Unexpected bills add up
Warrantywise.co.uk data has found that buying a used car can come with unexpected bills of around £603.
The research took average repair costs from the most popular models on its books and found that the average bill can vary from £406 to £833 depending on manufacturer.
Among the most popular manufacturers, Warrantywise found it was Peugeot, Ford and Suzuki that had the cheapest average repair costs, with claims on average coming to £406, £421 and £424 respectively. As a result, Peugeot has the cheapest average warranty cost, with six months of Warrantywise Platinum cover for just £103.
Representing the ‘best value for money’ according to Warrantywise is Toyota, with data showing the average repair bill comes to £592, while the average WarrantyWise cover comes to £117 for six months.
Buyers looking at more exotic models from the likes of BMW and Porsche could be hit by surprise repair costs averaging £721 and £807 respectively, while Subaru models also rack up hefty bills, averaging £791 per claim.
Lawrence Whittaker, CEO of Warrantywise, said, ‘If your car is over three years old, there’s an 84% chance of mechanical or electrical breakdown over the next three years, so a big bill is often waiting around the corner. Our data shows that repair costs can vary wildly by manufacturer and, in the case of some, come in at well over £700 on average. That’s why we always recommend that those looking at buying a used car also look at buying an aftermarket warranty.’
Car Manufacturer | Average policy cost | Average claim | Comparison in price |
Toyota | £117 | £592 | 506% |
Hyundai | £123 | £577 | 469% |
Mazda | £128 | £617 | 482% |
BMW | £178 | £721 | 405% |
Volkswagen | £133 | £537 | 403% |
Porsche | £504 | £807 | 106% |
Land Rover | £335 | £623 | 186% |
Audi | £240 | £643 | 268% |
Peugeot | £103 | £406 | 394% |
Subaru | £255 | £791 | 310% |
Ford | £117 | £421 | 360% |
Nissan | £151 | £521 | 345% |
Suzuki | £109 | £424 | 389% |