viewed at the following URL:
https://from.sonysonpo.co.jp/topics/pr/2026/03/20260331.html
*Survey Overview*
- Survey Title: Survey on 'First Car' and 'Driving with Children'
- Survey Target: 1,000 men (500) and women (500) aged 18-39 from NetAsia Research's internet monitor panel who purchased their first car within the last 3 years.
- Survey Period: February 20 - February 24, 2026
- Survey Method: Internet survey
- Survey Region: Nationwide
- Valid Responses: 1,000 samples extracted from valid responses
- Implemented by: NetAsia, Inc.
*Usage Conditions*
The diagrams and text in this article can be freely reproduced, provided all the following conditions are met. However, we may request the cessation of publication if we deem it inappropriate.
1. Please clearly state 'Sony Assurance Inc.' as the source of the information.
2. When used on a website, please link to the Sony Assurance auto insurance top page as the source.
https://www.sonysonpo.co.jp/auto/
## *Survey Summary*
### - Problems When Driving with Children: 1st 'Children making the car interior dirty', 2nd 'Child gets fussy' and 'Worried about the child's condition'.
### - How to Deal with a Fussy Child: 1st 'Talk to them', 2nd 'Play their favorite music' and 'Show them videos/DVDs'.
### - Top 2 Points for Choosing a Child Seat: 'Safety' and 'Price'.
We asked 341 people with preschool children what problems they face when driving with their kids. 'Children making the car interior dirty' (21.7%) was the most common, followed by 'Child gets fussy' and 'Worried about the child's condition' (both 19.1%), 'Place/timing for diaper changes' (18.5%), and 'Child dislikes the child seat' (13.2%).
(Figure Caption: What problems do you face when driving with children?)
We also asked how they deal with a child who gets 'fussy' during a drive. The top answers were 1st 'Talk to them' (28.7%), 2nd 'Play their favorite music' and 'Show them videos/DVDs' (both 22.6%), 4th 'Give them their favorite snacks' (21.7%), and 5th 'Give them a toy' (20.2%).
(Figure Caption: How do you deal with a 'fussy' child during a drive?)
We asked 341 people with preschool children what they prioritized when choosing a child seat. 'Safety' (27.3%) was the most common. This was followed by 'Price' (24.0%), 'Type (rotating/fixed)' and 'Installation method (seatbelt/ISOFIX)' (both 22.0%), and 'Manufacturer/brand' (19.1%).
(Figure Caption: What did you prioritize when choosing a child seat?)
*Please see the full survey results at the link below.*
https://from.sonysonpo.co.jp/topics/pr/2026/03/20260331.html
FAQ
What is the biggest problem when driving with children?
According to a Sony Assurance survey, the most common answer was 'children making the car's interior dirty' (21.7%), followed by 'a fussy child'.
How do parents handle a fussy child while driving?
The most common method is 'talking to them,' followed by 'playing their favorite music' and 'showing them videos/DVDs'.
What is the most important factor when choosing a child seat?
In the survey, 'safety' was the top priority, with 'price' as a close second, indicating a focus on balancing safety and cost.