Replacement vehicles have become a necessary evil for many garages and bodyshops over the years, often adding unwanted costs and reducing job profit. Now workshop owners could face an added cost of having to pay for fuel where a like for like replacement electric vehicle is not available.

With sales very much on the increase, garages and bodyshops are increasingly working on electric vehicles, but if this work entails handing out a free courtesy car, the customer is not always happy about having to pay for their own fuel, where an electric replacement is not available. While in many cases these fuel bills may not amount to much, in some instances, especially if parts are delayed, causing a longer repair time, fuel costs can add up. The workshop is then faced with picking up the bill or having an unhappy customer.  

The problem has been highlighted by UK accident aftercare specialist AX in a new report. Here the problem is compounded when courtesy cars pick up congestion and emission zone charges which would not apply to the driver’s EV.

AX’s recent survey involving over 2,200 motorists revealed that currently only one third of drivers would accept an equivalent petrol or diesel model while their car is being repaired or serviced.