UK drivers claim mechanics have cheated them out of over £800 million
British motorists feel their mechanic is not being entirely honest with them, and could be swindling them out of money.
IT IS one of the oldest stereotypes in modern society: the idea of the shifty mechanic that rips off the naive, unsuspecting motorist.
While most would like to believe that this concept is exactly that, a stereotype, new research has shown that if you ask British drivers, it may not actually be too far off the mark.
A recent survey conducted by car maintenance app company, Engie, has found that British motorists believe they may have been tricked out of over £800 million by their not-so-faithful automotive specialist.
One in seven (14 per cent) claims to have been ripped off when paying for repairs, with the average person cheated out of £155, according to the research.
Engie said the figures suggest 5.4 million British drivers have been overcharged by a total of £833 million.
The poll of 1,300 motorists found that four out of 10 (42 per cent) mistrust mechanics, while 12 per cent believe they have been sold something their vehicles did not need.