But most have NO IDEA what they were for

The average owner has forked out £342 on garage bills over the last 12 months, with more than one in ten paying up to £1,000.

Despite paying for these car repairs, over 60% didn’t understand what the work was for, one in five didn’t even ask what was wrong and almost half said they completely trusted mechanics to just get on with it. Most people don’t even know what gasket material is and what the different materials mean.

As a result, 55 per cent said they felt they had overpaid for mechanical repairs.

The survey of 2,000 UK drivers was conducted by comparethemarket.com to mark the launch of its Jargon Buster, a tool which puts motorists in the driving seat when it comes to understanding auto lingo –  https://www.comparethemarket.com/car-insurance/content/jargon-buster/

The research also showed that a quarter of respondents admitted they had pretended to understand the repairs required, to save time in the garage.

When it came to understanding key driving terms, further roadblocks in driver’s knowledge were revealed;

• One in five (21%) thought MOT stands for Motorised Occupancy Test (Ministry of Transport)
• 30% thought ABS means Advanced braking System (Anti-Lock Braking System)
• Some people believed DVLA is short for Department of Vehicles, Licences and AEROSPACE (Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency)

The survey also showed a baffled 62% of drivers simply avoid the garage entirely and 40% cited their main garage grumble was being overcharged.

John Miles, head of motor, at comparethemarket.com, said: 

“The Jargon Buster is a fantastic resource for those who want to up their knowledge. With hundreds of vehicle phrases and complex terminology being used by motor industry professionals, it’s understandable that many people struggle to understand what they all mean. Our tool helps customers understand fully what it is they are paying for, helping them to avoid overpaying on future fixtures, so they can make their decisions with confidence.”

Research was conducted by OnePoll in August 2017 with 2,000 respondents who have driven in last 5 years and are the registered keeper of a vehicle.

Population estimates calculated using latest figures compiled by the ONS for the number of adults in the UK – 51,767,543 (source)