Buying a Service Plan from a Dealership

fred246

Much easier to service it yourself. Do it when it's most convenient.

Jenni_D

Which dealer? (I know someone who sells service plans for Vertu Motors ... the parent group of many dealers, like Bristol Street Motors, Macklin Motors, etc.). According to them you get a better deal than what the dealer can offer - allegedly.  

BOWFER

JamoLew said:

The bit that gets me is all the "extras" they try and flog you

Gearbox oil change -- ooo that'll be £90 - we really do recommend you get that done
Brake Fluid change -- ooo that'll be £90 - we really do recommend you get that done

Well include it in the service then !!

Oh, sorry, it won't be ready for another 60min while we wash and valet it 

Don't bother and knock some £ off (always wondered how much the "free" wash and valet costs)

Or - drop if off at 9 -- ok, done
I phone at 12 -- is it ready yet ?
They say: its not due to be done untill 2pm 
Me: so why did I have to drop it off at 9am then !

Set me off now, on a Friday as well 

The latest thing is a 'fuel system flush'
I was sitting in Kia 2 years ago and watch them hassle an old lady to get it.
When the staff went away, I told her to save her money and she plucked up the courage to tell them to poke it.

Penelopa.Pitstop

Never had issue with any service plan. Mercedes just did what was planned and Audi sent me list of what's included in 3 year plan. That plan was underwritten by WVFS and Audi dealer contacted VWFS to confirm the work to be done and once did more than needed, all included in price.

Friend took finance on her latest car to get 2 free services, 2 MOTs and extended warranty for 2 years. She planned to pay by cash, but salesman manipulated finance a bit, to very small amount only and she can settle it any time.

EssexExile

Both this Volvo and the previous Honda came with service plans. No problem with either, Honda tried to sell add-ons but didn't push it too hard. Volvo just pick up the car in morning and return it in the evening. 

Nobbie1967

I’d always assumed they were cheap because a certain proportion of owners will sell the car before the services they’ve paid for are due, particularly now many cars are on 2 year service periods. Pay upfront for two services and then chop it in for a new car on PCP after 3 years and one service. Plus there’s also the opportunity to upsell additional stuff.

moneysavinghero

JamoLew said:

The bit that gets me is all the "extras" they try and flog you

Gearbox oil change -- ooo that'll be £90 - we really do recommend you get that done
Brake Fluid change -- ooo that'll be £90 - we really do recommend you get that done

Well include it in the service then !!

Oh, sorry, it won't be ready for another 60min while we wash and valet it 

Don't bother and knock some £ off (always wondered how much the "free" wash and valet costs)

Or - drop if off at 9 -- ok, done
I phone at 12 -- is it ready yet ?
They say: its not due to be done untill 2pm 
Me: so why did I have to drop it off at 9am then !

Set me off now, on a Friday as well 

I always used to get a phone call saying that the Air Con needing doing and did i want to go ahead. Always had to tell them that the car didn't have air con. Wish i'd gone along with it just to see if they would have actually tried to charge me for it.

Ebe_Scrooge

fred246 said:

Much easier to service it yourself. Do it when it's most convenient.

Good old Fred :-)

In some regards I wholeheartedly agree with you - routine servicing is not difficult, especially on older cars, and I've always serviced mine.  But many people have neither the experience nor the desire to do it themselves.  It's easy for me as I've been tinkering with cars since I was a lad, starting out when I was young helping my dad service & repair his cars (and de-coking the head on a few occasions, who's old enough to remember that?).  Now I have a garage full of tools and a nice big driveway where I can tinker in peace to my heart's content.  But I wouldn't fancy trying it if I lived in a flat in the town centre with the car parked at the side of a busy road, lugging tools up and down flights of stairs.

motorguy

LouiseAH said:

I am looking to buy a car from a dealership. I have already visited a few dealerships and test drove a few cars that I am interested in buying. When I was in the dealerships they mentioned the service plans they had for sale. In one dealership if I got the car on finance I could get 2 services, 1 major and 1 minor for £79.00. I have never bought a service plan before. Is there a catch, will the dealership service the car and then find extra work to try and extract cash from my pocket? The car will have low mileage at the time of the services. 

Make sure you check the APR rate of the finance.  If its as cheap as you can get then £79 is a great deal, BUT watch the finance APR.

motorguy

Nobbie1967 said:

I’d always assumed they were cheap because a certain proportion of owners will sell the car before the services they’ve paid for are due, particularly now many cars are on 2 year service periods. Pay upfront for two services and then chop it in for a new car on PCP after 3 years and one service. Plus there’s also the opportunity to upsell additional stuff.

They're cheap because generally speaking it will be via a manufacturer backed finance deal rather than a third party.  They can offer cheap / free servicing as an enticement.  You can often get the finance rate at no more than you'd pay elsewhere so its a win win but its very worth confirming that.