Garage.co.uk has conducted analysis of UK cities to find out which area is the best to be a Mechanic, with one in particular coming out on top.
To help identify the best locations, the online platform considered:
- The percentage of residents in each city, that travel to work by driving a car or van, according to UK census data
- The percentage of households that own/are available to use 1 or more cars or van
- The number of plug-in vehicles in each city
- The average median income in each city, as of 2024
- The combined number of searches in each city for the prompts: “car repair near me” & “mechanic near me”
- The number of garages in each city.
By examining this data, the cities were ranked based on these key factors, providing mechanics and garage owners with insights to help them make informed decisions.
These were the best UK cities to be a mechanic:
| Rank | City | Households with +1 vehicle | No. of Plug-in vehicles per 100k | Avg Annual Income | Search volume | No. of Garages per 100k |
| 1. | Milton Keynes | 82.9 | 1,519 | 35,006 | 2,356 | 108.4 |
| 2. | Northampton | 84.1 | 1,222 | 32,094 | 998 | 112.9 |
| 3. | Bournemouth | 80.6 | 1,012 | 29,712 | 2,790 | 117.1 |
| 4. | Bristol | 73.8 | 760 | 35,212 | 3,904 | 88.9 |
| 5. | Leeds | 71.3 | 868 | 32,330 | 2,275 | 47.7 |
| 6. | Luton | 75 | 748 | 30,705 | 1,251 | 48 |
| 7. | Birmingham | 68.3 | 548 | 32,161 | 3,972 | 56 |
| 8. | Wolverhampton | 71.5 | 545 | 31,202 | 2,376 | 68.8 |
| 9. | Coventry | 72.4 | 584 | 31,058 | 2,994 | 90 |
| 10. | London | 57.9 | 1,344 | 41,581 | 2,012 | 7.4 |
Milton Keynes claimed the top spot as the best UK city to be a mechanic, reportedly due to a combination of factors supporting the trade. With 82.9% of households owning at least one vehicle and 1,519 plug-in vehicles per 100,000 people, there’s a demand for automotive services. The city also boasts an above-average annual income of £35,006, ensuring a solid customer base for mechanics. Additionally, Milton Keynes has a high search volume for automotive services (2,356 searches) and 108.4 garages per 100,000 people, making it a hub for car maintenance and repair businesses.
With car ownership remaining high across the UK, the demand for skilled mechanics shows no signs of slowing down. Cities like Northampton and Milton Keynes have over 80% of households owning at least one vehicle, ensuring a steady flow of customers in need of repairs, servicing, and MOTs. Even in major urban areas like Birmingham and London, where car ownership rates are lower, high search volumes for automotive services highlight the continued reliance on mechanics. As vehicles become more advanced, skilled professionals will remain essential in keeping the nation’s cars on the road, making the industry a stable and rewarding career choice.
