Owning a car can be expensive but while running costs can be planned for a hefty repair bill at the wrong time can seriously hit your wallet. Read on for our guide to finding the right garage to repair your car, and for advice on keeping the cost down.
Choosing a good garage
Try to look for a garage that has membership of a code of conduct that they work towards. Ask the opinions of other customers or search out independent reviews online to get an idea of recent customer experience.
Our network of Approved Garages was set up to help motorists find good quality and reliable garages. With over 700 Approved Garages across the country you’ll always be in safe hands. As well as offering a range of products and services, our Approved Garages also provide a whole host of garage services for vehicle maintenance and repair including vehicle repairs, tyre fitting, vehicle diagnostics and air conditioning servicing.
RAC Approved Garages all work towards our Customer Charter so that you can be sure of honest pricing, quality work and exceptional customer service that’s jargon free. Find your nearest RAC Approved Garage and book your car service today.
Getting a quote
Although phoning around to get an idea of price is a good idea, a decent garage will inspect the vehicle for you so that you can get an accurate quote for parts and labour.
Ask for a written quote and make sure it includes parts, labour and VAT. Check that the garage uses manufacturer approved or original parts, or if not, those of ‘equivalent quality’, so you don’t invalidate any remaining warranty on your car.
Keeping costs down
Expensive repair bills is one of the main reasons people choose to buy a vehicle warranty, which will cover car repairs should anything go wrong. Last year alone RAC Warranty paid over £4.6m in repair bills, to keep our customers motoring. An RAC Warranty protects all makes and models of vehicle and with three main levels of cover RAC can offer you a warranty to suit your needs and your pocket.
Aside from spreading the cost with a warranty package, regular maintenance is the best cost saving advice. Regular car servicing helps to ease wear and tear by highlighting faults before they cause major damage as well as improving fuel efficiency to maximise fuel savings.
Common repair faults
The RAC assisted at 2.2 million breakdowns in 2015. The most common breakdown faults that resulted in our patrols towing customers to a garage were:
-
Clutch - Assembly
-
Alternator
-
Cylinder Head Gasket
-
Cambelt
-
Water Pump
-
Alternator/Fan Belt
-
Starter Motor
-
Clutch - Slave Cylinder
-
Drive Shaft
-
Radiator
If you’re concerned about a problem with your vehicle, our Approved Garages offer a range of services to help you. We have over 700 garages nationwide that can provide vehicle repairs, tyre fitting, vehicle diagnostics and air conditioning servicing.
Search online for your nearest RAC Approved Garage.