European laws aimed at removing restrictions on servicing new cars have allowed Fast Fit chains and independent garages to compete for work that was previously controlled by dealers, according to data from motoreasy.com, the all-in-one car maintenance company.
The firm analysed a basket of five popular models across franchised dealers, independent garages, independent specialists and Fast Fit centres.
Although franchised workshops remain more than 50% more expensive on average, there are significant signs that competition is forcing prices downwards. In 12 % of cases, independent garages came out more expensive than their manufacturer supported peers.
However, there is always one exception to every rule and in Glasgow, a dealer quoted £414 to service a Mercedes C Class C200 when an independent garage chain was willing to undertake the work for just £135 - a massive 206 % difference.
Is that the Scots for you or pay back to the owner for having a C Class?
Jackie Violet