How to avoid getting fleeced by garages.

by Central Point Mot Centre Welcome to Central Point MOT Centre, Coventry

‘I recently bought a new car, a fancy brown thing from a reputed brand. Now the thought of its maintenance gives me the jitters. The first scheduled service burnt a hole through my pocket and if things continue with the same way, I will have spent a fortune on its maintenance.’

Sounds familiar?

Many have and many continue to be victims of exorbitant costs when it comes to car maintenance. But, this should not necessarily be the case. There are ways in which one can avoid being charged extra unnecessarily for a normal scheduled maintenance service. So what does it take to ensure that you are not being fleeced?

Do as much as possible yourself.

A car is a machine, complex but a machine nonetheless. It has parts which need to be replaced or changed with time. A lot of these parts can be maintained or changed at home. All you need to do is open the owner’s manual. The manual will not only give you details about the functioning of the vehicle but will also contain information regarding minor repairs and maintenance.

Changing a fused bulb, repairing a puncture, checking the health of oil filters and even the method to change engine oil will be listed in the manual. So check it when you first purchase the vehicle. If however, the instructions appear to be too complex to be followed at home do not fiddle around.

Look for a good garage.

When your vehicle requires a maintenance service be sure to get the work done at a service station with a good reputation. When looking for a garage, the neighbourhood garage may not always be the best option. Before you take your car to any garage make sure to check their ratings online to ensure that they do not overcharge for any of the parts or services. You can also get feedback from previous customers of garages if it is in the neighbourhood.

Check service charges.

Garages have different service charges. So based on the work to be done and the amount of time it will take the service charges will be different. So check up the prices when you visit a garage to avoid hidden charges being heaped on you. Most garages charge according to the hours and lazy work can add piles of service charge.

Get a detailed copy of the job card.

Before you leave the garage premises, you will be given a detailed job card/sheet of all the work that needs to be done on the car. If the service station tries to add jobs without your knowledge to the job card, the copy will come to your rescue. The job card shows all the work that you have authorised to be performed on the vehicle, so anything else will be considered unauthorised and cannot be charged.

Discounts are not always good.

A lot of service stations offer discounts on repairs and regular maintenance services to boost customer foot-fall. However, not all of these deals will be good for your vehicle. Remember there will be garages looking to cut corners so be sure to check all aspects of the deal before you hand your car over.

Prefer garages which give a guarantee for their repair work.

Garages at times give a guarantee on the work they perform on the vehicle. It is good to get your car serviced at such garages as they will ensure good quality work. It is also easier to hold them accountable for shoddy work. So prefer them over normal garages.

Last but not least. Hold garages to the contracts they sign

When garages take possession of the car for repairs or services, they enter a contract with the customer. This contract is a part of the job card and is covered by the supply of goods and services act 1982. If there are any problems with services or hidden charges, overcharging or shoddy work you can hold them to their contract.

For a tension-free and quality service of your vehicle, you can visit Car Service Coventry. Not only do they offer the best services but also compelling prices to their customers. To ensure an MOT compliant vehicle make sure to book a visit to Central Point MOT.