Some routine jobs now cost drivers 23% more than they did a year ago, according to new claims analysis from Warranty Solutions Group (WSG).
The largest increase recorded in WSG’s claims data was for alternator repairs, which rose by 23% year on year, increasing from an average claim of £492.26 in 2024 to £607.67 in 2025.
Steph Newbery, Group Director at Warranty Solutions Group, said: “It really is becoming a postcode lottery. Two drivers with the same fault on the same vehicle can face repair bills that differ by several hundred pounds depending purely on where they live.
“Labour rates, overheads and technician availability vary widely across the country and those differences are becoming more visible for motorists.”
Labour rates, parts inflation and increasingly complex vehicle technology are quietly pushing repair costs higher across the country.
WSG’s analysis shows that drivers in London and the South East typically face the highest workshop charges due to higher labour rates, technician wages and operating costs.
Garages in the North and Midlands generally charge less for the same repairs, although prices in these regions are also rising as garages respond to higher costs.
Even where labour time has remained broadly the same, the cost of that labour has risen significantly, adding between £20 and £40 to many routine repairs.
Examples include battery replacement labour rising from around £90 to £96, O2 sensor labour increasing from £180 to £192, alternator labour climbing from £240 to £255 and coil spring labour increasing from £140 to £150.
Jobs requiring electronic diagnostics and specialist equipment have seen some of the biggest increases. ABS wheel speed sensor checks now cost £85 to £95 in labour compared with around £80 to £88 a year earlier.
