Dealership or independent garage for servicing??

Snuggles

My Yaris is due it's 4 year/40000 mile service (I've only actually done 20000 miles). While it was under warranty, I've always taken it to the Toyota dealership for servicing. However they have quoted me £270 for this service, which is a bit eye watering.

So I'm wondering if I should take it to an independent garage. The trouble is I know nothing about cars, and I don't really know how I would judge if an independent garage was likely to be any good. Would I therefore be better off sticking with the dealership?

Also, if I do decide to go with an independent, do I just tell them I want a 40000 mile service, or will I have to spell out to them what I want doing (as per the service schedule for the car?)

I keep thinking it's probably mad to pay dealership prices, but I'm a bit anxious about using an independent garage!

staffie1

£270 isn't bad for a full service and MOT at a dealership where the technicians are trained to work on your model of car and will fit genuine Toyota parts. I always take mine to the dealership for service and it's 8 yrs old. It gives me peace of mind. They are reliable, good reputation and the repairs are guaranteed.

dieselhead

The best way to find a garage is through recommendation, personally, I don't hold dealerships in any higher esteem than any other garage and all the garages I have been to have offered guarantees on their work. You should only need to ask the garage to service the car and do the MOT if necessary.

Why not ask friends for recommendations and then ring round for quotes.

jeannieblue

That service at that mileage would probably be at least half that where I work. We service a car thoroughly but only replace what needs to be replaced, therefore not wasting peoples hard earned money.

Alot of dealerships do not take into account low mileage etc and have set prices for the services.

Yaris' are good easy to maintain cars. Please ask around friends and colleagues etc and try and find somewhere that will service your car according to its needs and not spend your money unnecessarily.

What area (roughly) are you in? There may be someone on here near you that they can recommend.

Snuggles

jeannieblue wrote: »

That service at that mileage would probably be at least half that where I work. We service a car thoroughly but only replace what needs to be replaced, therefore not wasting peoples hard earned money.

Alot of dealerships do not take into account low mileage etc and have set prices for the services.

Yaris' are good easy to maintain cars. Please ask around friends and colleagues etc and try and find somewhere that will service your car according to its needs and not spend your money unnecessarily.

What area (roughly) are you in? There may be someone on here near you that they can recommend.

Hi jeannie, I am in the Richmond area of North Yorkshire.

MORPH3US

Even if you do take it to a dealership, shop around....

GF has a Fiesta that we got from Bristol Street Motors. They wanted £160 for the 12,500 / 1 year service.

A small individual dealer a bit further away only charged us £89 and it was still a Ford garage so no problems with warranty etc

Premier_2

Snuggles wrote: »

...Also, if I do decide to go with an independent, do I just tell them I want a 40000 mile service, or will I have to spell out to them what I want doing (as per the service schedule for the car?)

I keep thinking it's probably mad to pay dealership prices, but I'm a bit anxious about using an independent garage!

There are good independant garages who will do as good if not better job than a main dealer.

There are also some main dealers that do an awful job.

Once you have found a good independant, just ask them to carry out a 40,000 mile service in line with the manufacturers specification - it's then up to the garage to do what you have asked. Don't try and do their job for them; they are the experts (hopefully).

Btw, no one ever needs to use a main dealer, even if the vehicle is under warranty. The only permitted requirement for vehicles under warranty is that the terms may require the vehicle to be serviced in line with manufacturers specification. They cannot insist it is serviced by a main or franchised dealer.

Armengar

I suppose it comes down to the fact of "do you trust the garage". I would rather pay £270 for a trustworthy garage that actually do the work rather than a £135 garage that "possibly does the work". Ask work colleagues what garage they use, if they would recommend them etc.

Personally I have always used a local "mom and pop" garage (that predominantly sell cars but they started doing that whilst ive been going there for the past 15 years). I will be continuing to do so with my brand new car (in line with what the above poster says - to keep the warranty it must be in line with the schedule and use approved lubricants & parts)

Just_Incredible

I service my own car myself, gives me the benefit of doing something right

engine flush
new oil
oil filter
air filter
pollen filter
fuel filter
spark plugs
top up windscreen washer
check brakes/renew & bleed brake fluid if neccessary
flush & renew coolant/antifreee if neccessary
clean throttle body & injectors

only cost me around £50 for the parts and I always do an oil change and filter every 6000 miles or 6 months, whichever is sooner