Cars are more often in the workshop and repair costs are increasing
In 2022, the number of car workshop visits increased compared to 2021. The repair volume also increased, according to the latest Aftersales Monitor from BOVAG and RAI Association.
The lifting of the corona restrictions, the poor availability of new cars and the older age of the fleet all play a role.
Cars more often in the workshop
The number of workshop visits for maintenance and repairs rose to 13.2 million in 2022. A year earlier it had been 11.7 million. The average amount per workshop visit was 319 euros. In 2021 it was 313 euros.
Because cars covered more kilometers on average in 2022 than in the Corona and home working year 2021, the average costs per car rose to 641 euros on an annual basis in 2022. In 2021 that was 529 euros.
Repair costs increase
The Aftersales Monitor also provides information about the average maintenance and repair costs per drive type. A workshop visit with an electric car cost an average of 290 euros in 2022 (2021: 340 euros).
For a car with a combustion engine, the average repair costs were 670 euros (2021: 548 euros) and for plug-in hybrids (PHEV) an average of 497 euros (2021: 316 euros). This means that PHEVs show the largest percentage and absolute cost increase. According to the Aftersales Monitor, one possible explanation for this phenomenon is the higher average age of plug-in hybrids, which leads to higher maintenance requirements.
A logical consequence
Due to the lifting of the Corona restrictions, more kilometers were traveled in 2022 than in 2021. Not only for commuting, but also for holidays and other journeys. More workshop visits are the logical consequence.
On the other hand, the economic aftershocks of the pandemic caused ongoing disruptions in the auto market. Due to the poor availability of new cars, many private individuals drove (and still drive) their cars longer. Many leases have been extended for the same reason.
This, together with the huge increase in used car sales in recent years, has all resulted in an aging Dutch fleet and increased demand for maintenance and repairs.