Quote for my car service

I’ve always used my small, local garage since I got my first ‘exotic’ car. When one of my sports cars was recalled, it had to go to the main dealer. Fresh real coffee, a tin of Quality Street to pick from while waiting and reading the free paper or watching the Bang & Olufson TV!! On a second recall, they gave me a series 5 Beamer for the day …. But, I noticed that the hourly charge for labour was 3 times my local garage - I’d hired barristers for less!!!
Obviously my local place has to pay whatever the spare parts cost and there’s no curtesy car, but I think I get better service and a lower bill.
As for affecting its value - as long as an accredited garage stamps your service book, it shouldn’t make any difference.

For a 5yo car much of its value will have depreciated anyway so I’d go to a local garage. Ask them for an estimate first. The small place Dh uses for his 8yo car is very good and offers courtesy cars. They also do the work faster eg can fit him in for an MOT sooner than the main dealership etc.

I use my garage in the village. They have always been fine, very honest, and also very helpful, plus I can walk home after I drop the car off.

it does not matter where you have the car serviced as long as it is legal. Most car warranties are for 3 years - only certain manufacturers offer 5 and 7 year warrantied and even then you don't need a dealership to provide the service. Have a look on Groupon for car service offers.

We use the local garage over the road fir our 10 year old car which makes delivery and pick up very convenient.
Quite happy with the service, and it supports a local independent family business.

I’ve had my Volvo for 12 years and it’s never let me down, 🤞, and I always had it serviced at the dealership because they threw in free year’s breakdown even for older cars, and thought it a worthwhile cost to keep my car on the road.

However 3 years ago the windscreen washer failed, obviously needed a new pipe connector. Took it into dealership for that small thing and they charged me for putting it on their computer diagnostics. £75 + washer repair. Told them I would never go there again, and have never regretted finding a local recommended garage.

(Dealership reimbursed me after I made a fuss) Over the years I’ve probably paid thousands above what I paid for the car in servicing costs!

We used a non dealership once for our Jeep. Lots of things not done as they didn’t have the knowledge or expertise. Never again

yes I have a skoda and always but always went to the dealership for everything, skoda is 8 years old. I was confident in the dealership until I wanted something replacing and the dealership ducked and dived. I eventually had the radio head replaced by a mobile car electronics person who had worked for dealerships and told me a few of the expensive dodges, including a basic £100 just to link up with a cable to get a diagnostics readout

I dithered a bit but went to a local garage with excellent reviews, less than a mile from home. I had some work done, spark plug change, brake fluid and abs sensor replacement, the car runs marvellously and it cost me less than half what the dealership quoted. Local garage is super busy so I have already booked service and mot with them, end of july

My skoda dealership charged me almost £300 to use that diagnostic cable and replace an abs sensor a few months ago. The other back sensor went and my local garage charged me under £60 for diagnosic plus replacement

It is good to build up a relationship with a local garage. My dealership was a 34 mile round trip and they were only really interested in rip off standard service or selling a new car

My son in law has probably managed every dealership in our city.
If he ever left the trade would he go to a dealership for work on a car, I don’t think so 😉

When we moved here 22 years ago DD recommended the garage she uses. A one man business and he charges for parts with the labour costs kept as low as possible. He MOTs and services all our cars. I took my current car back to the dealership when I thought there was a problem with the accelerator jamming. They charged me £200 for a computer check to tell me it was fine and told me I needed a lot of very expensive work done on the brakes (this on a car they had MOT'd 3 months previously before I bought it!) I took it to our man who said the brakes were fine and they have stayed fine for the next 3 MOTs. Dealership profiteering? I couldn't possibly comment, but I've never been back.

My brother is in the car trade, and he calls them "main stealers"!

Have you considered National Tyres and Autocare? If you do, you might find a voucher to further reduce the cost.

I stuck with the dealership whilst my car was under warranty but ever since, I have gone to a local independent. They charge a fraction of the price, and seem really efficient and helpful, as well as being within walking distance.

After twice having a 2 different main dealer return my car to me in such a dangerous state that on one occasion one of my wheels was close to falling off, among a list of other less dangerous failures, I wouldn't touch a main dealer with a barge pole.

Since then I have always used small local garages. Providing the service record book, usually in your glove compartment, is kept up to date and stamped by the garage, it matters not a jot which garage did the work.

I used to go to my 'major local dealer' (whence I bought the car) - then the penny dropped about just how much of a rip off their prices were (paid for the free coffee and more). Now I go to a local branch of motest-southern.co.uk/ - friendly, polite, and good prices. (No additional charges and flim flam for 'the laydees').

We’ve been using a local man for the last 10 years, he’s trustworthy, honest and keeps us informed, I dread the day he retires.

It doesn’t affect resale value. I used my Audi main dealer as that’s where I bought the car but as, others have said, you pay for the expensive coffee and drinks on tap. Courtesy car and tins of car sweets etc. Service is no different so much more expensive.

As soon as the car has been out of guarantee I have used the same small local garage. They arrived much cheaper and have a very personal service. Knowing my health isn't good they even come and collect my car for it's annual service and MOT. Their charges are extremely fair and to be honest I wouldn't go elsewhere. My friend who actually works for a dealership said she would never use one for her own car as they are a rip off. Small garages normally get their trade by "word of mouth" and would soon go out of business if they weren't any good.

Just to add I took my previous car to Halfords for a big service once and a few weeks later something else happened so took it back. When I went to pick it up the service manager explained that it was low on oil and they’d put 3 litres in and added it to the bill. I pointed out they had supposedly carried out a full service two weeks previously so it couldn’t possibly need oil. He went bright red and stuttered and stammered that it must have developed an oil leak! He removed the extra charge for the oil as the car didn’t have an oil leak. They are notorious for ripping people off, especially women.

Main Stealers VB000 very good
I found the best mechanic by asking the lads at the boxing club.
He is part retired now but keeps my little car on the road. He collects my car and brings it home fixed. The last fix was a light bulb (rear lights) he charged me £5.

I bought the car 2nd hand from the dealership but it is far away and expensive. I will get nothing for the car when I want to change it for a newer model but I've paid for it, my insurance is very reasonable so I shall keep it.

I use a local garage, which was recommended, to do everything for my car (servicing, MOT) and I'm very happy with it. It's about 0.25 miles from my home so I can easily walk to and from it. Once, when I couldn't get my previous old car to start due to a flat battery, a mechanic was deployed to help and no charge was made, despite me being willing to pay.

As long as your garage stamps your service booklet, Bakingmad0203, this is acceptable as a record of its service history for when you sell it. This was enshrined in law under EU legislation.

I use Jim around the corner to prepare my 7 year old Toyota Yaris for MOT. My husband uses him for his 4 year old Toyota Rav. He works out of his own garage and stamps the books for each service. Easy to pay.
Another local one man business repaired the bang in my rear bumper perfectly for £60.
Go local every time. Service is fabulous.

I've used a local garage for several years, he does a basic service when he does the MOT... very trustworthy guy. Always go local if poss.

We have a large independant garage closeby , very good, always busy, his only problem is getting good mechanics.

New cars under warranty it’s best to take it to the dealer, after that there are plenty of workshops that will change the oil for £1-200 depending on the car. Later it’s mostly MOTs, tyres and brakes as needed. It’s more complicated breakdowns that get expensive, so make sure you get an estimate before they start.