Mechanic’s cash

28 August 2007  

A SURVEY of garage labour rates has revealed a huge north-south divide in the cost of motoring.

The Warranty Direct survey also found that, on average, labour rates in independent garages were cheaper than those in franchised dealers.

The survey found that for every £100 spent at a garage, an average of £63 is spent on materials and £37 on labour.

The study was based on a comparison of prices at 3,856 franchised and independent garages across the UK and details from Warranty Direct customers.

Unsurprisingly, Greater London emerged as the most expensive area with an average labour rate of £89.78 per hour when combining both franchised and independent garages.

The ten most expensive counties were all from the south of England, including Hertfordshire at £86.68 per hour, Essex with an average price of £80.20 per hour and Berkshire at £78.76 per hour. See the table below for details.

Besides Cornwall (£62.68), Lancashire at £61.67 an hour was the most southerly region in the ten least expensive areas.

Warranty Direct claims there remains a significant difference between choosing a franchised dealership over an independent garage with an average labour charge of £89.31 and £49.92 an hour respectively.

The data for the survey was based on labour rates from more than 3,856 franchised and independent garages across the UK.