Using Professionals

If you don't want to do the work yourself, a garage will do it for you. Ask friends and neighbours for their recommendations. It can be worth paying a bit more for a reliable garage with a good reputation, rather than going for a cheaper quote at a dodgy garage. Of course if your car is under warranty, an authorized dealer is another option.

For a specific job such as new tyres or exhaust, a specialist fitting centre fits the bill. Wherever you go, get a quote in writing and see that all you need is included in the price.

Problem Sharing

Explain your problem eloquently to the garage and you could save yourself money because the more information they have, the more likely they are to get to the root of the problem. Make sure that you get a firm price for the job so you don't get hit with a bigger bill than you imagined. The staff will probably ask you:

1. Is the engine hot or cold when the problem happens?
2. Does the problem happen every day or is it more random?
3. Do you have your car regularly serviced?
4. Has any other work been done on the car in the last couple of weeks?
5. Are there any other things you've noticed as well as the problem?
   
   1. Compare the labour costs against the hourly rate they quoted.
   2. Make sure the work has been carried out and if there's work you've been charged for that hasn't been done.
   3. Look for work that's been done which wasn't included on the original quote. They should contact you before carrying out any work that wasn't included in the original quote.

Shop Around

If you're getting a job done, get several rough prices from different firms so you can see what kind of price to expect. See what's included in the bill: the final price normally comprises three sections: parts, labour and consumables. When you're getting a quote ask what the hourly rate is, roughly how long it will take, if they're using genuine or pattern parts, if VAT is included and if there's a warranty.

The Bill

This should be itemised so you can see what's been done. Check it against your quote and look for the following:

Checking Work

It's a good idea to check that the work you've paid for has been carried out properly. For servicing, look and see if a new oil filter has been put in, and check for fresh oil using the dipstick. A telltale sign that work has been done is to see if the area around it is cleaner than the other parts. If you have any problems, contact the garage as they should rectify any problems without charging you.

Getting Parts

To get the right parts, know your car's model, the year it was made and, if they're easy to carry, bring the parts you want to replace so the retailer knows exactly what you need to buy.