Your original car dealership may have a garage for servicing and repairs, but if they don’t it is best to go online to find a garage suitable to undertake the work. You’ll still end up making some phone calls to establish what makes and models they deal with and which parts they hold in stock, particularly if your car is older or even a vintage model. Some garage franchises even offer printable coupons, giving discounts for regular maintenance, oil change and tire purchases.
Choosing the Right Garage
Many garages will only look after particular manufacturers’ car types. Some repair garages handle only luxury automobiles or the service repair garage will merely stock parts for cars which originated in other countries. Whatever the type of your car, you are bound to find a garage dealing with your model, unless your car is a classic or vintage car, in which case you really will need to contact a specialist. A modern service repair garage should be equipped with diagnostic technology for tuning engines, finding problems with brakes or faulty exhausts.
The service repair garage you opt for should have been trading for a number of years, so you can take up references with a number of the garage’s regular customers, if your car is an expensive one and you are worried about the quality of the repairs or security on the premises.
Only fully qualified mechanics should undertake the servicing and repairs. The service repair garage owners are responsible for their workforce’s wellbeing and safety during working hours, so they must display relevant insurance details to that effect.
A reputable service repair garage should have a written complaints procedure and typically will be a member of a trade body representing their industry. This membership is usually displayed alongside the service repair garage’s own logo and you can ask them for contact details and check, if the trade body the service repair garage is a member offers a mediation service, should a future dispute occur.
For the money you pay you expect an excellent job – if the service wasn’t done satisfactorily or the new parts turn out to be faulty, you need to know you will be able to get compensation or the faulty parts are going to be replaced. Only genuine, manufacturers’ warranty parts should be used for repair jobs. Be sure to ask how much labour will cost before booking in your car for service.
Keeping your Head when Disputes Arise
Mistakes happen and your service repair garage employs humans, not robots, so bear that in mind before blowing your top. If you are unhappy with the work or the lack of progress, ask what their complaints procedure is and stick to it. Get everything in writing, follow up telephone conversations with letters or emails detailing what was discussed.
