A £22,954 payout for a replacement engine and gearbox on a 2020 Audi was the largest single claim handled by RAC Warrant last year, underlining the growing cost of major mechanical failures.
The claim reflects a broader pattern of higher value repairs as the UK car parc continues to age. According to Lee Coomber, cars have been getting older since the pandemic due to reduced supply and cost of living pressures, both of which have influenced warranty trends.
He said: “Failure of larger items such as engines and gearboxes obviously become more likely as cars age while at the same time, the price of everything from labour rates to parts has been increasing, sometimes dramatically.”
Electrical systems topped the list of the 10 most common claim categories, followed by:
Engine
Front suspension and hubs
Cooling system
Body exterior
Fuel system
Brakes
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
Body interior
Exhaust system
Claims for electrified vehicles also rose. Hybrid claims increased from 1.5% to 3.1%, while battery electric vehicle claims grew from 0.7% to 1.4%, reflecting rising adoption.
For support with managing rising repair costs, visit RAC, a FleetWise Trusted Brand offering vehicle warranty protection for drivers and fleets.