Every year, UK drivers spend a collective £34.9 billion on car maintenance and repairs. And every year, millions of them walk away from the garage wondering the same thing: did I just get ripped off?
According to recent surveys, 80% of UK drivers feel they have been overcharged by a mechanic at some point. The problem isn't necessarily dishonesty--it's information asymmetry. When your dashboard lights up with a warning, you have two options: panic, or Google a cryptic code like "P0301" and wade through forum threads written by and for people who rebuild engines as a hobby.
Neither option is particularly helpful if you just need to know three things: What's wrong? How much will it cost? Is it safe to drive?
That's the gap CarX was built to fill.
A New Kind of Car App
CarX is an iOS app that connects to any car manufactured after 1996 via an inexpensive Bluetooth OBD-II adapter--the kind you can pick up for around £15 on Amazon. Plug the adapter into the diagnostic port under your steering wheel, tap Quick Scan in the app, and within five seconds you have a complete picture of your car's health.
But here's what makes CarX different from every other OBD app on the market: it speaks plain English.
Instead of "P0301 - Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected," CarX tells you: "Your engine has a misfire in cylinder 1. This is usually caused by a worn spark plug or a faulty ignition coil. Estimated repair cost: £80-£220. You can continue driving short distances, but book a garage visit within the next week."
The Problem Runs Deep
The UK's relationship with car repairs is broken in several fundamental ways. Drivers have no reliable way to verify the price they're being quoted. They can't confirm whether work was actually carried out. And they struggle to distinguish between a £50 fix and a £500 one because the fault code system was never designed for consumers.
Existing diagnostic apps haven't solved this. They were built for enthusiasts--people who know what "short fuel trim" means and can interpret a live data stream of oxygen sensor voltages. For the 33 million everyday drivers in the UK, these apps are just as confusing as the dashboard warning light itself.
"We didn't build CarX for people who already know what's wrong with their car. We built it for the other 90%--the people who just want a straight answer in plain English, with a price attached."
-- Raza Sharif, CEO, CyberSecAI Ltd
How It Works
A Severity System Designed for Humans
Every fault CarX finds is categorised into one of four severity tiers, each with a clear colour code and recommended action. No ambiguity, no percentages--just clear direction.
Your Opportunity
The UK automotive aftermarket is worth £34.9 billion annually, yet it remains one of the least transparent consumer markets in the country. Platforms like Checkatrade have brought some accountability to home services, but car repairs remain stubbornly opaque. Nobody can prove what was done under the bonnet--or whether it was done at all.
CarX addresses this gap from the consumer side first: arm drivers with knowledge before they enter the garage. But the roadmap extends further. Phase 2 introduces verified repairs--a before-and-after OBD comparison that creates an objective record of what changed in the car's systems after a garage visit. This is something no platform in the UK currently offers.
There are 33 million cars on UK roads. Every single one of them has a diagnostic port. And every single driver deserves to understand what's happening with their car without needing a mechanical engineering degree.
What's Next
CarX is live on the App Store now, with an Android version in development. The team is focused on three immediate priorities: expanding the verified repairs feature, building partnerships with garages and dealer networks who want to offer transparent diagnostics to their customers, and rolling out fleet management capabilities for businesses.
"We're not anti-mechanic. We're anti-confusion. The best garages in the country will welcome an informed customer walking through the door with a CarX report, because it means faster diagnosis, clearer communication, and more trust."
-- Raza Sharif, CEO, CyberSecAI Ltd
About CyberSecAI Ltd
CyberSecAI Ltd is a UK-based technology company focused on building intelligent tools that make complex systems understandable for everyday people. CarX is the company's flagship consumer product. The company also develops ProofX, a digital content protection platform used by creators worldwide.
Press Contact
Raza Sharif, CEO
contact@askcarx.com
askcarx.com
