The cost of car repairs is continuing to climb, while drivers are remaining ever price conscious.
The FixMyCar Making Tracks Report 2025 highlights a number of trends that workshops are seeing at present. The information is based on thousands of repair quotes and completed jobs processed through FixMyCar’s nationwide network.
The Making Tracks Report 2025 shows how economic pressures, shifting attitudes toward EVs, and evolving consumer priorities, are shaping garage operations.
The report found that repair quote values rose 7% year-on-year. Average job values increased by nearly £18, with clutch replacements up by £50 compared to 2024, directly impacting workshop profitability and parts suppliers.
In addition, drivers are taking longer to approve repairs: The proportion of customers accepting quotes within 24 hours has dropped by 2.4%, reflecting greater price sensitivity among customers due to ongoing financial strains.
One interesting area is that trust now outweighs price as the deciding factor. Only 29% of drivers prioritise finding the cheapest quote; most value trust, clear pricing and positive online reviews when choosing a garage.
Finally, when it comes to work types, timing chain repairs deliver the highest returns. More than 13,000 timing chain jobs were completed through FixMyCar in the past year, with an average job value of £1,090 demonstrating opportunity for garages.
Attitudes uncovered in Making Tracks Report
The powertrain mix is also changing, with petrol and diesel interest in sharp decline. The number of drivers planning to buy a petrol or diesel vehicle has fallen by 40%, signalling stronger demand for hybrids and EVs, as the looming 2030 ban on new internal-combustion engine only models approaches.
Alongside this, the vehicles that are coming through the FixMyCar network are getting older, according to the Making Tracks Report. In total, 50% of models that require work are now aged 16 years or older. This highlights the fact that many drivers are holding on to their vehicles for longer, rather than trade in for a new model, with updated technology.
When it comes to repair trends, the report provides an interesting insight. For owners of Ford vehicles, cambelt and water pump requests are second after MOT. With concerns around wet belts, this suggests drivers are wary of the technology and looking to have them replaced sooner rather than later. The average cost for this work was £630.80, across the network.
Aircon regas is a new addition to the top five most common repair requests from drivers this year, becoming a core service for four out of the five most popular car brands.
The question of EVs
According to data from FixMyCar, the number of EV and hybrid repair and maintenance quotes increased by 2% over the last 12 months, continuing the growth trend from the previous 12 months.
The average EV quote cost has also risen from £166.29 to £178.28, representing a 7% year-on-year increase. With demand for EV aftercare growing and more garages investing in the necessary technology required to service these vehicles, an increase in prices is to be expected. This provides further evidence that the EV transition has indeed begun at the local level.
The Making Tracks Report states that garages can no longer ignore the rise of electric vehicles. The increasing number of EVs on UK roads, combined with the fact that many are now emerging from factory warranties, will only accelerate the demand for EV servicing jobs that FixMyCar is already seeing.
“The Making Tracks Report provides a snapshot of what is really happening across the industry. We are proud to be able to provide this insight for the aftermarket as a whole and for independent garages looking to grow their business in this tough market,” said CEO at FixMyCar, Amanda Webb. “While the current climate is undoubtedly challenging, the data highlights a clear opportunity: drivers are prioritising trust over price. For garages that invest in building a strong reputation in their local area, this presents a significant competitive advantage.”
The Making Tracks Report 2025 includes detailed breakdowns by repair type, regional analysis, and actionable insights for garage operators and industry stakeholders.
The full report is available to download here.
