Bharat SainiLast Updated on April 22, 2023 by Bharat Saini
When it comes to your car, it makes a lot of sense to look after it. A big part of this will be to make sure it gets the best possible MOT and service you can find for the fairest price, of course. While an MOT is a legal requirement for most vehicles, a service is not. However, the two generally complement each other and a service enhances the general health of the vehicle. So, how do you make sure the one you’re paying for is up to the task? Here’s how.
Ignore the Too Good to be True Deals
If your first thought is ‘What’s the catch?’, this is a good sign that you should do a few extra checks. If someone is offering you an MOT and service package for £30, you know that it can’t be a top-tier provision because a service tends to cost upwards of £100 regardless of the make and model of the vehicle. This is more of a fair price for an MOT by itself, so be aware of the scams and how to spot them before you book anything or part with any cash.
Find a Centre with a Great Reputation
The easiest ways to spot a reputable MOT Birmingham garage are by looking at the reviews and brand presence online and in the local community. When a company is good, people will want to talk about it and share positive vibes with other potential customers. It is human nature to recommend the good and warn against the bad so that is reason enough to read up and listen out.
Get to Know the Process
These things will be far easier to navigate if you understand what’s at stake. There are plenty of tasks you can do before the MOT takes place to help your vehicle pass, but you need to know what those are. For instance, make sure your tyres are pumped up to the correct pressure, there is washer fluid in the windscreen tank and the wiper blades are all up to standard. These three simple things will be the difference between it having to be retested and it sailing through. When you know how these basic things work, you will be able to find a better service to carry the task out.
Don’t Hesitate to Ask Questions
If you’re ever unsure about something, just ask! The garage will either answer you or dismiss your concern, but either way, you will get a better sense of how they handle the job. Your car or van, etc., is important, after all, and so is the MOT. So, if you want to know the answer to a burning question, make sure you find out one way or another.
Test Drive Customer Service
Take a close look at the customer service options, because this is where you will be able to tell the most about whether or not the business deserves your car. For instance, how do they handle complaints? Is there a clear policy aimed at finding resolution, or is there no write-up at all about what to do if you’re not completely satisfied with what’s been done? These things are important because you don’t want to pay for something if there are no clear lines of communication.
Ask for Word of Mouth Recommendations
Asking trusted family and friends for their go-to garage is a tried and tested method for finding a great quality product. People are far less likely to recommend a place that doesn’t live up to a high standard because they won’t want the social consequences, and this is the most direct source for finding the hidden gems close to home.
Trust Your Instincts
Above all else, learn to listen to your instincts. For some people, this comes quite naturally and others have to learn how to do it. There will always be certain ways to tell if something doesn’t feel right, and given that there are a lot of false promises out there in the world of car maintenance, it’s good to go in a little guarded at least.
Ensuring your car gets a good quality MOT and service is just one of those jobs you have to do as a responsible owner. It is an asset, after all, and therefore something worth the investment and energy. The more you look after it, the longer it should last.
