Cost of service and MOT?

puddy

just had my car put in for service and MOT

in the summer, i had a bit of trouble with the car, looked on tinternet for a local mechanic and one lives just around the corner. he charged £15 to come out and fix it, it was only a stuck plug (or something like that). i had phoned some others and they were charging £50 for a call out, so i liked the fact that he was nice, cheap and reassuring that there wasnt much wrong with the car. i decided then, that i would use himm for a service and mot in january when its due. we have moved to the area in the summer and i used to use kwik fit where i used to live and felt i was ripped off last time as they charged me £264 for new brake discs and pads

so, monday, battery went flat due to some problem with the lights, which meant they were left on all day after i turned the car off and i couldnt get back into the car because the key wouldnt work (something electric i think)

so today, he came to jump start it to take it in, recharge and do the mot and service.

i said, how much for the service and mot, he said, 120 for the service, 75 for the mot, so 195 for everything!

i thought it would be much cheaper than this for a local mechanic, plus i thought that mot's were 53 quid as standard?

im sure my friend said she pays £60 for her service?? i will check with her later. he said he does the full lot, changes oil, looks at plugs, over hauls it etc (although i dont know what that means) he may be including the price for the call out and recharge i suppose....

Hintza

Who istaking it to the MOT station and waiting for it to be done?

I am also assuming that if he does it regularly the MOT station will let him sort out any niggles quickly and efficiently without the hassle of a retest.

But why not ask him why £75 for MOT?

puddy

MOT station? what is this, doesnt he do it?

Anihilator

£120 seems entirely fair if its a comprehensive service
The MOT fee is approximately £55 however factor in his time to arrange for it. No doubt he will do some pre MOT checks.

He also hasnt charged you at all it sounds to come out and collect it/jump start it.

Its not his fault you know nothing about the basics and neeed to pay someone to do this commercially.

I would also add that your complaint about Kwik Fit seems again a bit harsh. Not the best price but not ludicrous.

puddy

ok, i didnt know he would be taking it somewhere else

i dont know that hes not charging me to come out, i havent had the final bill yet, i only asked him what the cost for the mot and service was, and he told me, i would expect to pay him for this as its a service he performed.

what do you mean 'its not his fault i know nothing about the basics'?!

i didnt accuse him of anything, i simply asked if this price was ok, it seems high to me. had i known that he takes it somewhere else for the MOT, then i think i would have organised a service with him and then taken it for the MOT somewhere else saving me £20

having only had a car for 2 years, i have only ever taken it to kwik fit for mot and servicing, i had no idea about MOT stations, why would i. the mechanic wouldnt be able to do my job and understand it, and i wouldnt be able to do his, hence the need for questions on MSE!!!

puddy

oh, its a micra (54) automatic if that makes a difference

Anihilator

jenner wrote: »

ok, i didnt know he would be taking it somewhere else

i dont know that hes not charging me to come out, i havent had the final bill yet, i only asked him what the cost for the mot and service was, and he told me, i would expect to pay him for this as its a service he performed.

what do you mean 'its not his fault i know nothing about the basics'?!

i didnt accuse him of anything, i simply asked if this price was ok, it seems high to me. had i known that he takes it somewhere else for the MOT, then i think i would have organised a service with him and then taken it for the MOT somewhere else saving me £20

having only had a car for 2 years, i have only ever taken it to kwik fit for mot and servicing, i had no idea about MOT stations, why would i. the mechanic wouldnt be able to do my job and understand it, and i wouldnt be able to do his, hence the need for questions on MSE!!!

And if the mechanic needed your skills he'd expect to be charged and not run about badmouthing your prices about something he knew nothing about.

Your MOT may cost £20 more but it will save you a fortune if he fixes any minor problems first rather than dumping a fail in.

puddy

im not sure i was badmouthing the price, i was asking if it was ok?

bit touchy arent we?

puddy

i always find this sort of thing odd. the expectation (from some on here) that if you ask a question about something, you are somewhat irresponsible for not knowing the answers.

you live in a house, drive a car, own a computer, go shopping, go on holidays, engage with the neighbours, have relationships, have a job, dont have a job, watch telly, have a social life, dont have a social life,,, etc etc etc etc

but to do any of the above, or not,,,, you MUST know all about it, you must know how your TV works, computer works, have perfect interaction with neighbours and partners, have a perfect job and abilities, know how your house is constructed, have no queries about them at all and above all, you must know basic maintenance for your car or you shouldnt be driving or owning one!!!!

have a good evening:money:

elektra-2007

I just paid £200 from a main dealer with 10% off and I had to take it there and pick it back up, lucilky my probs were coverd by warrenty, but If you pay around £200 for a full service including plugs, oils, filters ect then I think thats a good price. Mine was only oil, brake fluid and filters. If you use this mechanic regularly and he gets to know your car surley thats better, After all im sure kwik fit wouldnt have come and took your car for you.

rev_henry

To answer your original question OP, the cost seems reasonable to me. Yes the max chargeable for an MOT is set by VOSA at £54 but he's probably charging you for his time to have a poke around and take it to the test centre himself. You seem to have found yourself a good local mechanic.
Has he now taken the car away and is already doing the work? Or were you wanting some advice to shop around?