As a car owner, it’s crucial to understand that your vehicle will require regular maintenance. This could range from servicing to replacing wear and tear items such as discs and pads, bulbs, and wipers to more vital engine components like injectors or fuel pumps. If your car is still under warranty, most significant items, apart from wear and tear items, will be covered. However, if not, you may be facing a substantial bill. In such cases, it’s wise to look around for a range of quotes from reputable garages for peace of mind.

If you purchase a new car from a dealership, then more than likely, you may have a servicing deal with the purchase price thrown in or at a reduced price that will be worth taking.

You can be assured that the dealership will be able to look after your car as well as have all the technology to be able to download any upgrades to the vehicle ECU, and any outstanding recalls will be done as a matter of course, even if you were unaware there was one outstanding. This is the best way to maintain your new car until it has run out of warranty. Then, it may be worth shopping around as main dealership prices can be more expensive than independent garages.

Finding the perfect garage:

Garages and their mechanics/technicians are very much like hairdressers. Once you find one that you trust, you are reluctant to change, but should you need to, it is essential to find a garage that is just as trustworthy, will offer you great value, and, more importantly, will ensure your safety on the road. Word of mouth and recommendations from family and friends have always been reliable ways to find a new garage. However, with the advent of review platforms, it’s now easier to gauge the quality of work from potential new garages. Reading reviews can provide valuable insights and reassurance, helping you make an informed decision about where to take your car for maintenance and repairs.

If your car breaks down on the side of the road or at home and you have a breakdown service, they may make a temporary fix, but they should also tell you what the problem is – if they can diagnose it.  With this information, you can call garages and get prices.  If you have the time, it may be worth calling a parts-only company or visiting them online (i.e. Euro Car Parts) to find the cost of the part; then, you can see how much extra the garage will be charging to fit. 

You may be better positioned to haggle on fitting prices with some additional information, especially with an independent garage. Dealerships are harder to negotiate with as they are often only allowed to use genuine parts, and each part will have a set fitting time. You will, however, find that dealerships will frequently offer free Vehicle Health Checks in a bid to find extra work; you can then use this information to get work done cheaper elsewhere.

It is always a good idea to know what the problem is and the part that needs to be fixed, but if you have no idea what is wrong but there is a light on the dashboard you are unsure about, or the car does not seem right, then diagnostics can be expensive.  Many newer cars’ fault codes can only be read by their own dealerships’ equipment, and usually, the diagnostics will be chargeable even if part of the repair may be warranted. With older cars, independent garages can read their fault codes, and many mobile mechanics with fault readers can tell you where a fault may lie so you can shop around for the cheapest fix.

Quotes:

Always get several quotes for any maintenance or repair, and always ask for prices for genuine and non-genuine parts so you can see the best option for yourself.  While you are asking for a quote, it may also be worth finding out if there are any discounts available on servicing, tyres, or MOTs if your car is due, as getting things done together will always bring costs down.

If you choose to go with a garage with good reviews, reasonable pricing, and discounts for regular maintenance, you will not feel that you are being ripped off. You will also find that a regular mechanic will look all over your car and spot any signs of wear that could be missed otherwise.