Garage Services service price includes the replacement of ALL SERVICE ITEMS* plus an extensive inspection of your vehicle.
*Spark plugs, Oil, Air, Fuel, and Pollen Filters – Click to see our full & interim service checklist.
Where a service item is not required, (due to low mileage or long life parts**) the price will be clearly deducted from your final bill.
Servicing Information
At Garages we take pride in our work and in providing quality car servicing at sensible prices. Our full service schedule complies with and protects the manufacturers warranty without the associated Main Dealer prices.
Government legislation passed in 2003 relating to “Block Exemption” allows Garage Services to carry out work on new vehicles because we use parts of Original Equipment (OE) quality and in accordance with manufacturer requirements.
Regular servicing extends the life of your car, improves fuel economy, reduces the risk of avoidable repair bills and the inconvenience of mechanical breakdown.
Most manufacturers recommend that vehicles are serviced every 12 months or 12,000 miles.
The minimum road safety requirements of an MOT should not be confused as a substitute for servicing your vehicle.
As members of the Independent Garage Association (IGA) and the Trust My Garage scheme we are committed to the highest standards and outstanding customer service.
No additional work will take place without your say so. We will price and prioritise all repair work and help you to plan ahead and spread the cost of repairs.
Garages offer both FULL servicing and INTERIM servicing for low mileage vehicles that don’t warrant such a thorough inspection each year.
Wherever possible we recommend combining a service with an MOT because there are elements of the MOT test that servicing does not cover e.g. brake performance readings, emissions testing and headlight aim.
For a small additional charge all branches offer a car wash and hoover. Contact your local branch for more information.
Collect & Return Service
If you book a service at our Godstone branch, you could take advantage of our Collection and Delivery service, we will collect and return your vehicle to your home or place of work (Additional charge applies. Please contact our branch in Godstone for further information).
Motorbike Servicing
We also offer motorbike servicing at our branch in Shirley. Find out more about our motorbike servicing.
** long life service parts such as platinum / iridium spark plugs and long life fuel filters are specifically designed to last for greater distances and periods. These parts may not need to be replaced with every service. Manufacturing schedules are always consulted to confirm replacement intervals.
MOT Croydon – Bromley – Edenbridge – Godstone – Oxted
You must keep any vehicles driven on the road in a roadworthy condition. The MOT test checks that your vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards.
It isn’t the same as having your vehicle serviced and doesn’t check its general mechanical condition.
The leaflets ‘Your car and the MOT’ and ‘Your motorbike and the MOT’ include a list of the parts of your vehicle that will be tested.
When to test
You must get an MOT test every year once your vehicle is 3 years old (or 1 year old in some cases – check the MOT fees table to see when).
You’ll then need to renew your MOT before it expires. The earliest date you can renew is 1 month before it expires – this date is printed on the pass certificate.
You must use an approved MOT test centre to get your MOT. Only centres showing the blue sign with 3 white triangles can carry out your MOT.
Approved centres must show an official ‘MOT Test: Fees and Appeals’ poster on a public notice board on their premises. This must list contact details for your local DVSA area office.
If your MOT has expired
You can’t drive your vehicle on the road if the MOT has expired. You could be prosecuted if caught.
The only exception is if you’ve already booked an MOT and are driving your vehicle to the test centre.
Source: DVSA
Having your car serviced just before an MOT should pick up any faults that might cause it to fail.
A well serviced engine will also help it pass the emissions test.
MOT Checklist
1. Lights
Nearly twenty percent of all MOT failures are due to a blown bulb. Use the checklist below to ensure you’ve checked all your bulbs.
Park up close to a wall or garage door if you don’t have anyone to help you check them.
Headlights Main beam & dipped
Sidelights Front & rear
Indicators Front, rear and side repeaters
Brake lights
Number plate Lights only on rear number plate
Reverse light Not part of MOT but worth checking!
Rear fog light Front fog light not checked
Hazards Check circuit separately from indicators
Some indicator and brake light bulbs have a colour coating which starts to peel as they get old. When the colour flakes off, the bulb shines white and is cause enough for a test failure. Check the colours are correct at the same time as making sure they all work. All light fittings should be secure without cracks or damage.
2. Wheels & Tyres
All the tyres should be above the legal minimum tread depth of 1.6mm across ¾ of the tyre’s width. There should be no damage on the tyres. Check for splits in the tread, bulges or cuts to the sidewalls. Check the tyre sizes – the front tyres must be the same size and the rear tyres must be the same size. Make sure there are no missing wheels nuts or any heavy damage to the wheels themselves. A spare wheel is not a requirement for the MOT and is not checked unless it is being used as a road wheel at the time. A ‘space saver’ spare fitted as a road wheel will NOT pass the MOT.
3. Windscreen
Check the windscreen for chips and cracks. The car will fail the MOT for chips over 10mm in the driver’s line of sight (A) (use the width of the steering wheel as a guide) and over 40mm in the area swept by the wipers (B). Any scratching that limits the drivers vision will also be a reason for a failed test. Get small stone chips repaired as soon as possible to stop them spreading any further and costing you the price of a new windscreen.
4. Wipers
The wiper blades should be secure and clear the screen effectively for their entire length. Lift them up and check the rubber is not split or perished and that they are safely attached to the wiper arm.
5. Washer jets
Top up your screen wash before taking the car for it’s MOT and test the jets to make sure they operate correctly.
Blocked nozzles can be easily cleared with a pin.
6. Steering
The steering system isn’t something you’ll be able to check easily apart from making sure the wheels can turn freely from lock to lock and the power steering is working correctly if you have it.
7. Fuel
The fuel cap needs to lock securely in place and the seal inside the cap shouldn’t be split or perished. Also, make sure you have enough fuel in the car to make it through the test!
8. Exhaust
The exhaust needs to be held on securely and not have any holes (apart from the obvious one at the end!). If your car exhaust is sounding louder than normal there’s a good chance it has a hole in it. You might be able to tell by getting your ear low to the ground on the driver’s side and listening carefully as you blip the accelerator (when the car is parked). If you go over a bump and the exhaust clunks on the underside of the car, the rubber mounts may be worn and in need of replacement.
9. Horn
The horn needs to work and be loud enough to attract the attention of pedestrians or other motorists. Musical air horns are a guaranteed fail!
10. Mirrors
The mirrors need to be in place and secure, i.e. not held to the car with sticky tape and string. The glass shouldn’t be cracked or smashed.
11. Body
The car’s bodywork must be free from heavy corrosion, not be badly damaged or have sharp edges sticking out. The front doors should work from inside and outside and the rear doors will need to work so other parts of the test can be completed such as seat belt checks. The boot and bonnet need to close securely.
12. Brakes
Most checks on the braking system require specialist knowledge but there are some easy things you can test. Make sure the rubber on all the pedals isn’t worn away and if your car has ABS, the warning light should go out after the car is started. The hand brake should hold the car on a hill.
13. Number plates
Front and back plates need to be secured properly to the car and not cracked, faded or hidden by dirt.
The letters and numbers should be standard and evenly spaced.
14. Seat belts
All the seat belt buckles should latch and fasten securely and lock when you give them a sharp tug. The belts need to be in good condition, not cut or badly frayed. The seats must be firmly bolted down; grab the base of each seat and try rocking it.
15. Emissions
The best way to ensure your car passes the emissions test with ease is to have the car serviced prior to its MOT. On top of this, if your car hasn’t been run in a while or is mainly used for short town journeys, take it on a longer motorway type journey where a higher engine speed is sustained for a greater length of time. This helps to clean out sooty deposits from the engine prior to the emissions test.
Tyre And Tyre Safety Information
- More tread means more grip in wet driving conditions, keeping you and your passengers safe.
- Correct tyre pressures prolong the life of your tyres and improve the handling and safety of your vehicle. Correct tyre pressures leads to greater fuel economy and fewer trips to the fuel pumps.
- Correct wheel alignment reduces the chance of uneven/excessive tyre wear and handling issues associated with misalignment. Correct wheel alignment or tracking is another way to improve on your fuel economy.
- The legal limit for cars and vans is 1.6mm across the central 3/4s of the tread on your tyres. The legal limit for motorcycle tyres is 1mm across the whole tread area. Failure to meet these requirement may lead to 3 penalty points and up to a £2,500 fine for each tyre.
- Tread Wear Indicators are there to help you identify when your tyres need changing. When the tyre tread surface has worn down to the same level as the raised rubber indicators, tyre replacement is required. It is also important to be mindful of dangerous cuts cracks and bulges that can appear on your tyres. Look along the sides of your tyres, there will be a little triangle or the letters TWI *tread wear indicator* (there are usually up to 8 of these markers on each tyre) look over the tread area adjacent to these markings to find the raised limit.
Pop in to your local garage today for a free tyre check, tyre pressure check, tracking check and wheel balance check.
Click to buy tyres online
We stock a wide of range of BOSCH batteries, all of which are available to buy online. All of our batteries come with a 3 year guarantee as standard.
Your vehicles battery is the only source of power that starts your car. Batteries can deteriorate over time from lack of vehicle use – extreme temperatures – over-charging or undercharging from a faulty alternator – Loose terminal connections or loose/bad earth connections.
We offer a FREE fitting service on all batteries purchased from Garage Services – We will also check your vehicles charging system to ensure the alternator is charging the battery at the correct voltage.
Contact your local branch to book in for a free battery health check or buy a battery online today.
Vehicle diagnostics can reveal a number of problems associated with the gearbox, fuel tank, exhaust system and other components of the vehicle.
Modern vehicles designed with computer processors, microchips and sensors can be linked to a car diagnostic computer scan to pinpoint exactly where the problem exists.
Garage Services have the latest diagnostic equipment for the vast majority of cars and vans.
By carrying out a diagnostic test with the appropriate equipment, we can identify the fault with your vehicle and if required we can carry out the necessary repairs.
If we are unable to diagnose the fault we will not charge you for this service.
If you’re experiencing any warning light problems, or think you may have a diagnostic issue, contact your local garage today to book a diagnostics test.
Garage Services carry out braking system repairs at very competitive prices.
We offer a free brake check to all our customers for your safety and peace of mind.
Some vehicles rear braking systems use both a brake disc with brake pads and brake drums with shoes assembly – In these instances the brake shoes and drum are used for the handbrake only.
The inspection of vehicles with rear brake disc and drums may incur an additional charge. The reason for this is that the rear brake caliper and pads will need to be removed and the rear drum brake shoes may also need loosening off to enable us to remove the disc and drum assembly for inspection.
We can also service or replace
- Brake disc and pads
- Brake drums and shoes
- Broken or stretched handbrake cables.
- Flush the braking systems hydraulic fluid with fresh brake fluid.
- Replace faulty brake relay switches usually located behind the brake pedal.
Brakes show signs of wear and tear just like other areas of your vehicle. Symptoms to look out for are:
A squealing or grinding noise indicates that brake pads/discs require replacement although some cars have warning sensors to tell the motorist when brake replacement is necessary.
A brake judder normally indicates a distortion/fault in the brake discs, while pulling under braking suggests a fault with the brake calipers or another hydraulic component.
Spongy brakes may indicate a brake fluid leak or that the brake fluid needs changing. Because brake fluid is hygroscopic and absorbs water – most manufacturers now recommend a brake fluid change every two years.
Over time brake discs can wear thin and become “lipped”. When this occurs new pads can not be fitted without new brake discs as the braking performance and safety may be compromised.
If your brakes are experiencing any of the above symptoms get in touch and we’ll be happy to carry out a brake check free of charge. We can also carry out a test to measure the moisture content of the brake fluid in your hydraulic braking system.
Garages can replace clutches to most makes and models of cars.
All of our clutches are of the highest quality and are competitively priced.
How will I know if my clutch needs replacing?
Common symptoms of clutch wear include:
- Difficulty in engaging gears,
- Crunching noises,
- Juddering,
- Burning smells and loss of power – especially up hills
Clutch systems on many modern vehicles comprise clutch kits, concentric slave cylinders and dual mass-fly-wheels. We recommend replacing these inter-linked parts at the time of repair to avoid any future clutch problems.
If you cannot change gears whilst the engine is not running there may be a fault with the gear linkage or gear box. Garages will then recommend the best course of action.
Garages can also service or repair
- Clutch cable adjustments or replace worn or stretched cables
- Clutch hydraulic system fluid flush
- All associated clutch components
Exhausts And Catalytic Converters
On the majority of vehicles the exhaust system is made up of several sections.
These sections can include down pipes or headers, centre section, link pipes and back box. On some vehicles the catalytic converter can be an integral part of the down pipe or centre section.
Some V twin engines may have 2 catalytic converters. It is rare that the whole system will require replacement.
Technicians will carry out a free exhaust and catalytic converter check with the promise that no unnecessary work will be undertaken.
Does my exhaust need replacing?
- Loud roaring noises and rattles are a good indication that your exhaust system needs attention.
- A healthy exhaust system diverts noxious fumes safely away from the engine and your passengers. It is therefore important to check that your exhaust is functioning correctly.
- A healthy exhaust and catalytic convertor improves fuel economy and reduces harmful emissions.
Some catalytic converters are made up of honeycomb ceramic internals coated with expensive compounds that react with the exhaust gas to eliminate certain harmful emissions.
We have seen cases where the ceramic can break down either through vibration or even in severe cases of over fueling which can lead to the ceramic melting thus blocking the exhaust gases. This can lead to a very noticeable drop in your vehicles performance.
Contact your local branch today to have a free exhaust system check.
We offer an Air Conditioning Recharge service as well as an Air Con Purification service which keeps your vehicle both cool and fresh by neutralising bacteria and unpleasant smells.
Most modern cars come with air conditioning as standard. Climate control is similar to air-con but works in different ways.
Air con
Air conditioning cools air and allows the inside of the car to be colder than the outside. External temperatures can be high while chilled air from a compressor offsets the heat within the car.
To get the maximum blast of air conditioned flow, press the air con button (usually depicted by a snowflake-like symbol) and turn the temperature dial to ‘C’ or the blue zone of its range. If you want it warmer, turn it towards ‘H’ or the red zone: this gradually mixes in warmer air with the air conditioned charge.
As ambient temperatures, the amount of external heat and even the speed of the car all change, you’ll need to alter the temperature dial to maintain an even temperature inside the car. This means drivers have to sometimes adjust it quite frequently.
Air con should only be used when all your windows are up/closed.
Climate control
Think of this as smart air conditioning. Climate control still cools the air in summer, but it does so intelligently. You set a specific temperature on the dial, say, 21 °C and a computer uses sensors to vary the air conditioning output to maintain this.
It does not matter if it is +30 °C or -10 °C outside, the interior of your car will always be kept at the temperature you set. It does this by smartly blending cold and warm air, constantly adjusting the balance to maintain an interior climate.
Climate control also often offers ‘dual zone’ control. The passengers can set a different temperature zone to the driver. Very expensive cars have a multi-zone control, so those in the back can create their own temperature zone too.
Climate control requires sensors, digital displays and complicated algorithms to juggle fan speed, temperature flow and air con usage.
There is an added benefit to climate control though – Because it only uses the air con when needed, it has the potential to save you money. It may consume less power than standard air con which simply runs unchecked all the time.
Air Conditioning Re-charge
- Most manufacturers recommend that your air conditioning system is re-gassed every three to four years as the refrigerant used is slowly lost over time.
- Did you know that an efficient air conditioning system can be used to demist your windscreen more quickly even in cold, wet weather by using warm, dry air?
- A fully recharged air con system will also improve fuel economy by putting less strain on the engine.
- If an air con recharge is unsuccessful on your vehicle (because the system has developed a leak or there is fault with the compressor or condenser,) then there will be no charge. Our staff will be happy to advise you as to the best course of action.
When carrying out an air con recharge our staff will perform the following tasks:
- Check operation of air conditioning system – visual, temperature, leak checks
- Recovery of refrigerant, evacuation of air and moisture from system
- Inject fresh system lubricant
- Recharge refrigerant to recommended levels
- Add ultra-violet dye to aid with future leak detection
- Provide A/C report and print out on request.
Air Conditioning Purification
In addition to your air con re-charge Garages offer an Air con Purification service. This will keep your vehicle fresh smelling by circulating a cleaning agent through the air-con system, vents and intakes of your car. This neutralises bacteria and removes unpleasant smells.
Contact your nearest branch today to make an appointment or to find out more about our air conditioning purification service.
Suspension and steering faults cause poor handling and knocking noises and increases wear and stress on other associated parts.
This can lead to a shorter vehicle parts life, less driving satisfaction and additional future repair costs.
Steering and suspension systems are made up of several different components. These include steering rack, shock absorbers, coil springs, ball joints, lower arms, anti-roll bars, CV joints, track rods and track control arms . Their gradual deterioration may be difficult to detect and can have a negative effect on road handling, tyre wear and braking performance.
If you hear a droning noise when driving it is usually a sign that a wheel bearing is worn and needs replacing.
The track rod ends are adjusted to ensure the wheels are perfectly aligned “Tracking” and that tyre wear is minimised. The track rod end is a common wear item.
A CV joint or constant velocity joint is part of a drive shaft where the shaft that attaches to a cars transmission or gearbox at one end and the wheel hub at the other.
CV joints are designed to be able to bend in any direction while continuing to turn the drive wheels at a constant velocity. CV joints are mainly used in the drive shafts of front wheel drive cars.
Due to bumps and uneven surfaces on our UK roads, a cars wheels move up and down continuously while driving on the road, as a result, drive shafts cannot be made up of a solid shaft. The CV joint is used in front wheel drive cars because of its ability to maintain a constant drive force to the wheels despite the many different kinds of movements in the front end of the car. The CV joint is often found in rear wheel drive and 4×4 vehicles too. CV joints should be checked regularly and may need replacing as a car ages.
If you hear any unusual noises and are unsure whether your steering or suspension needs to be repaired. We offer Free Steering and Suspension Checks.
Contact your local garage to book your free suspension and steering check!
Timing Belt replacement tends to be an exercise that appears to make little difference to how a car runs.
A timing belt, timing chain or cambelt is a part of the engine that synchronises the rotation of the crankshaft (bottom end) and the camshaft (top end) so that the engines valves open and close at the correct times during each cylinders intake and exhaust strokes. The timing belt or chain is also critical to preventing the piston from striking the valves. A timing belt or cam belt is a belt that usually features teeth on the inside surface, while a timing chain is a roller chain.
It is important that you know the change interval of your timing belt/cambelt as going over the manufacturers’ recommendation can lead to a slipped or snapped belt. In many cases this can require a new engine or engine build costing hundreds if not thousands of pounds.
When is your timing belt due?
Click here or on the logo below to view your vehicle manufacturers recommended change interval.
Wheel Alignment
Many things can cause incorrect wheel alignment, for example; driving against a kerb, hitting a pothole or by worn suspension or steering components.
It’s worth keeping an eye out for unusual wear on your tyres, such as feathering on the inside or outside of the tread edges.
Incorrect wheel alignment or tracking can result in premature and uneven tyre wear and can affect the handling and safety of the vehicle.
Tracking the wheel alignment back to the manufacturer settings can help to:
- Limit excessive and uneven tyre wear
- Correct a misaligned steering wheel
- Improve handling and prevent pulling to one side
- Improve fuel consumption
To get the most out of your tyres add either a Wheel Alignment for only £29.00 or FREE Wheel Alignment Check to your basket with any online order today.
Wheel Balancing
Balancing your wheels can save you time and money.
Wheels that are out of balance usually produce a vibration above certain speeds that can be felt through the steering wheel.
Correctly balanced wheels help to eliminate this vibration, ensuring a smoother ride and help limit premature wear to suspension and steering components, rotating parts and tyres.
For only £5.00 per wheel, add wheel balancing to your basket with any online order today.
Metal parts of a vehicle generally rust or crack through weather and usage. They can usually be repaired by welding.
We are unable to quote for these repairs without seeing the vehicle & cleaning back the affected areas to reach solid metal.
There is a charge for this assessment service, however, if authorisation is given to continue with this repair this investigation time will be refunded.
- Welding repairs are sometimes required on older vehicles.
- Severe rust and corrosion can jeopardise the structural integrity and safety of a vehicle – especially one involved in an accident.
- Excessive corrosion near prescribed areas such as seat belts, suspension and steering components will need welding for the MOT Test.
Contact your local garage today to book an appointment and get a quote for all your welding needs.
Supply and fit tyres to any make of car or light van.
We can supply all brand named tyres such as Michelin, Goodyear, Dunlop, Continental, Bridgestone, Firestone and Pirelli.
We have 1000s of tyres in stock ready to fit including run flat tyres.
Please click on the button links to the left to get a competitive price and if you wish you can book online and have the tyres fitted at your convenience.
If we do not have a particular tyre in stock or available via our online tyre quote system, we can in some cases get the tyre/s the same day or at worst the very next day.
Also we provide a range of budget tyres to suit everyones pocket.