FOXY Review

How to choose best value garage services...

With average garage labour rates varying between £90 an hour for a dealership and £56 for an independent garage there is clearly money to be saved by going to the independent garage... But should the decision of who looks after your car be made on the basis of labour charges alone?

Recognising that we all judge value for money based on our needs, expectations and satisfaction levels, FOXY Choice publishes a Good Garage Guide to help women with their MOT and car servicing shopping by identifying measurable quality standards as well as good female friendly car dealerships and independent garages in their area.

FOXY Founder Steph Savill knows that many female motorists choose where to have their car serviced on the basis of convenience factors like the location of the garage and whether it offers a car collection service. Increasingly women drivers are sharing female feedback online which is how Steph knows that the following motoring myths continue for many.

"Some women are happy to pay more and have their car serviced by the dealership they bought it from because they think they need to have it serviced there to maintain a warranty, that they will get superior customer service, or that a dealership stamp in the car's handbook will guarantee a higher resale value. Alternatively females who are more cost conscious tend to shop around for the lowest price for MOTs, tyres and car servicing deals, thinking that all garages are much the same as each other."

These views are misinformed explains Steph...

"Whilst dealership rates are undoubtedly dropping and offering much better value, it is true that many motorists can have their nearly new car serviced at a good independent garage for less money and within the terms of their warranty. However it isn't true that a dealership stamp will guarantee a better price when it's time to sell – what matters most is that the car has been serviced regularly and to the manufacturer's standards. More worrying, shopping for the lowest price and using a garage you don't know anything about can be a decidedly risky decision in an industry where garages aren't licensed and where mechanics don't have to be qualified. Very often the lowest price can quickly escalate because the garage mightn't have the latest equipment to diagnose the fault correctly and you end up paying more for the mechanic's labour to see if he can find the fault instead."

To illustrate the differences in perceived 'value for money' a good example is the price that a BMW driver would pay in a dealership versus a good independent garage, for a simple job like an oil change or a typical car safety check.

In its recent advertising campaign the manufacturer states 'Think we're expensive? Think again.' listing the following BMW Value Service prices for participating franchised dealerships to change the engine oil, front brake pads and carry out safety checks for BMW 3 series (E46) 4 cylinder models.

Clearly these prices have been reduced so they represent better value for money than they did but £115 still sounds a lot to pay for a simple oil change, no matter the use of the word 'service'. Indeed it is not at all unusual for mile-eating business drivers to need two or three oil changes a year which makes the cost of oil a significant factor when budgeting for car servicing costs.

And if BMW's Inspection 1 costs £189 for an oil change and safety checks then their safety checks must cost £74... But are these prices fair enough for an up-market dealership experience, with all that entails for the executive BMW driver?

The alternative solution to a franchised dealership is a measurably good independent garage who uses genuine BMW parts, BMW specified lubricants, accredited technicians and who carries out work in accordance with BMW's specifications.

Bosch Car Service garage in Scotland

Starting with a Bosch Car Service garage in Scotland who operates to a fully approved OFT Code of Practice, Falkland Performance Centre in Glenrothes would charge the following prices:

But when it comes to the front brake pads, Falkland's business owner Allan Adam calculates £111.35 which is £12.35 more than a BMW dealership because they always strip and clean the brake calipers prior to fitting brake pads which BMW does not specify.

Independent garage in Berkshire

Another leading independent garage, this time in Berkshire where labour rates are higher than in Scotland, ISO 9001 approved Woodley Auto Centre near Reading would also save local BMW motorists money for the equivalent oil change and safety checks as follows...

Save money by shopping around

In a nutshell it is possible to save money by shopping around and if these sort of savings can be made for low cost garage services then there is much more to be saved by shopping around for the likes of full and major car services, comparing car collection and courtesy cars, other services & amenities and whether the business is near shops, a leisure centre or other entertainment to occupy the driver who chooses to wait.

But the most important factor on all occasions is surely to identify the best value for money, seen through the eye of the beholder, taking into account minimum quality standards, the latest diagnostic equipment, service levels and amenities to suit. This matters because, at best, motorists might otherwise be overcharged, patronised or sold services they do not need. At worst, the job might not have been done properly, their car might be unsafe and they could be risking their personal safety and that of other motorists.

To find out more, motorists can read FOXY Choice's Good Garage Guide and search for measurably good and female friendly UK garages and dealerships.

About FOXY Choice

A sister business to FOXY Lady Drivers Club, FOXY Choice helps women drivers with their garage shopping for MOTs, car servicing and repairs by providing a Good Garage Guide and identifying the UK's best quality garage standards as well as female friendly garages, fastfits, dealers and car dealerships in their area.

FOXY Lady Drivers Club | 35 Goring Road | Steyning BN44 3GF
Tel: 01903 879988 (if ansafone please leave a message or use email)

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Highly Commended, Brake's Road Safety in the Community Award, 2009
Winner, Home Business Awards, 2008
Regional Finalist, HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards, 2007
Runner Up, The Daily Telegraph's Trailblazers' Business Awards, 2006
Small Business Award Winner, SAGA Magazine, 2005

See above for correspondence address. FOXY Drivers Limited, trading as FOXY Choice and FOXY Lady Drivers Club, is registered in England & Wales No 5071266 with registered offices at The Courtyard, Beeding Court, Steyning, West Sussex BN44 3TN. FOXY Drivers Limited is registered for VAT, number 841 3841 35.