Why Female Drivers Face Higher Repair Bills at UK Garages (And How to Stop It)

Recent UK studies reveal a troubling pattern: female drivers consistently pay more for car repairs than men. This isn’t isolated to a few rogue garages – it’s a systemic issue affecting millions of women across Britain.

The Evidence from UK Research

A 2024 study by car management app Caura found that women are charged on average 5% more than men for car maintenance. Using mystery shopping methods, researchers contacted 100 garages requesting quotes for MOTs and services under male and female aliases. For a service, ‘Edward’ was quoted £229 on average, while ‘Emma’ was quoted £241. In the most extreme case, one garage quoted ‘Emma’ £475 – nearly three times more than ‘Edward’s’ £130 quote for identical work.

A 2022 survey by Fixter involving 2,000 car owners found that over 70% of women believe they have been overcharged by garages purely because they are female. The study revealed that 74% of women felt they were quoted too much simply because of their gender, compared to just 12% of men. Additionally, 40% of women feel they can’t question high quotes due to a lack of car knowledge, compared to only 29% of men.

Earlier research supports this pattern. A 2015 ClickMechanic study found women were charged on average £45 more for identical repairs than men.

Why This Happens: The Psychology Behind Garage Bias

Research from Northwestern University helps explain the mechanism behind this pricing disparity. The study found that women are quoted higher prices than men when callers signal that they are uninformed about market prices. However, gender differences disappear when callers mention an expected price for the repair. The researchers concluded that repair shops believe women know less about cars and quote higher prices accordingly – but when women demonstrate knowledge, they receive fair pricing.

This creates a knowledge barrier that disproportionately affects women, who may feel less confident discussing technical car issues due to societal stereotypes about automotive knowledge.

Common UK Garage Tactics

Female drivers in the UK commonly encounter:

The Urgency Upsell: Being told that advisory MOT items are “urgent safety issues” requiring immediate expensive repairs.

The Service Package Push: Being steered toward premium service packages without explanation of what the additional cost covers.

The Parts Premium: Being charged for “genuine” or “premium” parts without being offered standard alternatives.

The Expertise Assumption: Mechanics using technical jargon to justify work rather than explaining options in plain English.

The Financial Impact

Based on the Caura study’s 5% average overcharge, a typical female driver spending £500 annually on car maintenance pays an extra £25 per year. However, individual cases can be far more severe, with some women paying hundreds of pounds more than necessary for identical work.

Over a driving lifetime, this bias can cost thousands in unnecessary expenses, not including the broader impacts of delayed maintenance due to loss of trust in garage services.

Protecting Yourself: Practical Strategies

Research Before You Visit

• Use online tools to get rough price estimates for common repairs
• Understand the difference between MOT failures (must fix) and advisories (can wait)
• Join online forums or Facebook groups where car owners share garage experiences

During Your Garage Visit

• Ask for written quotes before any work begins
• Request explanations in plain English for any recommended work
• Don’t be pressured into same-day decisions for non-urgent repairs
• Ask to see the problem areas yourself

Know Your Consumer Rights

Under UK consumer law, you have the right to:

• Clear, upfront pricing with no hidden charges
• Written estimates before work begins
• Time to consider expensive repairs
• Work that’s carried out with reasonable care and skill

The Professional Support Solution

Rather than trying to become a car expert overnight, many women are turning to professional advocacy services. This is where services like Motoraas make a significant difference.

Instead of trying to navigate garage interactions and potential bias yourself, Motoraas removes you from the equation entirely:

• You describe your car symptoms (strange noise, warning light, etc.) via message or phone
• We track your maintenance schedule and proactively remind you when services are due
• We find trusted garages and get quotes for the actual work needed
• We handle all negotiations and coordination with mechanics
• We explain everything in plain English before you agree to any work
• You simply drop off your car – no sales pressure, no technical discussions, no opportunity for biased treatment

For £3 per month, you completely bypass the situations where gender bias typically occurs. The garage deals with automotive professionals who know fair prices and won’t be misled or intimidated.

Taking Action

As Limvirak Chea, CEO of Fixter, noted: “It’s important that car owners have confidence in what they’re paying for and that they’re happy with the end result. Paying a fair price and having transparency over costs is vital to rebuilding trust between motorists and garages.”

The automotive industry is slowly recognising that fair treatment isn’t just ethical – it’s good business. Female customers who feel respected become loyal, long-term clients who refer friends and family.

As consumers, we can accelerate change by:

• Supporting garages that demonstrate transparent, fair pricing
• Seeking second opinions on expensive repairs
• Sharing experiences (both positive and negative) with other drivers
• Using services that eliminate bias from the equation

Moving Forward

The evidence is clear: gender bias in UK garage pricing is real and measurable. But you don’t have to accept it as inevitable. Whether through careful preparation, bringing support, or using professional advocacy services, you have options to ensure fair treatment.

You shouldn’t need to become a car expert to avoid being overcharged. Fair pricing should be standard, not something you have to fight for.

At Motoraas, we see this problem daily, which is why our service exists. Our members never experience pricing bias because they’re never part of the negotiation process. We handle everything behind the scenes, ensuring fair treatment every time.

Ready to never worry about garage bias again? Join the hundreds of drivers who’ve eliminated repair stress from their lives – £3/month for complete peace of mind.