Car mechanics overtake barristers' hourly rate

Visiting a garage can prove costlier than you think, according to new research today which reveals that the average car mechanic often charges more an hour than a doctor or a barrister.

A survey for What Car? magazine published today shows that drivers frequently pay more than £100 an hour for labour at franchised dealers. The random testing of 200 dealers across the UK discovered that hourly rates varied enormously.

They ranged from £49 at a Vauxhall garage in Scotland to £140 an hour for BMW in London. The magazine contrasted this with the fees earned by a locum doctor, charging up to £500 a day, and a junior barrister, who can earn as little as £30 an hour.

Steve Fowler, group editor of What Car?, said car owners should be prepared to shop around: "Consumers could save hundreds of pounds if they shop around and do their research. Quite simply, dealership labour rates for repair bills are just too high."

What Car? researchers discovered that advances in technology mean that jobs that were once simple are now fiddly and time-consuming. Replacing a main beam bulb on an Audi A2 can cost as much as £66 - but the bulb itself costs just £3.96.

"Our research clearly highlights that there are huge price differences across the country," Mr Fowler said. "There are so many options available to consumers; they need to consider franchised, non-franchised dealers, local or not so local.

"One option I will be considering is to book my car in at the cheapest garage, even if I have to travel to it. The savings I can make will pay for a night in a hotel and a decent meal."

One junior barrister said he was not surprised to learn he was less well paid than a mechanic. Often, he can earn as little as £46.50 a day for a court appearance and £33.50 an hour for preparing papers for a longer running case. "Lucky mechanics," he said. "I had thought about going into plumbing but I heard there were too many on the market."

Last year a survey for the consumer magazine Which? revealed that prices charged by plumbers varied widely with people living in the south-east paying more than those in other regions.

In the recent survey What Car? used different cars and took them to dealers with a blown main beam bulb to repair. Mystery shoppers then visited 200 dealers to obtain a quote for a full service on nine mainstream vehicles.

The magazine says that consumers should also be aware that they can use non-franchised dealers and still keep their warranty, but the service provider must be VAT-registered and should use manufacturer's parts and follow its recommended schedule of work.