The Real Cost of Truck Maintenance in the UK (2025) — What Fleet Owners Need to Know
- The Scottish Tech Fleet Support
- Nov 26
- 3 min read
Running an HGV in the UK has never been cheap, but in 2025 the cost of keeping trucks on the road has risen sharply. Whether you operate a single lorry or manage a full fleet, maintenance is now one of the biggest pressures on transport businesses. Understanding where these costs come from — and how to control them — can make the difference between profit and loss.
At The Scottish Tech Fleet Support, we see the impact of rising maintenance expenses every day. Here’s a breakdown of the key factors driving costs in 2025, and how smart fleet management can keep your vehicles earning instead of sitting in a workshop.
1. Rising Cost of Parts and Components
Global supply chain issues, inflation, and increased demand for specialist HGV components have pushed up prices across the board:
Brake systems and air components
Emissions-related parts (DPF, SCR, NOx sensors)
Suspension and steering components
Electrical modules and ECUs
Many common parts have increased by 10–30% over the last 18 months. For older vehicles, emissions-system failures remain the most expensive and most frequent repairs.
2. Labour Rates Are Increasing
Skilled HGV technicians are in short supply throughout the UK. Workshop labour rates have risen as a result, and dealership prices are at an all-time high. Many operators now prefer independent specialists to avoid long waiting times and high hourly rates.
24-hour mobile repair services — like ours — have become a vital lifeline for fleets wanting fast, cost-effective support without towing or downtime.
3. Emissions Technology = Higher Repair Bills
Euro 6 trucks are cleaner, but they’re also more complex. More sensors, more electronics, and more diagnostics mean repairs take longer and require specialist equipment.
Common expensive issues include:
AdBlue dosing faults
DPF blockages or regeneration failures
EGR and turbo problems
NOx sensor failures
Running trucks on short, urban routes can make these problems even worse.
4. Tyres and Routine Wear Items Are More Expensive
Tyres remain one of the most frequent and costly consumables. Prices for premium HGV tyres rose again in 2025 due to manufacturing and transport costs. Brake pads, discs and airbags have seen similar increases.
Regular inspections and load-correct inflation are key to stretching tyre life something we routinely assist with during fleet checks.
5. Downtime Is the Hidden Expense
The most expensive part of a breakdown isn’t the part or the labour…
It’s the hours lost:
Missed delivery slots
Driver pay for idle time
Contract penalties
Replacement vehicle hire
A truck off the road can cost a business hundreds sometimes thousands of pounds per day.
This is why proactive maintenance and fast mobile repair cover are essential in 2025.
6. How to Control Maintenance Costs in 2025
Here are six proven strategies we recommend to customers:
✔️ 1. Schedule regular preventive inspections
Catch issues early and avoid major failures.
✔️ 2. Use trusted, high-quality parts
Cheap parts fail faster — costing more in the long run.
✔️ 3. Keep emissions systems healthy
Perform regular diagnostics and forced regens when needed.
✔️ 4. Train drivers to spot early warning signs
Dashboard lights, performance changes, and unusual noises matter.
✔️ 5. Use mobile 24-hour repair services
This minimises downtime and avoids recovery/towing charges.
✔️ 6. Track maintenance history for each vehicle
Spot repeat issues, identify problem trucks, and plan replacements.
The Scottish Tech Fleet Support, Helping You Reduce Costs 24/7
We support fleets across Scotland 24 hours a day, providing mobile breakdown repair, diagnostics, servicing, and emergency support all aimed at reducing your operating costs and keeping your trucks moving.
Whether you run a single tipper or a full fleet of artics, reliable maintenance is essential in today’s industry. If you want to cut downtime, manage repair costs and keep your fleet earning, we’re ready to help.
📞 07821056136
The Scottish Tech Fleet Support — Keeping Scotland’s trucks moving, day and night.
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