Running cost – Repairs
Repair costs are the least predictable part of running a car, but they are not entirely a lottery. A repairs estimate looks at the work a car is likely to need in the near future – typically wear-and-tear items such as tyres, brake pads and discs, suspension components, exhausts and batteries – and puts an approximate price on it. Unlike servicing, which follows a fixed schedule, repairs arrive when parts wear out or break.
Using MOT advisories to see repairs coming
The best free predictor of upcoming repair bills is the car’s MOT history. When a car passes its MOT with advisories, the tester is telling you which parts are on their way out: tyres close to the legal 1.6mm tread limit, brakes wearing thin, corroded brake pipes, deteriorating suspension bushes and the like. An advisory this year is very often a failure – and a bill – next year. Reading through the last few years of MOT results gives you a realistic repairs forecast for that specific car, not just the model in general.
Why it matters when buying a used car
Two identical-looking cars at the same price can carry very different repair liabilities. One may have fresh tyres, new brakes and a clean advisory sheet; the other may need several hundred pounds of work within months. Before buying, list any current advisories and recent failures, get rough quotes for the outstanding items, and use the total to negotiate on price or walk away. As a rule of thumb, older and higher-mileage cars need a larger annual repair budget, and premium brands usually cost more per job.
You can review a car’s complete MOT failure and advisory record as part of a car history check before you view it.