Two-thirds of drivers hit with unexpected car repair costs

Two-thirds (65%) of drivers have had to fork out for unexpected car repair costs in the last year – up from 59% last year, with almost four-in-10 (39%) saying they’d struggle to pay a bill of up to £500, new research from the RAC* has revealed.        

With the average repair bill now standing at £650, up by £33 from last year, the increased costs are putting drivers’ finances under considerable strain with three-quarters (76%) saying they would find it difficult to find the money for an unexpected repair bill.  

More than half (54%) state they would struggle to pay a surprise bill of £501-£1,000. The challenge of meeting unexpected repair bills is greatest among young drivers with nearly six-in-10 (57%) of the under-25s surveyed for the RAC Report on Motoring 2025 saying they would find it hard to afford a bill of up to £500, up from 50% in 2024. 

But the pain is also being felt by older drivers with 40% of those aged between 45 and 64 admitting they would struggle with a repair bill of up to £500 – up from 35% last year – and 30% of those aged 65 or over, up from 25% in 2024.

Replacing or repairing tyres is the most common unexpected vehicle cost (54%), followed by brake repair or replacement (26%), suspension repairs (18%), issues with 12-volt batteries (17%) and exterior light problems (16%).

Drivers with older vehicles are more likely to face unexpected repair bills: the rate among those with cars more than 10 years old is 74% compared to 65% overall. And, with the average age of UK cars now at an all-time high of 10 years old**, more drivers are likely to find themselves having to dig deep to keep their vehicle on the road. 

Faced with rising repair costs and worried about unexpectedly high maintenance bills, a minority of drivers admit to taking drastic measures that, while intended to save money, could put themselves, their passengers and others at serious risk. For example, 12% say they are having their car serviced less frequently than in the past while 5% say they have given up on vehicle servicing altogether, relying solely on the annual MOT to identify problems.

RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Nick Mullender said: “With the average cost of an unexpected repair rising to £650 this year, it’s little wonder that so many people are finding it difficult to meet the costs as that’s a bill no one wants.

“Looking after a car by having it serviced at the correct intervals and getting repairs carried out in good time, generally works out far cheaper than having to get a more major repair carried out in a hurry. 

“Add to that how difficult it can be these days to get a slot at garage, and drivers face the prospect of having to go without a car for a day or more – seriously hampering their day-to-day routines, especially as so many of us are heavily car-dependent.

“By taking advantage of RAC Mobile Mechanics it’s now possible to have your routine servicing and repairs done conveniently at home or at your workplace very affordably.*** Costs can also be spread using Klarna.”