Vehicle repair costs among the UK’s most popular cars rose by a staggering 20% last year, and insurance and garage bills are likely to increase for 2025, too. According to Warrantywise, drivers saw a hefty increase in garage receipts as the cost of labour and parts rose. Among the vehicles hardest hit by these rising repair costs, Ford Fiestas felt the brunt, with owners having to shelve out an extra £228 last year. 

According to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Ford Fiestas were the most popular used car sold in 2024 but despite seeing many of these cars on the roads, with rising repair costs, many owners may have to turn their backs on the stalwart if these prices continue to surge. This issue of high vehicle costs is not just reserved for the UK and has become a global problem, with one car expert providing some integral key trends to be aware of when it comes to these rising repair costs, including which vehicles may be hardest hit.

Antony Diggins, managing director of Warrantywise, said: “With repair costs continuing to rise, it’s something all motorists will need to consider - especially given the wider economic challenges and inflation in the UK.”

This comes as the biggest increase was seen for Vauxhall Astras, which saw repair costs increase from £819 to an eye-watering £1,047, owing to a 28 % jump, GBNews reports.

Vehicles such as Nissan Qashqais and VW Golfs saw an 18 % increase in repairs, with Ford Focus vehicles increasing by 15 %.

Vauxhall Astra also saw high increases to repair costs despite being the seventh most popular used car sold in 2024.

Astra model vehicles also saw a notable increase in repair costs going from £819 to £1,047, between 2023 and 2024.

Fortunately for VW Polo owners as these vehicles saw the smallest increase in costs with only a 3% increase.

Whereas, BMW 3 Series drivers saw garage bills increase by 10 %.

Diggins said: "Looking at the most popular choice of used car from 2024 to 2025, our reliability data highlights the importance of making informed decisions when buying second-hand."

Despite the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) falling from 7.3 % in 2023 to 2.5 % in December 2024, Warrantywise warns that these figures don’t  take into account repair costs for vehicles.

This could mean that motorists with used cars outside of warranty could be "worst impacted".

"That said, our data offers valuable insights for anyone looking to buy a used car or wanting to understand the potential repair issues with their current vehicle,” added Diggins.

"It is also a reminder that cars are complex machines, even the most reliable ones can develop faults – no vehicle is completely immune."