I felt compelled to start a thread on this, after visiting a few Garages over the last few months with not just my car, but our small fleet. I have noticed a stark rise in rates here in the sunny North West of England, as more and more people scavenge to keep their ailing cars fit for the road. The average car age now has risen to 9.5 years for reference, with all the nonsense going on with Govts forcing Manu's to try and bait us with EVs (which is killing the manufacturers and dealers as we simply don't want them).
I was in Honda the other day chatting to their Master Technician, who's been there since 1995. He made me aware that they charge £154 an hour plus Vat. I nearly fell over !
Across the board, Indy's are £100-120 up here now, and not the £60-£70 an hour they used to charge. Things have doubled since just before COVID that's for sure. I would hate to understand what the Germans charge to plug in and diagnose your car..
It's almost like there's a massive hole trying to be filled by the dealers, as they are frankly losing money on a grand scale.
But I guess they are charging these rates to the manu's on warranty eh?!
Dealers are in recession.. so there prices should reflect that should they not? (Never will though !)

 

When I worked in a Kia dealer they were paid a much reduced rate for warranty work compared to the standard rate, it may have been around 40%, since I left the hourly rate charged has almost doubled whilst techs may have only gained £5/6 an hour, I’m told warranty jobs are now restricted to Saturday mornings to maximise income, and staff/ex staff mates rates are no more. Kia do a good deal on service plans so I’m not up to date on actual current charges apart from mot which I think is £55.

 

An MOT takes 45 mins or so ime so it's not a terrible rate

When I worked with dealers briefly their workshops kept the business afloat. Now the service on the CRV is quite pricey but she wants it dealer looked after. The CTR will also go there. Painful.

But this is one shocked me most. Rang honda bikes about a service for the CB.

"Oh it just needs oil, no filter at that mileage"

I think he said £225 as I hung up.

So that is also done by me, no warranty anyway and I am very meticulous in me old age

Downside is I service the bike, then the S2, then the boosted S2 all around July-Sept but I probably spent the bike money on parts for all 3

Needed 2 x5L oil (£80), 2 x filter (£30?), 1 x 4l (£50) for the bike, 2 X wipers (£25), 2 X diff oil...

Just have the charger oil to replace. It's made out of Starmer's tears for pensioners. Ie none existent

For context a bloke at work is paying £200 an hr for his Cayman (North London)

I'd like to know what the mech sees

 

I'm up in Arbroath, Scotland and the rates for a few performance garages up here are £60-£70 an hour

 

Is that including or plus vat? I enquired about the cost of a job on grandson’s bmw and once into the £hundreds vat makes a difference.

 

Almost sounds plausible - I'm guessing small garage but if expect vat on top as Martin said. I have mates rates (after hours) of around £50 an hour, but don't wish to lean on that too often as he's a busy chap.