Free Quote for Service Plan

Why not take the worry out of car servicing and MOT payments with a Good Garage Scheme Service Plan?

All you need is your vehicle registration and in just four easy steps, you can find out how much you would pay for a service and include the MOT if you need one. 

According to the government website,
you must get an MOT for your vehicle by either:

• the third anniversary of its registration
• the anniversary of its last MOT, if it’s over 3 years old

The Good Garage Scheme Service Plan is a simple, flexible way to budget for your future service and MOT requirements by spreading the cost throughout the year in interest-free monthly instalments - just like you would for any other household bill.

Good Garage Scheme Service Plans are inflation-proof and ensure the price of parts, labour and oil are fixed for up to three years.

Plans are available for interim and standard servicing with or without an MOT. All plans cover the cost of parts, labour and VAT according to the Terms and Conditions.

A rigorous Industry Standard Service will be carried out on your vehicle with a copy for your records adding to the resale value of your vehicle and your peace of mind.

To find your nearest Good Garage Scheme member offering a Service Plan, please visit the website.

More Motorists Are Booking Online

Research from the Good Garage Scheme has shown that more motorists are booking appointments online for car services, car repairs and MOTs. In fact, there has been a 14% increase in jobs booked online via the Good Garage Scheme website.

Customers can search for a Good Garage Scheme member garage offering online booking and go online at any time of the day to select a time and date for an MOT, car service or car repair.

The Good Garage Scheme member will then contact you to confirm the appointment and ask any other questions relevant to your request.

Why not visit the Good Garage Scheme website and book your next MOT, car service or Winter Check?

Simply click here to find your nearest Good Garage Scheme member garage.

Edgware driver wins Good Garage Scheme Feedback Prize

Muriel Rapport is presented with £200 at S&B Motors.

Lucky motorist Muriel Rapport has won £200 towards the cost of her recent car service at Good Garage Scheme member, S&B Motors in Edgware in a recent Feedback Prize Draw.

Muriel’s feedback card was picked at random from thousands of customer satisfaction surveys submitted by the public throughout the UK earlier this year.

Good Garage Scheme customers are encouraged to provide feedback to help drivers visiting www.GoodGarageScheme.com make an informed choice when selecting a local workshop to service or repair their car.

The Edgware-based driver awarded S&B Motors with a maximum five-star rating for the service and MOT carried out on her car. The garage has been a member since 2008 and enjoys an overall satisfaction rating of five stars from over 98% of customers, with some 99.7% of customers saying they would recommend the garage and visit again.

Muriel Rapport commented: “S&B Motors did an excellent job of servicing and carrying out an MOT on my car, undertaking the work quickly and efficiently. Based on my experience, I would be pleased to recommend S&B Motors to other drivers seeking a trustworthy and reliable workshop to look after their car.”

Sean Regan of S&B Motors, added: “We are delighted that one of our valued customers has won the Good Garage Scheme’s feedback prize, and were just as pleased to have received such a glowing review. This positive feedback shows the importance we place on providing our customers with an excellent service, as well as the hard work and dedication of our team that makes this happen.”

Visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com and enter your postcode to find your local Good Garage Scheme member and view customer feedback. The next feedback prize winner will be drawn before Christmas. If you are having your car serviced or repaired, fill in a feedback for your chance to win back the cost of your next one.

Save Money on Your Next MOT

According to advice from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agengy (DVSA), around 40% of cars fail the MOT test at the first attempt.

• 30% of all faults relate to lighting and signalling
• 10% of all faults relate to tyres
• 8.5% of all faults relate to ‘Driver’s view of the road’

This means extra cost for repairs to improve the standard and possibly an extra cost for the re-test.

How can you save money on your next MOT?

By checking the following items before you take the car in for your test.

1. Are your lights working? Ask a friend or family member to come out to the car and help you check.
2. Are your tyres in good condition and is the pressure correct?
3. Are your mirrors, wipers and washers in good working order?

Remember - an MOT test is NOT a service

Don't be fooled into thinking that an MOT test means that your car has been serviced. The MOT is an assessment of some of the most important items on your vehicle checking that it meets legal standards.

It is not the same as having a service and it does not check the general mechanical condition of your car.

Find your nearest Good Garage Scheme member to carry our your next service.

New budgeting solution takes the headache out of car servicing

Having a safe, reliable and economical family car has now become essential for almost every household, be it for the school run, getting to work or the weekly grocery shop.

However, keeping a car well maintained can also be costly, especially at a time when incomes are under pressure. With this in mind, the Good Garage Scheme  has introduced a Good Garage Scheme Service Plan to provide motorists with a simple and flexible means of budgeting servicing and MOT costs throughout the year through interest-free monthly instalments.

Good Garage Scheme Service Plans are inflation-proof and ensure that the price of parts, labour and oil is fixed for up to three years. The new plans are available to suit each driver’s needs with a choice of plans for interim and standard servicing with or without an MOT and are inclusive of parts, labour and VAT according to clearly defined terms and conditions.

Setting up a plan is easy: Motorists just need to visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com and choose the member garage and plan that best suits their requirements. Then, when the time comes to book a service, it can be arranged at a participating Good Garage Scheme member workshop with the peace of mind that there will be no unexpected bills to pay once the servicing is complete.

Both new and used vehicles can be serviced as part of the plan and depending on the car’s engine size, can be arranged for one, two or three years. The plan can also be easily transferred and any costs easily adjusted if a driver changes their car. No membership card is required and motorists can view their plan details and balance securely online, as well as cancel their plan at any time.

Why not spread the cost of your car servicing and MOT payments just as you would with other household bills?

Visit GoodGarageScheme.com.

 It's like having a friend in the know.

Lucky Motorist Wins Back the Cost of His Service

Mr Andrew Hendry has won £200 towards the cost of his recent car service at Good Garage Scheme member garage, Budget Auto Centre in Stirling. Mr Hendry’s feedback card was picked at random from over 47,000 customer feedback forms submitted by member garages throughout the UK in the first part of the year. Good Garage Scheme customers are encouraged to provide their feedback about member garages to help drivers visiting www.goodgaragescheme.com make an informed decision when choosing a local garage to service or repair their vehicle.

Mark Marshall of Budget Auto Centre and Martin McNulty of the Good Garage Scheme present Mr Hendry with his cheque.

Mr Hendry lives in the Borders but insists on booking his car in for a service at Budget Auto Centre as he trusts them. He awarded the team at Budget with a maximum five-star rating for work carried out and in his feedback commented: “The repairs were shown and explained, also the parts to be replaced were kept and shown where they were faulty. I have never had that quality of service anywhere else. They repair faults, but don’t create ones for more work – give them six stars!”


The Good Garage Scheme will award draw its next winner on Monday, 22nd December in time for Christmas. If you have visited a Good Garage Scheme member garage recently for a car service, car repair or MOT, ensure you have filled in a feedback form with comments for your chance to Win Back the Cost of Your Service! If you don't have a postable feedback card, please add your feedback online here or via the free Good Garage Scheme app.

Please visit www.goodgaragescheme.com and enter your postcode to find your local Good Garage Scheme workshop and view customer feedback. Smartphone users can also download a free iPhone or Android app to help them locate a nearby Good Garage Scheme member anywhere in the UK.

Leave Feedback And Win

Having a service or repair carried out at a Good Garage Scheme member garage may not cost you a penny.

Every customer who leaves feedback with comments after having had work done at a Good Garage Scheme member garage is in with a chance to win the cost of the service or repair back*.

It couldn't be easier, and there are three ways to leave feedback:

1. Fill in a feedback card you receive with your documentation.
2. Visit the Good Garage Scheme's website
3. Download the Good Garage Scheme's free App and leave your feedback there

There are over 629,000 feedback items from previous customers listed on the Good Garage Scheme website so that motorists can make an educated decision before they take their car to a garage for a service.

The Good Garage Scheme will award two lucky customers up to £200 each for the cost of a service or repair this year.

Visit GoodGarageScheme.com to find a garage near you.

*Terms and conditions apply. The winners will receive up to £200 for the work carried out.

Good Garage Scheme Puts Customers First

THE Good Garage Scheme has launched an improved version of its website that could help motorists save money and the environment.

The website, www.goodgaragescheme.com, has been given a major makeover, making it much easier for motorists to find their nearest independent garage or workshop.

Have a read of the full story about the Good Garage Scheme in this online Motoring Article

Add reviews on FreeIndex

FreeIndex link http://www.freeindex.co.uk/profile(good-garage-scheme)_49094.htm

How to sell a used car - advice from The Good Garage Scheme

Top Ten Tips from The Good Garage Scheme for selling your used car

1. Make your used car look great, sounds obvious but cleaning your car inside and out can make it easier to sell and get you a better price.
2. Have your documents ready. Buyers will want to see your log book (V5) and MOT as well as any receipts, service records and handbooks.
3. Price your car sensibly; an overpriced used car will put potential buyers off. Check online or use a car price guide to gauge the market.
4. Decide where to advertise, whether in local classifieds and/or reach a wider market online. List any faults or extras in your advert and answer any questions honestly.
5. Get your paperwork in order. Your used car will sell easier if it has a recent MOT and has been serviced. Make sure it is taxed so the buyer can drive away. Get any minor faults fixed before advertising your car.
6. Expect to haggle on price but don't accept a price lower than you are happy with. If you're not confident seeing buyers alone, ask a friend to join you.
7. Provide a receipt stating your second hand car is "sold as seen" and keep a signed copy for yourself.
8. Post the paperwork once the car is sold and make sure the new owner has provided their details and signed the V5 owner's document.
9. Always accompany prospective buyers on a test drive when selling a used car. Ask if their insurance covers them to drive other cars and ask to see a copy of their insurance.
10. Once you've agreed a deal never hand over your car until you have received payment. Check that any cash payment is genuine and wait for a cheque payment to clear before you part with your keys.

Smarter Driving Tips and Advice

Through the Good Garage Scheme website, we support the ACT ON CO2 campaign by communicating smarter driving tips to remind drivers how they can continue to reduce their carbon footprint after their engine has been cleaned.
http://www.goodgaragescheme.com/

Dashboard Warning Lights

Brake system and ABS warning lights

If both warning lights illuminate at the same time when driving, stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

Reduce vehicle speed gradually and immediately move the vehicle to a safe location. Use the brakes with great care. Do not step on the brake pedal abruptly. Seek assistance.

Vehicle maintenance tips

1. Carrying spare bulbs for your car is always very handy. In fact, on mainland Europe it's compulsory to carry an emergency bulb kit. Just put them in your boot and make sure your owner's manual is handy so you know how to fit them.



2. Try to avoid hitting your tyres against kerbs, especially when parking. It can cause the tyre to weaken without showing any damage on the outside.



3. Check your spare tyre from time to time you never know when you might need it. And it's an offence to fit a spare that's not roadworthy.



4. We recommend you change your wiper blades every six months, even if they haven't been used very often. This is because the rubber deteriorates over time when exposed to the atmosphere.
   

We'll leave you to decide whether these tips work for you or not. However, please let common sense prevail at all times.

How to avoid a breakdown

Car drivers may be able to avoid an unnecessary breakdown if they familiarise themselves with their owner's handbook and have their vehicle serviced regularly.
The most common faults the RAC find when attending a breakdown are caused by a lack of maintenance or understanding of the car's systems. For example, a simple routine like checking your tyres for damage and the correct pressure, as recommended by the manufacturer, may prevent you from returning to your vehicle to find a flat tyre or - even worse - experiencing a blow out on the motorway.

RAC top ten breakdowns
The top ten faults and % of total callouts

1. Battery (flat or non-serviceable) - 17.51%
2. Tyre(s) - 9.20%
3. Engine - 4.63%
4. Lockouts - 3.32%
5. Alternator - 2.76%
6. Fuel - 2.71%
7. Starter motor - 2.28%
8. Cylinder head gasket - 1.94%
9. Clutch - 1.66%
10. ECU - Engine Management System - 1.43%

A self help tip for the number one problem
Flat battery
If your vehicle will not start, it may well be due to a faulty battery. If your engine tries to turn over it may not be completely dead. Check to see if any interior or exterior lights, mobile phone or your entertainment system are left on. If they are, turn them off. Leave the car standing for 20 minutes. Do not try to restart your car during that period because 20 minutes is usually the minimum time to allow the battery to regain enough power to start up the engine. Do get into the habit of turning off all controls - including lights, the heated rear window, and radio - before turning off the engine once parked up for the night. This will extend the life of your battery and reduce the chance of a flat battery.

Check Your Engine Oil Regularly

Checking your engine oil is simple and essential, to find out how go to Check Your Oil on the Good Garage Scheme website.

If you find you need to top up your engine oil every 1,000 miles, we strongly advise you visit a Good Garage Scheme member to prevent having to do this on such a regular basis.

Your engine oil needs to be changed regularly. When oil becomes too old and dirty, you're no longer getting the full benefit of the additives it contains. The oil becomes less effective at cooling and lubricating your engine. What's worse, the increased friction and chemical build-up in used oil can deteriorate your engine's moving parts.

Fill up for less

Prices may be going up but there can be significant differences between retailers. To find the best prices in your area visit http://www.petrolprices.com/. Once registered, this site provides information on the cheapest fuel in your area. You can also get regular price updates.

The MOT test for your vehicle

Everyone who uses a vehicle on the road must keep it in a roadworthy condition. The MOT test checks that vehicles meet road safety and environmental standards. The first MOT test for a vehicle is required when it’s three years old.

Components to be inspected

Safety Campaign Launched

Good Garage Scheme members are being encouraged to issue reminder cards to customers to help prevent them forgetting about MOTs and essential services for their vehicles.

Customers can then fill in their next MOT and / or Service due dates on www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk/reminder/ and will receive free text and e-mail reminders from the Good Garage Scheme.

MOTs and Services are essential to ensure safe motoring. Not having an MOT can also invalidate a motorist's insurance and forgetting to have one done is not seen as an excuse in the eyes of the law.

Free Prize Draw

Simply complete and return a Good Garage Scheme feedback card with your additional comments to gain entry into a Free Prize Draw. You can win one of the following, Wii, Tom Tom, Ipod nano or a digital camera.



Entries must be received by August 31st. Terms and conditions can be obtained from all Good Garage Scheme members.

Chalking up major success with women motorists

Women motorists are flocking to Good Garage Scheme member Chalky Whites, http://www.chalkywhites.co.uk/ , to avoid becoming the victims of unscrupulous workshops and service centres.

June Srivalsan, who bought the business five years ago after receiving poor treatment from other service centres, said it has built up a first-class reputation in the area, with women now accounting for 70 per cent of its client base.

She said her experiences of taking her own car into a garage in the past had left a lasting impression on her. June was recommended to use Chalky Whites and found the experience completely different and felt comfortable knowing her car was going to be looked after properly.
June said: “They showed me exactly what was going on with a car I took in and that’s why I eventually decided to buy the garage.

“70 per cent of our customers are women because we are so up front about what we do. I always encourage the guys to take the customers into the workshop to show them what’s happening if we find something wrong with their vehicle. People just love it because it’s different.” June even runs monthly classes on basic motor vehicle maintenance of a motor vehicle, to help customers prevent their vehicles failing MOTs on easily avoidable problems. Advice is also given on what to look out for when buying a new car.

Chalky Whites has now been trading for 25 years, offering a complete car care service from tyres and exhausts to servicing and MOTs. It has put its success down to skilled workmanship, fast turnaround and a focus on customer care. It is a fast fit station for tyres and exhausts and also carries out MOT's, servicing, brakes, clutches and anything else your car may require. Its fully trained mechanics provide all services from major repairs to routine maintenance and replacement parts such as tyres, brakes, exhausts, shock absorbers and batteries.

Being up front and honest is central to Chalky Whites’ success.