Servicing and repairs

Keep your car in good nick in the long term and avoid the frustration, stress and inconvenience of breakdowns. There's also a financial benefit to looking after your car.
A car with a full service history could be worth more when you decide to sell it. Servicing your car might seem like a mission and there's also the cost to consider. Use the handy tips below to help you navigate the oily world of car services.
Go independent If your car is still under the manufacturer's warranty, you don't have to use a franchised dealer for your service. New rules introduced by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in May 2004, gives consumers the right to choose any garage they want to service their car. Provided the garage complies with manufacturer schedules, standards, and uses manufacture parts when necessary.
Use a certified garage Use a garage that is affiliated with a trusted industry organisation like OFT. These garages have to abide by a code of conduct and provide a minimum level of training and facilities. The Retail Motor Industry Federation website allows you to 'Find a Service' that locates member garages in your area. The Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association (VBRA) (bodywork repairs) also has a 'Find Member' service on its website. The only independent network of servicing garages is the Unipart Car Care Centre. Visit their website for a list of 1500 accredited garages.
Use an uncertified garage If you'd rather go the unofficial route, pump your friends, family and colleagues for information. Personal recommendations are often a great way of finding a garage that won't charge you an arm and a leg and still produce good work. Or, you could do some research online. Use bulletin boards on motoring websites to swop information with other car owners. If the option is available to you, join a reputable car club. The Porsche Club GB and the BMW Driver's Club have good reputations for putting members in touch with specialist servicing outlets.
How to deal with a garage There are a few things you need to watch out for: • Being charged for oil by the litre • Not replacing parts • Doing more work than asked • Being charged by the book - this is when the manual states it takes four hours to complete a particular job but the mechanic completes it in two. However, you are still charged for four hours.
The easiest way to avoid the pitfalls of servicing your car is to get a written quote. If the quote seems high, get a second and third quote from other garages in your area. Read the quote and check what you are being charged for. Are labour costs, parts and VAT included? It's also important to check if workmanship and parts are guaranteed.
• There is a manufacturer's helpline you can call to find out repair/service times and what should be replaced so that the garage doesn't do any unauthorised extra work. • Buy your own oil. If you can buy oil cheaper somewhere else, you are within your rights to do so. • Give the garage a written explanation of the work that needs to be done • Ask them to contact you if there is additional work to be done • Ask for a fully itemised bill and clarification of any sundry items • Inspect the parts that have been replaced to ensure that they actually have
By using our helpful tips, services and repairs on your car need no longer be a headache. Just remember that car insurance is another item you shouldn't skimp on.

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For a car insurance quote and more information about the types of motor car insurance available from Churchill, visit www.churchill.com/motor/car_insurance.htm