Whats a reasonable cost per mile charged by a garage?

[pidsy]

Because i think i have just been stiffed.

One of my cars has just been dropped off after some fairly minor work (sensor replacement). The bill came to quite a lot more than i was expecting. Looking at the invoice, i have been charged approx £2.46 per mile.

Bear in mind that the car drove and i only used this company (apparently one of the UK's most reputable) because they could look at it quicker than my usual garage.

This is not a moan or a bhing session (yet) - i am just curious to see what you would deem acceptable if you hadn't been given an option.

[Roo]

Charged per mile for what?

[pidsy]

Picking my car up and dropping it back. 2 days late too.

[danjama]

I'd rather pick up my own car. How many miles was it? Whos fault was it the car was late?

[HustleRussell]

Did they drive the car or use a recovery truck? Most decent garages I know drop off a courtesy car and take away/return the repaired car F.O.C.

[wemorgan]

I've heard of £1-1.50/mile as being typical.
I would imagine quite a bit higher for cities and especially London ie. how much time would it take to cover 1 mile in central London?

[Roo]

If I book a flat bed to pick a car up for me I get charged £1 per mile in each direction, plus £30 call out plus VAT.

So if a car was 100 miles from it would cost me £276 just to get it collected. The same again if I delivered it back.

[Gaspode]

Assuming they drove your car at an average of 30mph, this implies a charge rate of £73.50 an hour. Are they charging you full labour rates to fetch and deliver your car?

[Fubar1977]

Seems very steep to me.
I had mine recovered by a garage last year and it was around £1.20/mile.

[pidsy]

danjama said:

I'd rather pick up my own car. How many miles was it? Whos fault was it the car was late?

Theirs. Meant to be back thursday night. Then last night, then this morning.
Turned up at 13.45.

[pidsy]

HustleRussell said:

Did they drive the car or use a recovery truck? Most decent garages I know drop off a courtesy car and take away/return the repaired car F.O.C.

Taken away on a trailer.

The FOC bit has been my previous experience using other garages. Thats why i questioned the cost.

The most annoying thing is that the car had an intermittant fault. I was told by them that they would cone down, plug it in, diagnose it and we'd go from there.

Guy turns up with no diagnostic reader leaving me no choice but let them take it. Their reputation amongst the forums for that car is generally good. The specialist i usually use are really busy so coulnt look at it until next week. I needed it fixed asap so off it went.

I fell for it and got mugged!!

[smiffy180]

Don't complain, I got charged £50 for a mile.

[rigga]

pidsy said:

The most annoying thing is that the car had an intermittant fault. I was told by them that they would cone down, plug it in, diagnose it and we'd go from there.

Guy turns up with no diagnostic reader leaving me no choice but let them take it.

Yes you did, you just chose not to exercise that choice.

[pidsy]

Very true. Hence i said i wasnt ranting or moaning about it.

Ive got the car back, its got a new yaw sensor and it works.

I was just curious as every other garage i have used have included transport foc or given the option of a loan car. Ive learnt not to use them again.

[JonnyFive]

How far are we talking?

Was it a 'I need it collected by tomorrow afternoon' job or was it a 'pick it up whenever you're available' job?

[pidsy]

JonnyFive said:

How far are we talking?

Was it a 'I need it collected by tomorrow afternoon' job or was it a 'pick it up whenever you're available' job?

i needed it done reasonably quickly but i wasnt in desparate need.

anyway, it is what it is. its all sorted now. i wont use them again.