More than one million independent garage transactions have now been logged on Garage Hive’s real-time data platform, Garage Industry Trends. The website tracks average invoice value, future bookings, labour rates, net promoter score (NPS) and shows demand for repairs and maintenance by vehicle age and fuel type.
“Reaching one million transactions is a significant moment for us,” said Alex Lindley, Director of Garage Hive. “We now have over two years of data from Garage Hive workshops that have voluntarily shared their business metrics to benefit the industry. This freely available data from Garage Industry Trends provides valuable benchmarks, helping owners and managers evaluate their performance and make informed decisions.”
Over 175 workshops have shared anonymised data through 1,010,000 transactions since Garage Industry Trends launched in September 2022.
The data shows that average labour rates increased by 2.5 per cent in 2024, rising from £74.04 in January to £75.87 by December. Scotland currently boasts the highest average labour rate at £82.04, followed by £77.66 and £69.43 in England and Wales respectively.
Average invoice values grew by 5.3 per cent last year, rising from £285 to £300. Diesel vehicles continued to command the highest average invoice values, with a 2024 average of £342.61, significantly outpacing electric vehicles (EVs) at £227.84.
However, when broken down by vehicle age, a more complex picture emerges. For vehicles registered within the last five years, diesel leads with an average invoice value of £357.48, while EVs are notably lower at £186.69. In contrast, for vehicles older than five years, EVs take the lead, averaging £342.43 per invoice, with petrol vehicles at the bottom at £254.64.
“These figures suggest that EV ownership is notably cost-effective during the first five years of ownership but becomes more expensive as vehicles age,” said Alex. “It will be fascinating to track how these trends evolve over time.”
Alongside opted-in Garage Hive workshop data, ‘MOT Data Trends’ additionally analyses 250 million lines of DVSA MOT data. It played a pivotal role in the government’s January 2024 decision to retain the UK’s 3-1-1 MOT testing regime, aiding the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) in crafting an evidence-based response during the consultation. The outcome was a major victory for road safety and the motor industry.
Garage Industry Trends remains completely free to access and is available for use by all independent garages who wish to unlock actionable insights to drive their businesses forward.
To explore the platform and view the latest industry trends, visit www.garageindustrytrends.com. For more information on how Garage Hive can help workshops improve efficiency and profitability, visit www.garagehive.co.uk.