British car owners could see their car bills increase by as much as £100 from next year.
The extra cash may need to be forked out for car repairs as Britain follows European Union (EU) laws to stop independent garages from using cheaper non-branded parts.
This means that when drivers take their cars to be repaired the garage will only be allowed to use on-brand parts that are not necessarily better quality but cost more.
This is unless the UK Government steps in to change the rules that will come in automatically, according to spare part distributors Euro Car Parts.
The companies chief executive Andy Hamilton told the Telegraph: "British drivers risk being driven into a monopoly that will cost them nearly £100 a year and much more in future.”
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) regulator is talking to the UK Government about what to do but, as it stands, the Government would need to get around a post-Brexit agreement with the EU to avoid the changes, which would take place from 2023.
Euro Car Parts estimates this could add an extra £2.4billion to drivers' repair bills every year.
There are around 30,000 independent garages, employing 350,000 people, reports the Mirror.
But despite concerns, a Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy spokesperson said: "The proposed change regarding car parts would not automatically apply to this country as the UK does not automatically follow new EU competition rules.
"The Business Secretary will make a decision on whether the wider rules are beneficial to the UK or need to be changed, following a recommendation from the Competition and Markets Authority and its consultation with the public."
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