New research shows average repair and maintenance quotes up 8% to £193.84, while one in three drivers delay essential work
FixMyCar today launches the third edition of its Making Tracks: The Auto Repair Report, an annual analysis into the state of UK auto repair.
Drawing on data from its garage network and a survey of 2,000 UK drivers, the report finds that cost pressure is reshaping decisions on both sides of the market, even as the sector makes real progress on trust and transparency.
Cost pressure shapes driver decisions
The new report finds that the average quoted price for all repairs and maintenance on FixMyCar rose by 8% over the past 12 months, to £193.84. Notably, full services have also dropped down the list of top five most-requested jobs by drivers on the platform since last year, an unexpected change for an often annual, routine job.
It fell to fifth place for Volkswagen, Ford and Audi, as more expensive repairs move up to take its place. That points to drivers stretching out routine maintenance, and garages picking up the bigger jobs that follow.
The report’s survey also found that more than a third of drivers (34%) have put off a repair their garage recommended in the past 12 months. Of those, 72% said they did it to save money, while 22% simply didn't think the repair was necessary.
Despite the squeeze on budgets, convenience and trust matter more to drivers than rock-bottom pricing. 56% say a local, convenient garage is their top priority when booking a repair, 46% rank clear and transparent pricing highest, and only 33% put finding the cheapest quote first.
59% of drivers said they'd use a payment plan to spread the cost of a large repair if their garage offered one. This is a clear signal that during a time of high-cost concern, flexible payment options could unlock work that would otherwise be turned away.
Hybrid overtakes petrol and diesel, and drivers turn to AI
For the first time, hybrid has become drivers' most popular choice for their next car, picked by 30% of those surveyed, ahead of petrol and diesel combined (25%) and fully electric (20%). Repair costs for EVs and hybrids rose 5.7% to £110.06 over the past year, reflecting both rising demand and an ongoing shortage of EV-qualified technicians, highlighting a significant opportunity for forward-thinking garages.
A new trend also emerged in this year's research: 60% of drivers say they've used an AI tool, such as ChatGPT, for a car-related task in the past 12 months. 25% used AI to try to work out what's wrong with their car, 20% used it to help understand a garage quote, and 15% went a step further and used it to find a DIY repair guide.
Drivers are also doing more homework before they book. 90% shop around for the best price, and for 18% of drivers, that's a habit for every single job, not just the big ones. 59% look up average repair prices and how long a job will take before booking, while 40% want to understand what the repair will actually involve.
Three practical opportunities for garages
FixMyCar's driver research points to three clear opportunities for garages:
1.Payment plans
59% of drivers said they'd use one to spread the cost of a large repair if their garage offered it, more than half a garage's customer base telling it exactly how to turn a "that's too expensive" conversation into a booking.
2. Parts and warranty
55% of drivers would rather pay more for quality parts, and 56% expect a warranty covering both parts and labour. Only 19% actively want the cheaper, second-hand option. A garage without tiered parts choices or clear warranty terms is leaving trust, and revenue, on the table for a competitor to pick up.
3. Catching deferred repairs
34% of drivers have put off a recommended repair in the past year, mostly to save money. Every deferred repair is a job that's still coming, just later, and usually bigger. A quick, friendly follow-up call six months on could be the difference between winning that job and losing it to a competitor.
The full report, Making Tracks: The Auto Repair Report, can be download for free via the FixMyCar website.