Halfords MOT Beckenham - Anyone?

bluedrop

Hi all,
My cars first MOT is due. Its done 7000 miles in 3 years, regularly serviced. I'm planning to take it to Halfords Autocentre at Beckenham for MOT. If anyone here had their MOT done there recently, please can you share your feedback?

Many thanks!

bertiewhite

I would never use Halfords, Kwik-fit or any of the large chains because in my experience, they have a vested interest in finding things wrong that they can put right.

Ebe_Scrooge

Agreed, ask on your local community facebook page for recommendations for a decent local independant mechanic. Failing that, a lot of people swear by council test centres - they only do MOTs, not repairs, so have no incentive to "find" work that needs doing.


As a slight aside - 7000 miles in 3 years ? That's very low - it may almost make financial sense to get rid of the car and just hire one when you need one. There's a lot of expense in running a car, it sounds like you could well manage without one ? Just an idea - seeing as how this is MSE, after all

Strider590

It's a bad idea, the items they try to up sell, are usually things where the original item would last 2 or 3 times longer (like exhaust systems).

The back box on my old Vectra lasted 12 years (and was in perfect condition apart from a bit of surface rust), despite a few places trying to sell me a new one.

Chrishazle

I've used Halfords Autocentre Ashford for both my cars for many years now (£20 of Tesco Clubcard vouchers get £60 of Halfords voucher, which covers the cost of the MoT). They have never tried to upsell any parts, products etc, just done the MoT. Most recent one, car failed on dodgy front side lights, so I changed all 4 in their car park, demonstrated to the test guy and left with a pass cert.

OK, that's Ashford - Folkestone was a different matter the one time I had to use them, simply because the tester was a grumpy old swine, very unhelpful. Can't help with the guys at Beckenham, hope they're more Ashford than Folkestone!

Dakota_Deville

It all depends on the manager.
The one I used to use in London was fine and the only time we were let down was when my daughter took her car in an automatic, they said front pads needing doing - she bought some from Eurocarparts for a few quid an a bloke at work fitted them free of charge but the pads had loads of meat left on them - the man would not accept any money and the Halfords regualr manager was on leave. Having said that, I know a bit about cars and they have always been good to me and my family - but one 5 miles away, cowboy manager as he said my barkes and discs needed repalcing on my autmatioc car, did not even took the wheels off and tried hard sell and belittle me saying I needed them done - got second opion fro kwikfit did not say anyhting to them and I double checked brakes were fine and passed mot few months later.

So, all in all depends on manager and the workers - go on recommedaitions or see their reviews on line.