Link to sky news article
CAR REPAIR COSTS RIP-OFF
Some car dealerships are imposing labour charges almost three times the national average, it has been revealed.
One BMW franchised dealer in central London has labour charges of £152.75 an hour, a survey by independent automotive warranty specialist Warranty Direct has shown.
This compares with a combined franchised and independent garage average of £56.72 an hour nationwide.
And compared with the previous 12 months, Warranty Direct registered a three-fold increase in the number of franchised dealers charging more than £100 an hour.
Based on analysis of 27 car manufacturers, the survey shows the Thames Valley belt of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire is the most expensive region in the UK with an average hourly charge of £68.61.
Scotland is the cheapest - nearly 60% less, with an average of just £43.12.
Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Porsche and Audi dealers provided the five most expensive rates recorded by Warranty Direct.
Mazda, on the other hand, delivers an average of £44 an hour - yet the dearest franchised Mazda dealer surveyed would set you back double that figure.
After pressure from the Office of Fair Trading, manufacturers have recently lifted servicing restrictions allowing owners to freely choose where they have their new car serviced.
Duncan McClure Fisher, of Warranty Direct, said: "Unfortunately, manufacturers don't have any control over dealer labour rates, hence the sometimes truly extortionate charges some motorists are having to stomach."
He went on: "Everyone appreciates that the cost of living differs across the country but surely not to this level?"
Here are the maximum and average hourly labour rates by region. The highest rate refers to franchised dealers and the average refers to to a combination of franchised and independent dealers.
REGION HIGHEST/AVERAGE
Thames Valley: £117.31/ £68.61
North London: £115.62/£65.36
Anglia: £102.67/£64.87
South London: £152.75/£62.97
North West: £108.63/£60.71
Northern Ireland: £81.66/£58.67
South Coast: £119.85/£55.21
Midlands: £111.63/£54.45
North East: £101.50/£53.24
Wales: £96.31/£51.60
South West: £101.52/£50.35
Yorkshire: £98.70/£48.12
Scotland: £70.50/£43.12
Full Version: Car Repair Costs Rip-off
There's no doubt we're mostly overcharged for garage labour.
If i lived near the channel ferries, i'd get my car serviced abroad.
Fraction of the cost and an ideal opportunity for a mini booze cruise
If i lived near the channel ferries, i'd get my car serviced abroad.
Fraction of the cost and an ideal opportunity for a mini booze cruise
QUOTE(Bobski @ Jun 17 2004, 11:37 AM)
Link to sky news article
CAR REPAIR COSTS RIP-OFF
Some car dealerships are imposing labour charges almost three times the national average, it has been revealed.
One BMW franchised dealer in central London has labour charges of £152.75 an hour, a survey by independent automotive warranty specialist Warranty Direct has shown.
This compares with a combined franchised and independent garage average of £56.72 an hour nationwide.
And compared with the previous 12 months, Warranty Direct registered a three-fold increase in the number of franchised dealers charging more than £100 an hour.
Based on analysis of 27 car manufacturers, the survey shows the Thames Valley belt of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire is the most expensive region in the UK with an average hourly charge of £68.61.
Scotland is the cheapest - nearly 60% less, with an average of just £43.12.
Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Porsche and Audi dealers provided the five most expensive rates recorded by Warranty Direct.
Mazda, on the other hand, delivers an average of £44 an hour - yet the dearest franchised Mazda dealer surveyed would set you back double that figure.
After pressure from the Office of Fair Trading, manufacturers have recently lifted servicing restrictions allowing owners to freely choose where they have their new car serviced.
Duncan McClure Fisher, of Warranty Direct, said: "Unfortunately, manufacturers don't have any control over dealer labour rates, hence the sometimes truly extortionate charges some motorists are having to stomach."
He went on: "Everyone appreciates that the cost of living differs across the country but surely not to this level?"
Here are the maximum and average hourly labour rates by region. The highest rate refers to franchised dealers and the average refers to to a combination of franchised and independent dealers.
REGION HIGHEST/AVERAGE
Thames Valley: £117.31/ £68.61
North London: £115.62/£65.36
Anglia: £102.67/£64.87
South London: £152.75/£62.97
North West: £108.63/£60.71
Northern Ireland: £81.66/£58.67
South Coast: £119.85/£55.21
Midlands: £111.63/£54.45
North East: £101.50/£53.24
Wales: £96.31/£51.60
South West: £101.52/£50.35
Yorkshire: £98.70/£48.12
Scotland: £70.50/£43.12
CAR REPAIR COSTS RIP-OFF
Some car dealerships are imposing labour charges almost three times the national average, it has been revealed.
One BMW franchised dealer in central London has labour charges of £152.75 an hour, a survey by independent automotive warranty specialist Warranty Direct has shown.
This compares with a combined franchised and independent garage average of £56.72 an hour nationwide.
And compared with the previous 12 months, Warranty Direct registered a three-fold increase in the number of franchised dealers charging more than £100 an hour.
Based on analysis of 27 car manufacturers, the survey shows the Thames Valley belt of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire is the most expensive region in the UK with an average hourly charge of £68.61.
Scotland is the cheapest - nearly 60% less, with an average of just £43.12.
Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Porsche and Audi dealers provided the five most expensive rates recorded by Warranty Direct.
Mazda, on the other hand, delivers an average of £44 an hour - yet the dearest franchised Mazda dealer surveyed would set you back double that figure.
After pressure from the Office of Fair Trading, manufacturers have recently lifted servicing restrictions allowing owners to freely choose where they have their new car serviced.
Duncan McClure Fisher, of Warranty Direct, said: "Unfortunately, manufacturers don't have any control over dealer labour rates, hence the sometimes truly extortionate charges some motorists are having to stomach."
He went on: "Everyone appreciates that the cost of living differs across the country but surely not to this level?"
Here are the maximum and average hourly labour rates by region. The highest rate refers to franchised dealers and the average refers to to a combination of franchised and independent dealers.
REGION HIGHEST/AVERAGE
Thames Valley: £117.31/ £68.61
North London: £115.62/£65.36
Anglia: £102.67/£64.87
South London: £152.75/£62.97
North West: £108.63/£60.71
Northern Ireland: £81.66/£58.67
South Coast: £119.85/£55.21
Midlands: £111.63/£54.45
North East: £101.50/£53.24
Wales: £96.31/£51.60
South West: £101.52/£50.35
Yorkshire: £98.70/£48.12
Scotland: £70.50/£43.12
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i live in scotland, and my garage has the best rates and best service and after sales i have ever experienced.
I have been buying new cars since 1974 and the garage I am currently with surpasses all the others into the dirt.
I would recommend this garage to anyone, no matter what the make of car, he will always provide excellent sales, aftersales and terrific servicing.
the garage is the Victoria Garage, Lockerbie.
Hope many people find this comment useful.
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