People looking to finance a new car might need to factor in the hight costs of servicing their vehicle, as a report reveals the rip-off prices charged by some garages.

Every driver is paying around £150 a year more than they should on car repairs and servicing, suggests research from the National Consumer Council (NCC).

This adds greater financial burden to the consumer looking to finance a new car.

The garage industry has long been bad news for consumers, commented the chairman of the NCC Lord Whitty.

The NCC are now striving to get a better deal for consumers and have written a plan to action to stop car owners being ripped off.

People looking to finance a new car could be given some peace of mind over the potential costs of paying for repairs if the NCC plan is successful in securing higher standards in garages and fair prices.

A deadline of September 2007 has been given to the government and the NCC wants to see an approved code of practice for the industry developed by then.

Our message to industry - is sign up now to these initiatives, and make a positive difference for consumers, concluded Lord Whitty.

Consumers looking to finance a new car can compare loan lenders online to get the best value for money. Shopping online for a cheap insurance quote could also mean some repair work on your vehicle could be covered by your car insurance policy.