Are warranties warranted?

As the average age of cars and the cost of fixing them rise, aftermarket cover is growing in popularity.

- JOHN EVANS

The nation's cars are getting older. According to the RAC Foundation, their average age is almost 10 years, an increase of 2.5 years on 2015.

A couple of reasons: it's becoming more expensive to change from an older car to a newer one and the rising cost of living is forcing household budgets to be diverted elsewhere. Another is the perception that cars are now more reliable and better made.

However, while they may no longer rust so quickly, modern cars do break down, no matter how well serviced they are.

Common failures include the traditional weak spots of timing chains, differentials, gearboxes and shock absorbers. And there are some newer villains too, including diesel particulate filters, wet belts, mechatronic systems and high-voltage coolant heater and air conditioning pipes - and this is before we include EVs, with their own fallibilities.

At the same time, parts are becoming more expensive. Owing to supply chain disruptions and increases in the cost of raw materials, their prices have risen by around 35% since 2020. Fitting them is also getting pricier.

According to a survey by What Car?, the average garage labour rate two years ago was £76. Since then it must surely have increased, due to wage inflation, increases in employment taxes and rising energy costs.

What can owners of older cars do to protect themselves from rising repair bills? Having your car serviced each year can help identify problems before they become expensive, but often faults occur unexpectedly.