Vehicle Repairs Cost an Average of 34% More at New Car Dealerships Than Independent Repair Shops
By prnewswire.com
Mar 11, 2009, 12:56
Bethesda, MD - March 11, 2009 - /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ - Vehicle
repairs cost an average 34 percent more at new car dealerships than at
independent repair shops, resulting in $11.7 billion in excess costs
annually to consumers, according to a first-of-its-kind study just
released by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).
The study reveals dramatic differences in the costs of parts and
labor between domestic and import vehicle nameplates and from city to
city. Consumers in Los Angeles pay as much as 46.8 percent more at
dealerships than independent repair shops for repairs. The cost to
consumers of specific repairs also varies widely. For example, the
average cost for radiator repair for a foreign nameplate vehicle,
including parts and labor, is $325.99 higher at a dealer than at an
independent shop; and the cost to purchase and install front brake pads
on a foreign nameplate vehicle is $138.92 more at a dealer than at an
independent shop.
AAIA's Vehicle Repair Cost Analysis: Comparing New Car Dealerships
vs. Independents looks at the parts and labor costs of 10 vehicle
repair jobs for domestic and foreign nameplate vehicles in six cities
across the country, including Boston, Newark, Atlanta, St. Louis, Los
Angeles and Seattle.
"In response to repeated requests by congressional leaders studying
the merits of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair legislation,
AAIA commissioned a study to once and for all provide a comprehensive
analysis that validated the contention that it costs consumers more to
repair their vehicle at new car dealerships than at independent repair
shops," said Kathleen Schmatz, AAIA president and CEO.
Highlights of the study include:
- Vehicle repairs for parts and labor averaged 34.3 percent more at new car dealers than at independent repair shops.
- Foreign nameplate repairs performed at dealers averaged 36.8
percent more than at independent repair shops while repairs performed
on domestic nameplates averaged 31.5 percent more at dealerships than
at independent repair shops.
- Total 2008 cost difference for consumers having repair work
performed at car dealers rather than independent repair shops for the
10 jobs equaled 11.7 billion.
Copies of the study are available free to AAIA members. The cost to
non-AAIA members is $400. To obtain a copy, contact Member Services at
301-654-6664 or e-mail aaia@aftermarket.org or visit the association online commerce center at www.aftermarket.org.
About AAIA
AAIA is a Bethesda, Md.-based association whose more than 23,000
members and affiliates manufacture, distribute and sell motor vehicle
parts, accessories, service, tool, equipment, materials and supplies.
Through its membership, AAIA represents more than 100,000 repair shops,
parts stores and distribution outlets.
Source: Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association