Nationwide analysis showed huge diversity in costs across the country.
An independent workshop in Manchester was found to have the lowest charges at £36 an hour while a sportscar manufacturer’s dealership in Reading billed customers an eye-watering £234 an hour.
The UK average hourly rate was £67, with Surrey the most expensive place, averaging £81 and Selkirkshire in Scotland the cheapest at £49.69.
The survey for car service and repair firm, motoreasy, analysed the labour rates at 6,000 garages across the country.
It said franchised workshops are generally more expensive, averaging £99, compared to £56 for independent garages – a difference of more than 40 per cent.
But it also said motorists often do not question the charges or shop around for the best deal.
Three in four car owners have no idea what they pay for labour.
The figure was four in five for women drivers.
One in three do not check the final bill before paying.
Duncan McClure Fisher, motoreasy founder, said: “Today’s drivers don’t have the time or, in many cases, the knowledge to make absolutely sure they are getting the best price from garages.
“It’s not made any easier by the fact that the cost of labour differs so vastly across the UK.
“Even so, anyone spending money should at least understand how much they are paying and for what.”
Daily Express :: Life and Style Feed
