Will Your Car Pass its Next MoT?

The MoT test checks that your vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards.  An MoT is required when a car is three years old (four years in Northern Ireland) and then annually after that.

As we all know the MoT test fee itself is not the most worrying cost but rather the repairs required in order for your vehicle to pass the test.

Research by What Car? shows that nearly 4% of the 285,236 MoT test failures recorded between August 2012 and August 2013 were on cars having their first test and for items that could have been easily avoided.

According to their research the Top 5 reasons for MoT test failures include:

1 Screenwash not topped up
2 Car dirty or full of clutter
3 Reg plate anomaly (incorrect font/spacing, dirty, missing) - If you have a personalised plate, make sure it adheres to DVLA rules
4 Stickers on windscreen blocking driver’s view - Keep any windscreen furniture, including tax disc and parking permits, strictly outside the area of the wipers’ sweep
5 Warning light on dash - Warning lights have been part of the MoT test since 2012 and relate to anything from brakes to tyre pressures and airbag; if you see one, get it checked out

What Car? has launched a handy new online tool designed to help drivers boost their car’s chances of passing its first MoT test. It offers motorists advice on how to get their car through the test and ranks cars by make and model on their likelihood of passing first time. Find your vehicle here.

To find a local trustworthy garage to carry out your next MOT test, visit the Good Garage Scheme's website and enter your postcode or town name.

1 in 14 motorists admit to taking 'selfies' while driving

Confused.com research shows that 1 in 14 motorists (7%) admit to having taken a photograph while driving and 4% also use the social media app of the moment - Snapchat - to send photos to friends while at the wheel. The price comparison website also discovered that in a recent 30-day period, 287 tweets were tagged with #drivingselfie and #drivingselfies.

In addition, 36% of motorists admit to using their mobile phone when driving, mainly to make or answer calls (75%) and send or check texts (43%). Yet, despite so many flouting the law, only 8% say they have actually been caught by police using their phone behind the wheel. And, of those who have been caught, 57% admit to continuing to use their phone while driving after their brush with the law.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) director of policy and research Neil Greig said: "Research shows that it is simply not possible to use a mobile phone in any way whilst driving and stay safe no matter how confident you may be in your driving ability. This seems to be another form of peer pressure to take part in the latest trend and the best way to avoid it is to give young people the skills to stand up for themselves and not follow the herd and post silly photographs online. It is also really worrying that many drivers caught using a phone are not learning the lesson. The IAM want to see more traffic police out there catching bad drivers but this survey would seem to suggest not even that will stop those addicted to using their smartphones."                                                                 

The Good Garage Scheme would like to thank the Institute of Advanced Motoring (IAM) for this week's guest post.

Over 5000 Services With a Smile

Good Garage Scheme member, RM Services in Hathern, Loughborough is the first member garage to list over 5000 customer feedback posts on the website with a five star rating to boot.  And if that's not enough to shout about, 97.7% of their customers would visit again and recommend them to friends and family.                This is an outstanding achievement for the staff at the garage and the Good Garage Scheme is very proud to congratulate them all. RM Services has been in business since 1975 and has been a member of the Good Garage Scheme since 2007.

Jane Harrison, who runs the reception of the busy garage, ensures all customers are given an opportunity to send in feedback about the service they receive. Roger Coates, owner of RM Services, says that they monitor all feedback and contact customers if they receive less than 5 stars to find out what they could have done better for them for next time.

Well done and congratulations for an outstanding effort!

The Good Garage Scheme is now offering the opportunity for a lucky customer to Win Back the Cost of their service or repair up to £200. Visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com to find a garage near you.

Spring is in the Air

As the UK emerges from the wettest winter since records began, the Good Garage Scheme is urging motorists to get their cars professionally checked to ensure they are safe and reliable in the months ahead.

Debris such as mud, stones, tree branches and extra water left behind in the wake of past storms has affected the surfaces of roads most noticeably with the increased number and size of potholes. These combined factors can have an adverse effect on a car’s vital components including the steering, suspension, wheels and tyres, as well as wiper blades, lights and heating systems that have been used extensively in the wet and windy weather. The good news for motorists is that the Good Garage Scheme's Spring Check is available at participating member garages from today.

The 21-point Spring Check provides an expert assessment of a vehicle’s condition, covering essential areas including the condition the brakes, tyres, wiper blades, windscreen and lights, as well as the coolant and engine oil.

With the first day of spring on 20th March and the prospect of warmer weather, the Good Garage Scheme is also recommending that motorists think about getting their air conditioning systems checked and cleansed. Harmful bacteria and mould may have built up in the ducts of car ventilation systems during the recent damp conditions, posing a health risk to drivers by circulating unpleasant bugs into the car.

Visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com and enter your postcode to find your local Good Garage Scheme workshop offering the Spring Check to ensure your car is in good health as the warm weather returns. 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. 

It's like having a friend in the know.

Automotive Charity BEN Offers Support for Flood Victims

With the acrid, foul-smelling flood waters slowing abating and worries that we have not seen the last of the bad weather, the automotive charity BEN is extending their support for our affected automotive colleagues.

Following the Environment Agency's report that 5,800 properties have been flooded since the start of December and 100,000 homes having experienced power cuts, we recognise that members of our automotive community are extremely likely to be amongst those being challenged by the experience.

Commenting on the situation BEN's Chief Operating Officer, Nigel Rothband stated,

"The prolonged damage caused by these events will be placing severe physical and emotional stress on those affected, and we are desperate to ensure that anyone connected to our automotive industry community knows that we are on hand to offer our care and support.

We cannot solve the long-term problem; sadly we cannot throw millions at it to make it go away, but what we can do is to provide short term immediate support including financial assistance, where needed.

Obviously, some people will have been unable to work and will have incurred additional costs in trying to protect themselves and their properties - where these factors have caused short term financial hardship we may be able to assist depending on the circumstances of the individual.

Many will be covered by insurance, which should always be the first port of call, but for those who are vulnerable and do not have cover, or remain unsupported by other agencies we can, and will, respond to immediate need. Whether those affected just needing someone to offload too, advice on temporary accommodation or financial assistance- we are here to help. I would urge any automotive person who is distressed or suffering to get in touch."

In addition to actively encouraging those affected to get in touch, BEN is also contacting existing beneficiaries, in affected areas, to find out if they need help. Many older people in these circumstances will have been unable to get out and therefore missed out on normal social contact, or they may simply be more anxious and need some reassurance. We at BEN are determined to support these individuals and can also offer support to those people needing help to complete their insurance forms.

To contact BEN's helpline;
Call 01344 876770
Text 07781 472622
Email careservices@ben.org.uk

BEN - Caring for automotive people, and their dependants, in times of need

BEN is the Good Garage Scheme's chosen charity - the UK’s dedicated charity for those who work, or have worked, in the automotive and related industries, as well as their dependants.

Advice for Driving in Deep Water

Following severe weather warnings of storms and floods over the coming days, the Institute of Advanced Motoring (IAM) offers sound advice on how to keep safe in the storms.

According to Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger, “A suddenly very wet road surface increases the chances of slipping when braking or steering, which is a problem not just for motorists, but cyclists and motorcyclists too.”

“When driving in wet conditions remember that stopping distances will increase, and visibility will be reduced. Drop your speed and give yourself more time to slow down.”

In cases of severe flooding, you should reconsider making the journey at all. If it is unavoidable, and you have to drive through deep water, the IAM recommends drivers take the following precautions:

• Drive on the highest section of the road and don't set off if a vehicle is approaching you
• Leave time and space to avoid swamping other cars and pedestrians
• Drive slowly and keep going once you have started – make sure you have a clear run. In a manual car, keep the revs high by "slipping the clutch" (which means the clutch is not fully engaged) all the time you are in the water
• If you can’t see where you are going to come out of the water, such as when approaching flooding on a bend, think twice about starting to drive into it
• In deep water never take your foot off the accelerator, as this could allow water to travel up the exhaust pipe
• Once you're out of the water, dry the brakes before you need them. The best way is to lightly apply the brake as you drive along for a few seconds, after checking nothing is following you too closely.

  The Good Garage Scheme recommends downloading its free App before you set off on your car journey. Should you run into any trouble, help is at the touch of a button. To download the app for peace of mind click here.

Safe Motoring!

The Good Garage Scheme would like to thank the Road Safety Charity IAM for the valuable advice. Peter Rodger is the IAM’s chief examiner. For more information visit www.iam.org.uk.

New MOT Test rules for the DPF

Clogged diesel particulate filter

Diesel particulate filters (DPFs) have been in the news quite a bit this year. DPFs were fitted to diesel cars to meet European emissions standards, but they need high temperatures to regenerate and remain effective. Motorists who use their cars primarily for local runs with lots of stop-start driving and low mileage may find themselves with a blocked DPF as a result.

Vehicles suffering with blocked DPFs have become a common fault, the first indication of which will be the engine management light coming on, or a lack of power. If the warning light is ignored, it could be a costly repair. Rather than deal with the repair bill, some people have chosen to completely remove the DPF, but this could prove costly. From February 2014 the MOT test will include a check for the presence of a diesel particulate filter.

This new government legislation means it is vital that garages look after DPFs for their customers. Vehicles will automatically fail the MOT test if a diesel particulate filter that was fitted when manufactured has been removed.

Your local Good Garage Scheme member garage will be able to advise you of a treatment specifically designed to help your diesel particulate filter operate as it should.

For more information contact your local Good Garage Scheme member via www.GoodGarageScheme.com.

It's like having a friend in the know.

For more information about the government's new legislation, click here.