cheap MOT kettering?

smithers1981

It's that time of year again MOT due on my 53 plate Mondeo, last year cost £600 so am wanting to try a new garage i am also borderline phobic when it comes to MOT's dread it from about 5 months before test due.

Halfords currently half price MOT but am a bit dubious as to whether they will rip me off about any work they tell me needs doing.

Car drives well enough it may need 2 new rear tyres but nothing else i can see wrong with it.

I've checked out the good garage guide but best rated garages are full priced MOT's, is it best to gamble on half price test or not?

Anyone recommend a garage in kettering (northants) area?

Foxy-Stoat_3

If the car is regularly serviced and inspected then MOT time shouldn't be very expensive.

It's when the people only spend money on their car when something breaks or the MOT tester tells you that you have 4 bold tyres. This sort of thing should of been picked up by the driver when the tyres are 2.0m left of tread. a 53 reg car shouldn't have much rust to worry about, so how did it cost you £600 last time??

I would go to a MOT only garage, that way they won't try and charge you unnecessary work and find a small local garage to carry out servicing. If you go armed with costs for various repairs, brakes, discs etc and ask them to quote before you get the work done, you should be able to judge if the price is reasonable or not.

Pythagoras

I can recommend Kettering Motorist Centre on Trafalgar Rd (justbehind B & Q and the closed down Comet). They were friendly, honest aboutany problems and were reasonably priced. I’ve not used them myself for a fewyears because I now have a company car, but my mum, dad and brother all usethem and seem quite happy with the service. Not sure how much they currently chargefor an MOT though; but they will only do additional works that actually need doing for the MOT.

rxbren

some are cheap for the reason of bending you over just take it to a council run station and stop being so tight

balletshoes

council-run MOT station gets my vote too - and if you think you need new tyres, get them checked and replaced before the MOT.

Destination_..._?

I've always had my car serviced and Mot at the same garage at different times. In doing so , avoiding the hassle and stress of going to different places , increasing risk of being ripped off . I chose them on the basis which they have proven to be , excellent and honest in their job . Stopped me in the past doing unessary work to my vehicles . Find a good local garage , stick with them , will save u lots of money in the long run .

WallaceAndGrommit

Pythagoras wrote: »

I can recommend Kettering Motorist Centre on Trafalgar Rd (justbehind B & Q and the closed down Comet). They were friendly, honest aboutany problems and were reasonably priced. I’ve not used them myself for a fewyears because I now have a company car, but my mum, dad and brother all usethem and seem quite happy with the service. Not sure how much they currently chargefor an MOT though; but they will only do additional works that actually need doing for the MOT.

I just thought I would answer that with my own experience with this garage. We too were "head over heels" with the honest experience for quite a while, and down to earth prices.

That ended when they suggested a head gasket on a car with coolant loss, when in fact the car only had a stuck (closed) thermostat which was boiling away the water leading to the higher thermostat and water loss. I can tell you which of the two ended up a lot cheaper to repair.

That advice may have (perhaps) resulted from inexperience rather than deliberate attempt to mislead, but either way not ideal for the motorist and I certainly wouldn't recommend them and having seen this recommendation thought I would add a different side of the coin.