Repair costs over 600 euros

Repair costs over 600 euros

Year after year, the insurance and customer loyalty specialist CarGarantie evaluates its inventory of documented claims to determine the average repair costs. Compared to the previous year, the average repair costs in 2022 have increased by more than 20 euros from 596 to 618 euros per damage. Within just five years, the costs have increased by more than 100 euros. Reasons for this include the widespread economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated supply chain disruptions, but also the ongoing war in Ukraine, which is affecting the flow of raw materials and components and driving up energy prices and inflation.

The most expensive component in used cars is still the engine: compared to the previous year (23.4%), its share of the claim settlement amount rose to 23.9% in 2022. This year it is also in first place among new cars with 19.8%, after slipping to second place last year (20.1%). In 2022, the fuel system including turbocharger follows in second and third place with 18.0% (used car; previous year: 19.1%) and 18.9% (new car; previous year: 20.5%) and the electrical system with 13.4% (used car; previous year: 11.5%) and 13.2% (new car; previous year: 12.2%). The slight increase in the cost share of the electrical system is also clear when looking at the frequency of damage: in both used and new cars, the electrical system was the component most frequently affected by a defect in 2022. For used cars, it was responsible for 21.3% of the damage and was therefore in first place (previous year: 18.7%, second place), and for new cars it was responsible for 20.2% of damage (previous year: 19.1%, second place). The fuel system follows for both types of vehicle with 18.2% (used cars; previous year: 20.3%) and 17.1% (new cars; previous year: 19.2%). In third place for used cars is the engine at 12.6% (previous year: 11.1%) and for new cars the comfort electrics come in at 13.0% (previous year: 10.9%).

The statistics of damage occurrence according to mileage or days show only minor differences compared to the previous year. For used cars, 29.2% of damage occurred within the first 5,000 km – the previous year it was 29.0%. 18.5% of the damage only occurred after more than 25,000 km (previous year: 18.9%). There has also been little change in the occurrence of damage after days: 24.0% of the damage only occurred after more than 360 days. In the previous year it was 23.2%. Marcus Söldner, CEO of CarGarantie: "Since the average repair costs had been approaching the 600 euro mark for a long time, it was only a matter of time before it was exceeded. There is currently no sign of a reversal of the upward trend that has been going on for years." CarGarantie is closely monitoring this development in order to be able to adapt its product portfolio in a timely and dynamic manner. Söldner: "It is advisable for retailers to protect themselves against such additional financial burdens - for example with warranty or repair cost insurance. In this way, unnecessary additional costs can be avoided and customer satisfaction can be increased at the same time."