London motorists overspend the most on repairs

Green Flag research has revealed that Londoners spend the most on unnecessary motor repairs.

The study showed that London topped the average spend on repairs by city at £507.67 with Leeds coming in a close second at £497.57, claiming that a lack of knowledge was the key factor in the trend.

Just over half (52%) of drivers are unaware of what the test actually involves and 39% admit they don’t know at all.

A further 13% were unable to state the correct MOT requirements and 31% believed they lacked the appropriate knowledge to haggle with garages.

This is leading motorists to collectively overspend by £3.4bn - an average of £90 per vehicle.

One of the primary concerns surrounding repair costs is that motorists are not confident about how much they should expect to pay. Just one in five men said they were confident about estimating costs, and only one in ten women said the same when asked in the nationwide survey.

A third even went on to say they felt apprehensive (34%) or anxious (31%) about negotiating with garages.

Almost half (40%) of drivers admitted they’d underestimated how much it would cost to repair their car – with inexperienced drivers (aged 16-24) the hardest hit.

Many consumers are also being charged for needless work. Green Flag found that the most popular up-sells, unnecessary work and charges are:

1. Brake fluid change
2. Anti-freeze drain and refill
3. Fuel/ oil cleaners
4. Brakes – pads and discs  (when wear is within safety limits)
5. Wiper blades
6. Battery replacement
7. Tracking
8. Oil top ups
9. Tyres (When tread is well within legal limit)
10. Pollen filters

Green Flag’s head of automotive technology, Nick Reid, said: "Our research highlights just how much drivers are overspending on repairs - fueled by a combination of the changes in the MOT test and a lack of confidence in negotiating with garages, motorists are becoming less equipped to ensure they’re getting the best deal on repairs.

“This is particularly evident by our findings that 61%  aren’t sure what MOT stands for, and the fact that 39% don’t understand what is being checked during a test.

"At Green Flag, we are committed to ensuring our customers are put first. Our Smart Service is the common sense solution to ensure you’re paying only what is necessary for vehicle repairs – putting motorists back in the driving seat.”