More than 200 companies throughout Upper Austria were surveyed by the Upper Austrian Chamber of Labor. 117 responses were returned from all districts in the country. “Not all car dealerships have a uniform price,” says the head of the consumer protection department at AKOÖ, Ulrike Weiß.
It is common for VW dealers to charge different mechanic rates for different vehicle types. To put it simply: In a VW Polo, Skoda skala and Seat Ibiza, the mechanics need less special training because, on average, less complicated additional equipment is installed. The work on an Audi A8 with the latest technology has to be done by a better-trained mechanic and that’s why it’s more expensive. The VW Group is far from alone in making this distinction. Different tariff models are also common practice at Mercedes and some Japanese manufacturers.
Image: VOLKER WEIHBOLD
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Image: VOLKER WEIHBOLD
Customers will find the cheapest mechanics on average in the Steyr-Land district. It costs 98 euros per hour. The most expensive mechanics can be found just a few kilometers further, in the town of Steyr: workshop customers have to pay 163 euros per hour with a mechanic. In general, more is required in cities. The range in Upper Austria ranged from 72.50 euros for a company in the Grieskirchen district to 230.18 euros for a workshop in Steyr.
