Free Vehicle Check Services - Dec 2018

Cornucopia

Free checks currently available from Halfords and Kwik-fit.

Kwik-fit Winter Safety Check

Halfords Tyre Check

Halfords Brake Check

jimbo6977

I bet they are....

wgl2014

Whilst fine in principle these offers are notorious for recommending unnecessary work.

I would suggest a second opinion on any work that is suggested before you end up having discs, pads and tyres all round!

Cornucopia

I had my car checked by Kwik-fit a few weeks ago, and the only thing they recommended was to get the battery/alternator checked at the main dealer under warranty. No hard sell on any of their own services.

I'm sure that they DO offer these services as a loss-leader, but we wouldn't be MSEers if we couldn't say no/second opinion/think about it/ask OH/etc. etc. for any additional work suggested.

EssexExile

The Quick Fit one is things you should do regularly anyway, the Halfords ones are just visual checks. I'm old & decrepit but even I can look at my brakes & tyres.

datostar

When I took my car to Kwik Fit last year for the simple task of buying and fitting a new tyre, they put the car up on a lift and stated poking around underneath which I thought was a strange way to change a tyre. I asked what was going on and was told this was a 'free safety check'. Obviously whether I wanted one or not. In the event even they found nothing wrong and got on and changed the tyre with the car back on the ground.

m0bov

Scam stay well clear.

Cornucopia

m0bov wrote: »

Scam stay well clear.

Technically, something that is provided for free cannot be a "scam".

Certainly, my experience at Kiwk-fit was that they do not even take credit card details, so there is no possibility of being charged unless additional work is specified and permission given to complete it.

AdrianC

So what do they include...?

Kwik-Fit wrote:

To keep you moving this winter we’ll check your car's:

• Tyres - We will check the overall condition of your tyres including the tread depth and pressure
• Battery – We will test the batteries charge to ensure you keep moving this winter
• Coolant / Anti-freeze – We will check the strength and levels
• Wiper blades for splits or damage
• Operation of the windscreen wash system and the level of screen wash and top this up if necessary
• Light bulbs – faulty or broken bulbs are illegal
• TPMS – inspected to ensure correct operation

So that's just a basic once-around. No more than that. The only things that are actually requiring tools are the battery charge (voltmeter - a couple of quid to buy one) and coolant (hygrometer - couple of quid to buy one, but unless you've been topping it up with plain water, irrelevant - and if you're topping it up, why does it need it? Fix the leak first)

Halfords_tyres wrote:

Q. What's included?

Our Free Tyre Check includes a thorough visual inspection of tread depth and wear by our ATA-trained technicians. We'll also check tyre pressure and look for damage to side walls.

Why aren't you doing this every week or two anyway?

Halfords_brakes wrote:

Q. What does the free brake check include?


Our free brake check covers a visual inspection of all components in your car brake system. Our ATA-trained technicians look at brake pads, shoes, callipers, hoses, discs, and handbrake linkages.

Oooh! Something that actually goes beyond what Joe Public can do in a minute or two at home...! But all of which really should be part of any "service" worthy of the name, anyway.

Cornucopia

I think a lot of drivers (probably most) do not carry out this kind of routine maintenance on a regular basis, and many do not know how to.

On which basis, I can't see anything wrong with taking advantage of these offers as long as people understand (just with any other offer we might consider here) that the companies do not do this for good car karma, but at the very least expect to create goodwill that will make you think of them if/when you do need work doing.

AdrianC

Cornucopia wrote: »

I think a lot of drivers (probably most) do not carry out this kind of routine maintenance on a regular basis, and many do not know how to.

They should. It's all absolutely basic skills, and they've been part of the driving test for a decade and a half.