What is the Average Cost of Your Car Breaking Down?

As a driver, the thought of surprise breakdowns or unplanned repairs can be the thing of nightmares - conjuring up thoughts of hefty mechanic bills, or even having to get a new car altogether.

In 2021, we commissioned a survey of over 2,000 UK adults to find out more about their relationship with their cars - and how often they break down.

While none of us like to think about breaking down, it does happen. In fact, 36% of the drivers we surveyed have broken down in their current car - with the most common causes being battery failure, engine failure, or the car simply not starting.

The cost of breaking down

We found that your average driver paid £295.60 for their most recent repair, but this was impacted by a few different factors. For example, over 55-year olds paid an average of £199.60 for their most recent repair, whereas 18-34-year-olds paid £409.20 - more than double!

While the average bill checked in at just under £300, there were still a few outliers. In fact, a particularly unfortunate 1.2% of people who have needed a repair have paid over £1,500 for their last repair bill - equivalent to 368,000 people! An understandably nightmare-inducing sum for many.

Are women hit harder when it comes to repair bills?

In 2017, a study published by researchers at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in the US found that when men and women contacted a garage about a repair, and both presented no knowledge of what the repair should cost, the female callers were, on average, quoted higher prices - something that took the researchers by surprise.

However, interestingly, our study found that female drivers paid on average around £20 less than their male counterparts for their most recent breakdown. Female drivers paid on average £285.40 for repairs compared to the £304.90 paid by male drivers.

You also might expect that older drivers had more experience with breakdowns - due to being on the road for longer, and likely driving at a time when cars were less reliable. However, our survey found that 32% of drivers over 55 said they had never had a breakdown - the same proportion as drivers within the 18-34-year-old category. In contrast, only 26% of 35-54-years-old drivers say they have never had a breakdown.

Do you pay more based on where you live?

Gender and age aren’t the only factors at play when it comes to paying more or less if you break down, however. It may come as little surprise that Londoners paid the highest average cost for their latest repair bill at £437.60. This is perhaps why Londoners are the least likely to own a car, or have access to more than one car per household when compared to the rest of the UK.

Government statistics show that in 2019, London residents on average had access to less than one car per household ; whereas in the East, South East, and South West of England, residents had access to almost 1.5 cars per household. Rising running costs and repairs bills being the highest in the country could well be a factor.

Not willing to fork out that much money for motoring mishaps? Relocating to Wales may be your best bet, where the average repair bill is almost half of that at £221.90 - the lowest of all regions we surveyed.

Breaking down why we fear breakdowns

Don’t let breakdown worries divert your driving

While breakdowns and mechanical issues can be a frustration, you don’t have to go through it alone. With over 600 centres across the UK, Kwik Fit is on hand to help - no matter where you’re heading, or what’s happened to your car. Find your local centre to speak to one of our experts for breakdown advice today.