The cost of car repairs has been increasing for years. The average costs have now broken through the 600 euro mark for the first time. There are many different reasons behind this development. One factor is the increasing complexity of the technology in modern vehicles, which requires specialist knowledge and expensive spare parts. But there are other reasons for the price increases.
According to current analysis, the average repair costs for damages subject to warranty have increased to over the 600 euro mark for the first time. According to figures from "Car Garantie", a specialist insurer for warranty and customer loyalty programmes for new and used vehicles, the costs in 2022 were at 618 euros. So repair costs were therefore 20 euros higher than the previous year. The average repair costs in 2020 were still at €572, in 2019 the figure was just €551.
The reasons behind the rising costs include economic disruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic and the associated interruptions in supply chains. And another reason is the ongoing war in Ukraine, which is affecting the prices of raw materials and components and driving up energy prices and inflation.
What really costs when repairing a car
The most expensive component in used and new vehicles is still the engine. In the case of used cars, the engine's share in the costs increased to 22.9 percent of the total claims settlement figure in 2022, while in new cars, it comes in first place at 19.8 percent. Second and third place go to the fuel system, including the turbocharger, at 18.0 percent (used cars; previous year: 19.1 percent) and 18.9 percent (new cars; previous year: 20.5 percent) and the electrical system at 13.4 percent (used cars; previous year: 11.5 percent) and 13.2 percent (new cars; previous year: 12.2 percent).
The slight increase in the costs for the electrical system also becomes clear when considering the frequency of faults: The electrical system is the most frequently affected component in both used and new cars: In 2022, the electrical system was responsible for 21.3 percent of the claims for used cars and 20.2 percent of the claims for new cars.
Hybrid systems and electric drives still play a minor role according to the insurance company's analysis. However, this may also be due to the fact that the factory warranty often covers defects in this assembly.
Increased costs are driving vehicle repair bills up
However, it is not only faulty car parts that are behind the increase in repair costs. The cost of engine oils and wearing parts has also increased dramatically recently. It is very likely that the costs will continue to increase. After all, the technology is becoming increasingly complex and the prices for most components and raw materials is continuing to rise.
