Drivers face £70 fee... just to change a car lightbulb

HOW many pounds does it take to change a car’s lightbulb? More than £70, if you own a Mazda 3.

A survey into the fees charged by garages for the simple job found that drivers were paying ‘exorbitant’ sums – with the executive Japanese car top of the list.

Motoring magazine Auto Express, which releases the survey today, says thousands of drivers remain in the dark about the rip-off. It found that while some garages charged nothing, the average price quoted was £22.77.

Drivers of the same model can even face widely different charges for the same service at different dealerships – with the widest price disparity at £45.

The magazine tested lightbulb fees for 50 of the most popular cars in the UK. The highest price was £71.99 for a Mazda 3, followed by £69.46 for a Mini Cooper One. A

‘It’s really no joke’

BMW 1 Series cost £56.26 while it was £50 for a Nissan Qashqai.

Fitting fees for the Hyundai i10, Range Rover Evoque, Renault Captur, Seat Leon, Ford Ka and Dacia Sandero were all under £50, ranging between £48 and £36.80.

Nissan’s Qashqai returned the biggest price disparity between dealers at £44.60 – with fees starting at £5.40 and peaking at £50.

Volkswagen was the ‘most consistent’, with every dealer contacted quoting £16.40.

Criticising the ‘startling difference’ in prices, Auto Express editor Steve Fowler said: ‘It sounds like a new take on an classic old joke. But it’s really no joke.’

The magazine said ‘premium brand’ cars performed worst, and urged drivers to try a local, independent garage. Halfords offers a service f rom £ 7, the report noted. Car industry regulator Motor Codes urged drivers to shop around.