Everything To Know About Car Services

Many of us are dependant on our cars — no matter how old or new they may be — to get from home to work, or to go about our days in general. Taking your car in for a service can be quite daunting for a multitude of reasons, but it doesn’t need to be something that gets you sweating every time it comes up. Below are a few tips you can follow to help make your next service as smooth as possible.

What to do before your next car service?

Book Your Car Service & Arrive Early

Ensure that you book your next service well in advance, not only because most shops get very busy and work on hundreds of cars a week, but also because it is generally a good idea to service your car in line with any existing maintenance plan you may have. If you don’t have a maintenance plan in place, be sure to stay on track by keeping score of all your service dates in your personal diary. 

On the day of the service, plan to drop your car off first thing in the morning, as soon as the shop opens, in order to avoid delays around technicians starting work on your car, but also to ensure that you don’t spend an excessive amount of time waiting in the queue of cars before work. Waking up just thirty minutes earlier on the day can save you a lot of hassle (especially if you grab a cup of coffee on your way out of the house).

Co-ordinate your Transport for the Day of Your Car Service 

Some garages offer a shuttle service for you to get to work, or to a destination in a small radius to the workshop. Find out ahead of time if this is something you can count on, or alternatively speak to a friend or colleague about picking you up before work. It’s also a good idea to talk to someone about dropping you off at the garage at the end of the day, provided that the team lets you know that it will be ready on the same day.

Keep Some Car-Sevice-Cash Aside 

People often make two mistakes when it comes to general car maintenance. One is not keeping a bit of money aside for a yearly service and unforeseen expenses around this. It’s never a good idea to skimp on important parts like brake pads, windscreen wipers, and even your airbags, as these ensure your safety on the road each time you get into your vehicle. 

The second common mistake is ignoring the service altogether, and getting slapped with a giant bill in one go when you try to sell the car, or worse, the car starts breaking down on the side of the road. A car requires active maintenance and care, just like any of your prized possessions. Save yourself some trouble, and do some planning, to help keep your baby running smoothly year-round, while not eating into your pocket all at once.

Speak to your Automotive Technician

It’s never a bad idea to do some reading up about your car, be it through the car manual, watching online videos, or just getting acquainted with the basics through a friend with an interest in car maintenance. Better yet, speak to a technician about what they are planning for your service, in order for you to learn more about it too. It’s also a good idea to ask them to call before moving forward with unforeseen maintenance, which is going to incur additional expenses for you. Talk to technicians about your next service while you’re there too, asking about some of the possible replacements that are associated with it, so you can plan accordingly, especially if your car has over 100 000km on the clock.

To learn more about car service specifics, or for any questions, you may have ahead of booking your next one, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to get back to you. Safety Brake & Clutch provides affordable services for a wide variety of vehicles, while also specialising in fitting brakes and clutches for passenger and light commercial vehicles.