Why the cost of car repairs is rising in France
More drivers are reported to be skipping roadworthy checks as a result of increasing costs
The cost of repairs is rising partly due to the increased complexity of vehicles
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The cost of car repairs is continuing to soar in France, new data from a safety and reparation association shows, in an ongoing trend that has also seen insurance costs increase.
Costs increased by 7.9% in the first half of 2024 (compared to January to June 2023), a report from the Sécurité et Réparation Automobile (SRA), which groups several insurance companies, claims.
The cost had already risen by 26% between 2019 and 2023.
The SRA said that the average cost of parts had risen by 10% year-on-year in the first half of 2024, and by 8.5% over the past 12 months. The cost of parts represents more than half (52.8%) of the total cost of car repair costs, it said.
The main reason is that cars are becoming more technologically complex, it said, adding that the average cost of repairing an electric car is around 15% higher than the average cost of repairing a combustion vehicle.
Read also: Rising car repair costs in France: Electric vs combustion vehicles
The cost of labour has also increased, up by 5.9% in the first half of 2024, and by 6.3% over the past 12 months. This is due to inflation and increased social charges, the association said.
Insurance premiums are around 4% more expensive, the SRA added, with drivers now having to spend €676 on average to insure their vehicle. This is €46 more on average than the cost in 2020.
Read also: Where in France is it cheapest to repair a car?
Read also: French garage did not fix my car’s fault: can I get a refund?
An unaffordable luxury?
Some in France suggest that owning a car is increasingly becoming a luxury out of the reach of many, amid these rising costs, and fuel still hovering around €1.95-2 per litre for SP98 and SP95.
In 2023, the Observatoire Cetelem de l'Automobile polled people in 18 countries, and found that “60% of people in France fear that they will no longer be able to afford to own a car in the future".
It also found that more and more motorists were skipping essential tests, such as their contrôle technique, due to a lack of funds.
