BBC Chats to Arnolds Autos in Hull

BBC Radio Humberside recently contacted Good Garage Scheme member, Arnolds Autos in Hull for an interview on the radio and spoke with Garage Administrator, Lisa Carter.

Arnolds Autos premises in Hull, East Yorkshire

The station wanted Lisa's advice on a story regarding RAC's finding that 60% of motorists lack trust in garages.
The BBC research team found Arnold's Autos quickly on the Good Garage Scheme website and contacted them first as they show the highest number of customer feedbacks in Hull.


Lisa told the Good Garage Scheme that their garage provides every customer with a feedback form and knows that a lot of their business comes via the Good Garage Scheme because they ask their customers at each visit.

The BBC asked why customers choose Arnolds Autos and the reply  from Lisa was simply, "Trust. We quote for the work before the job starts and keep the customer informed."

She also mentioned that they provide a service checklist and that the Good Garage Scheme is advertised on TV.  Lisa said that quite a few customers heard the interview on the radio and mentioned it when they visited the garage.

Arnolds Autos have been a valued member of the Good Garage Scheme since 2008 and have a 99.2% star rating from over 1100 feedbacks.

IMI Awards the Outstanding Mr Andy Kent

Andy Kent, the inspiring founder of Andy's Kars and Andy's Ark in Bar Hill has received the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) award for Outstanding Individual Achievement. This is a brand new award which Andy received at the IMI's Annual Dinner on 12th March at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London, also attended by ex-England rugby player and TV personality, Matt Dawson and Richard Noble OBE.

Andy works tirelessly to help people overcome the challenges in their lives, whether physical, psychological or circumstantial. He set up Andy's Kars in 2002 and subsequently the charity, Andy's Ark in 2009 as a centre to help young people to come to terms with their situations, and to encourage a robust, resilient and "can do" attitude. With a helping hand in many high profile success stories to the centre's credit, including Paralympic 100m gold medalist Johnny Peacock. Andy is extremely proud of the people he works with.

He says," For many people, the challenges they have you wouldn't know about just to look at them. But these hidden challenges, such as difficulties with speech or movement, or psycological issues, mean people need our support. We try to show people who may have lost hope that there is still a life worth living for them, that they can make it happen. We are always prepared to give people a chance, and we foster respect., motivation and self-reliance."

At the awards ceremony, where two other new awards were unveiled alongside Andy's, IMI CEO Steve Nash said,"It is important that the IMI takes the opportunity to recognise those individuals who have made unique and important contributions to the progress of the sector. The recipients of our three new awards are all leading lights in the sector whoare setting examples for others to follow. Next year's nominees will have a hard act to follow."


Andy's Kars has been a valued member of the Good Garage Scheme since 2006 and we would like to congratulate Andy Kent on this well deserved award.

Spring Clean Your Car

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is sharing advice with drivers to ensure their cars are well-prepared for the spring. Here are seven important tips from the IAM’s chief examiner, Peter Rodger, to see you through the season.

1. Now is a good time to give your car a complete spring clean inside and out. Give the outside of your car specific attention as patches of grime and dirt collected over the winter can cause corrosion. Wash your car thoroughly and take it to a car wash that specialises in under-side cleaning.
2. Check your car lights and windscreen wiper blades are working properly and make sure the tyres are not damaged or worn – if any of these need replacing do it before you start your journey. Keeping a spare pack of car bulbs in your boot is also a good idea.
3. Top up your brake fluid as you may have used more of it during the winter months. The same applies to your washer screen fluid and coolant levels. If you’re unsure about topping these up consult your handbook or take it to a mechanic.
4. If you’re allergic to pollen, the onset of hay fever can affect your driving during the spring. Use a pollen filter or switch the air-conditioning on to help purify the air.
5. Tree sap can be hard to remove once it hardens so don’t forget to give your car a regular wash-over using some hot water and a clean sponge – this should help the sap to dissolve.
6. If you find the sap has hardened and difficult to remove use a colour restorer and an electric polisher. Use specialist cleaning pads to buff the car paint into the metal, but don’t ever use household cleaning pads as these will ruin the car’s paintwork.
7. Always keep a pair of sunglasses with you; these will come in handy when dealing with glare from early morning and evening low sun.

Peter said: “Many annoying problems can be prevented by simple checks and regular maintenance. Keeping your windows and mirrors clear of dirt and blemishes can prevent accidents and save lives.”

The Good Garage Scheme would like to thank the IAM for this week's helpful blog and advises motorists to visit their local member garage for a Spring Check.

BBC Radio Oxford Interviews Good Garage Scheme member

photo courtesy of NMV Services Ltd

Kat Orman of BBC Radio Oxford called on her family mechanic at NMV Services in Faringdon,
Oxfordshire and interviewed owner and mechanic, Mike Nash, live on the morning programme on Wednesday, 11th March 2015.

She asked some great questions including, "How do customers react when you have to give bad news?" He answered that he is good at it because he understands what it is like as he has a family and is sympathetic to their reaction.

Kat also asked Mike to imagine if he weren't a mechanic and then asked how he would find a trustworthy garage. Without missing a beat he answered, "Good Garage Scheme."
He went on to say he had been a member of the scheme since 2010 and he enjoyed being a member and working with the Good Garage Scheme.

When asked what guarantees a customer had with a Good Garage Scheme member garage, Mike answered, "Customers can see all reviews that previous customers leave with cards or online. It is an opportunity to see bad press as well as good and helps everyone."

Kat Orman then asked Mike how the garage is regulated. He answered, "We are regulated by the cards (feedback) received and if bad reports are received, the Good Garage Scheme can strike you off the list."

The BBC presenter then went on to interview marketing manager, Anndi Sheppard, to find out more about the Good Garage Scheme.

The link is available to hear on iPlayer for a limited period here.

For more information about NMV Services Ltd in Faringdon, click here.

Avoid a Bumpy Ride This Spring

Spring is on its way - which can only mean lighter evenings, warmer days and of course the launch of our Good Garage Scheme Spring Check. However, whilst we are keen to ensure your vehicles have survived the winter and are in good shape for spring, there is one thing you will be lucky to avoid - potholes.

Estimated to cause as many as one in ten mechanical failures and costing motorists over £730 million every year, potholes are at the root of much motoring misery.

Although this winter has been relatively mild, the condition of the roads appears to have worsened - and a bumpy journey is an all-too-frequent occurrence.

How are potholes created?
Potholes occur when the asphalt road surface becomes brittle and starts to absorb more rain water, causing cracks to develop. The pressure of car tyres driving over the surface will weaken it and as frost and ice thaw, this deterioration process is sped up, causing chunks of road surface material to become loosened. Once formed, a pothole will generally increase in size as more and more cars drive over the weakened area.

How can potholes damage your vehicle?
Driving over a pothole, or in some cases into and back out of one, can cause damage to a vehicle’s axle and suspension. Potholes are at their most dangerous at night, and in wet weather when the extent of the hole may not be evident, due to it being filled with rain water. 


How can we help you?
Our Spring Check launches on 1st March, which means that by visiting one of our participating member garages you can have your car checked over, to ensure it has not been damaged by the unavoidable winter potholes or cold weather motoring. Your local garage will test your vehicle against a stringent 21-point checklist to ensure that tyres, brakes, power steering and other vital elements are in good working condition, ready for spring motoring.

If you believe your vehicle has been damaged by a particular pothole, there are steps you can take to report the issue, namely:

· Collect evidence – location, timing and photographs

· Report the pothole to your local council or Highways Agency

Presenting your case as if you are trying to help other motorists avoid such damage may help to support your claim.

If you are worried by the impact of potholes on your vehicle, simply ask your local Good Garage Scheme member garage to check.

Get Ready for Your MOT Test

An MOT test is required by law to check that a vehicle is roadworthy and safe for the environment. It is due once your car is three years old and then annually.

According to the Drivers and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) the top three items to fail an MOT are:

1. Headlight Aim

2. Tyre Tread Depth

3. Windscreen wipers

Headlight aim might have been off if you replaced a headlight since your last MOT and it is higher or lower than the other. Check your lights before your test. All lights will be tested so ask a friend or neighbour to help you check your lights are working and replace any if possible beforehand.

Tyre tread depth is easy to check with a 20p coin. If you can see the outer rim of the coin when you insert into the tyre grooves, they may need changing. Visit any Good Garage Scheme member garage to check if you are unsure.

Windscreen wipers do a tremendous amount of work and may need changing. This is something you can easily check and replace should they look worn. You can probably tell if they are not clearing the screen as smoothly as possible in bad weather but best to run your hand along to edge to check for cracks or wear.

Other items you can check before your test are seat belts, fluids in the car and bodywork.

Remember, an MOT is not a service. If you are looking to buy a car that has recently passed an MOT, ensure you also check when it was last serviced.

For more information about MOTs visit www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/the-mot-test

Three Time Winners on Way to 5000 Feedbacks

The Good Garage Scheme would like to congratulate member garage Lockwood & Greenwood in Ashton-under-Lyne for once again winning the national prize for top number of feedback received in a year.

The team at Lockwood & Greenwood celebrate highest number of feedback in 2014.

The garage received over 900 customer feedbacks in 2014 with a phenomenal star rating of over 98% with over 99% of their customers ready to recommend them to a friend or use them again. Lockwood & Greenwood have also picked up the regional prize for Top Feedback in 2014 as well.

Bryan Langton who runs the service reception ensures every customer receives a feedback card and lets them know how important their response is to the garage's membership of the Good Garage Scheme. He also ensures they receive a thank you in the post for using the garage for the service, repair or MOT. The email addresses collected with the feedback helps the garage remind their customers when the MOT or service is due on the vehicle.

Lockwood & Greenwood are currently on 4820 feedbacks and well on the way to reaching the next milestone of 5000, which will make them the second Good Garage Scheme member to do so. We look forward to celebrating later this year.

Congratulations to all of our Regional Winners for Top Feedback in 2014:

R M Services in Hathern, Loughborough
Surecar in Bristol
G & J Starkey in Stourbridge
Budget Autocentre in Stirling
Car Care of Kensington in London