Overcharging rife for common car repairs, warns Carly

UK motorists may be overpaying by almost 25% for routine car repairs, according to analysis from automotive diagnostics specialist Carly.

The findings, based on more than 2.8 million diagnostic sessions carried out by over 550,000 UK drivers between January and October 2025, suggested widespread overcharging on common repair items such as engines, transmissions and braking systems.

Carly’s analysis, using data gathered through its OBD2 Scanner App, indicated that drivers were being charged around 25% more than necessary for key repairs.

Engine-related problems, including overheating and ignition faults, were associated with estimated overpayments of 19% to 23%, while transmission issues such as fluid leaks and gear slippage carried mark-ups of 15% to 20%.

Braking system repairs, including worn pads, discs and fluid leaks, averaged 12% to 16% above expected costs.

A repair expected to cost around £400 could therefore be invoiced at as much as £480 to £500.

Carly said these additional costs compound the financial pressure on households already affected by rising living expenses, regular servicing, insurance premiums and general running costs.

Dali Ati, head of internationalisation at Carly, said: “Drivers deserve transparency when it comes to repair pricing.