Portsmouth’s Jack Halstead named as RAC Mobile Mechanic of the Year

A vehicle service and repair technician who has been with the RAC for just two years has won the prestigious ‘RAC Mobile Mechanic of the Year’ award.

Jack Halstead, 30, from Portsmouth, has 14 years’ of experience working on cars, but it was his strong work ethic and willingness to go above and beyond for customers that won him the title which was given to him at the RAC’s annual awards ceremony at Silverstone, the legendary home of the British Grand Prix and MotoGP events.

The RAC Mobile Mechanics service – launched in June 2023 – saves customers the hassle of visiting a garage by getting the repairs done on their driveway instead.

Jack, who is a mobile service and repair technician for the RAC, belongs to the UK’s largest high‑skilled mobile repair fleet operating nationwide, with the ability to complete a wide variety of repairs at home, whether that’s fitting new brake pads and discs or replacing a spring that’s failed after hitting a pothole.

He said: “I’m thrilled to have won the RAC Mobile Mechanic of the Year award. I love servicing and repairing customers’ cars at their homes or workplaces. It’s so much more interesting than my previous experience working in garages.

“One of my favourite aspects of the role is repairing customers’ cars. ​ Many households just have the one car, so when it’s off the road, their freedom is taken away. I love being able to investigate and diagnose the fault. Some customers like to wander outside to see their car being repaired on their driveway, and I’m able to show them what the issue is, something I didn’t get the chance to do when I worked in garages. It helps build a sense of trust between you and the customer because they can see what’s wrong with their car, and they know you’re doing your level best to fix it so that they can carry on going about their day.”

Jack also enjoys working with the RAC’s Motability Assist customers.

“Disabled people and the elderly in particular rely on their cars to get around, so life can be tough when their car is off the road. It’s satisfying being able to repair their cars while they wait in the comfort of their homes,” he said.

Jack likes to make sure that the RAC’s customers of all ages are looked after.

“I’ve had instances where I’ve gone round to repair a family’s car, and the children are autistic, and they find it quite scary seeing a new person, and when the car is off the road, it messes up their routine. I like to get them involved in the repair process and show them what I’m doing to make them feel more at ease,” he said.

Jack’s interest in cars comes from a young age, after watching his dad fix engines when he was a child.

He said: “I’ve always been interested in cars. I remember tinkering with engines with my dad, who was a recovery mechanic in the army. As soon as I was old enough, I learnt to drive.

“My dad’s so proud that I’ve won this award, and I can’t wait to drive around in the new VW Transporter with the prestigious SM21 RAC numberplate.”

RAC Mobile Mechanic lead technician in the western region Bradley Burrowes said: “This award is so well deserved. Jack’s my go-to-guy for pretty much everything – if I need a hand with something, he’ll always help out.

“He consistently owns every challenge, stepping in without being asked and giving his own time to support colleagues and members. He raises standards, supports vulnerable people, and prevents unnecessary delays, making a lasting positive impact across the RAC Mobile Mechanic division.”