The motor repair sector is failing to attract young workers, triggering a shortage of mechanics and risking an increase in repair costs for drivers, a new report warns.
Almost three quarters of professionals within the industry said it is taking longer to fix vehicles because of a staffing crisis that could soon cause a spike in garage bills.
A survey of 220 garages across the country, conducted by mobile repair platform ClickMechanic, found a nationwide struggle recruiting the next generation of car technicians is risking the future of the sector.
Existing mechanics are also growing increasingly concerned they will be forced to delay their own retirement as a result of ongoing financial pressures linked to running businesses.
If the current shortage continues, mechanics believe it could have significant consequences for motorists in the years ahead.
Two-thirds believe repair costs will rise, while a third warn that pressure on workshops could increase the risk of rushed or poor-quality repairs.
Drivers are being warned they could be stung with higher vehicle repair bills due to a shortage of mechanics nationwide as the industry is failing to attract younger workers
Some respondents also fear wider structural impacts, with one in three predicting the closure of some local garages and a quarter suggesting more vehicles may be written off unnecessarily.
Seven in ten garages told the study that recruiting mechanics under the age of 25 has become difficult, while more than a third describe attracting a younger profile of staff is now 'very difficult'.
This is because three quarters of respondents believe the automotive repair industry has become less attractive to young people over the past five years.
At the same time, apprenticeships remain relatively uncommon across much of the sector.
The research found more than four in five garages are not currently training an apprentice.
Just 18 per cent of the garages said they were mentoring one or more apprentices at the time the study was conducted.
Mechanics say several barriers are discouraging young people from pursuing careers in the trade.
More than half pointed to the cost of tools and training as a major obstacle.
However, perceptions of low pay were cited by 43 per cent of businesses, while two fifths said the industry's image is a deterrent.
A further 36 per cent believe many young people simply lack awareness of the long-term career benefits the profession can offer.
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Andrew Jervis, chief executive of ClickMechanic, said: 'The automotive repair industry is facing a growing skills gap.
'Garages are struggling to bring in younger technicians at the same time as many experienced mechanics are approaching retirement.'
He warned: 'If that trend continues, the industry could face a real shortage of skilled workers in the years ahead.'
The report is a fresh blow to Britain's drivers who are already seeing an escalation in repair bills.
Recent analysis of warranty claims suggests there has been a sharp spike in the cost of both vehicle parts and labour in the last 12 months.
Some repairs are costing 23 per cent more, and many drivers face a 'postcode lottery' of prices.
The average hourly labour rate has risen by five per cent in a year, and the average total repair bill is now an inflation-busting eight per cent higher, says Warranty Solutions Group (WSG).
It blamed once relatively straightforward jobs increasingly requiring diagnostic equipment, software resets or specialised parts, which extend repair times and inflate labour charges.
Everyday repair jobs seeing significant year-on-year price increases include braking systems, suspension components, electrical faults and problems related to sophisticated ADAS electronic driver-assistance systems including lane-assist sensors, it said.
'Even minor issues such as alternators, coil springs, batteries and wheel-speed sensors are more costly and more common than they were 12 months ago,' WSG told Daily Mail and This is Money.
Analysis of claims also found that labour costs have risen by 8 per cent over the last 12 months - faster than the UK inflation rate.
The average charge for labour relating to battery replacements has risen from around £90 to £96, it said.
Average repair times for jobs requiring specialist electronic and diagnostic tools have also increased in a year, which is extending how long vehicles are being kept in garages as well as pushing bills higher.
Parts inflation also continues to bite, with some manufacturers seeing double-digit rises in component costs over the past 12 months.
It means motorists paying 'noticeably more' for the same hour of workshop time than they were a year ago, adding between £20 and £40 to many routine repairs, says the WSG report.
Garages pointed to the excessive cost of tools and training as a major obstacle for young people entering the sector. A perception of low pay is also a common barrier
A workforce under pressure to stay in the job longer
The research suggests the industry's existing workforce is now facing mounting pressures to delay their retirement.
Some 42 per cent of mechanics quizzed said they expect to work beyond their planned retirement age, while only a quarter believe they will retire when originally planned.
The survey also highlights the lack of diversity within the profession. Nine in ten garages say they do not employ or regularly work with a female mechanic.
Respondents identified several barriers that may be preventing more women from entering the trade, including a lack of applicants (63 per cent), concerns about the industry's image (55 per cent), and pay expectations.
Jervis added: 'There's also a clear opportunity for the industry to broaden the talent pool.
'Encouraging more women and people from different backgrounds to consider careers as mechanics could play an important role in addressing the skills shortage while helping modernise perceptions of the profession.'
Shortfall of EV-qualified mechanics to bite from 2032
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has in recent years been warning of a lack of mechanics with the required qualifications to work on cars powered by batteries and electric motors.
Its latest report conducted at the end of the third quarter in 2025 found thar just one in four technicians are accredited to work on EVs.
'With the distribution of skills across the UK geographically uneven and concentrated in the franchise dealer market, the growing population of electric car drivers are likely to find it harder to get their vehicles serviced and repaired by qualified experts, especially in certain areas of the UK,' it said.
Emma Carrigy, head of research, policy and inclusion at the IMI, said without a significant acceleration in training, the gap between the number of EV-trained technicians and those required will 'widen dangerously in the next five to ten years'.
She added: 'With training levels varying significantly between employers and regions, with independent workshops often less able to invest ahead of demand, there is a strong risk of a postcode lottery as the second-hand EV market grows.'
The IMI forecasts there being a shortfall of qualified mechanics to work on EVs by 2032
Based on current trends, IMI forecasts that the number of EV-qualified technicians rising over the next decade to reach around 137,000 by 2032 and 193,000 by 2035.
However, demand is expected to grow faster than new certifications, with the gap between supply and demand currently set to widen sharply in the early 2030s.
Shortfalls are due to emerge from 2033 onwards and increasing year-on-year, reaching more than 44,000 technicians by 2035.
'It is now too late for even sustained growth in certification to fully close the gap,' Carrigy explains.
'With the end of sales of new petrol and diesel cars fast approaching, employers need to act now to ensure they’re ready for the growing EV car parc.
'If drivers face delays for repairs to their EVs they will make their frustration heard and it will put off other would-be EV-switchers with the environmental benefits of zero-emissions mobility unnecessarily delayed.'
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Car repair costs may rise significantly due to a critical shortage of young mechanics entering the industry.
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This threatens essential vehicle maintenance access and could force rushed repairs or unnecessary write-offs.
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Over 80% of garages currently train no apprentices, while experienced mechanics delay retirement.