Garages charge 'up to £200 an hour' Labour charges rising sharply, says survey
02 September 2008
Car servicing rates are rising sharply with garages charging labour rates of up to £200 an hour, new research claims.
Labour rates for mechanics have increased 11.3% since the summer of 2006, with the average now £75.17 an hour, a survey from Warranty Direct showed.
The average franchise dealer is now charging £94.70 an hour compared with £87.91 in 2006 - a rise of 7.7%.
Rates
The average rate for a mechanic at an independent garage has risen 14.9% over the same period - from £48.43 to £55.63.
Warranty Direct analysed labour rates at nearly 2,000 garages to highlight the dramatic price differences that occur across the country.
Greater London is the most expensive region at £94.26 an hour. This compares with £68.70 for Edinburgh, £78.81 across Merseyside and a similar figure of £78.01 for Cornwall.
Most expensive
London was also home to the most expensive dealer, charging £198.86 an hour.
Which? has produced a guide all about how to find a good garage. It offers tips on what to look out for in a good garage, and how to avoid being ripped off by a garage.
