Questions to ask when taking your car for a service in South Africa

We need to maintain most things in life, including cars. Prevention is better than cure, so taking your car for a regular services will mean you’ll enjoy its continual optimal performance. You may save some money when missing a service, but you could also pay a lot more should something go seriously wrong at a later stage.¹

To make sure you’ll have a good and successful experience with your car’s next service, here are some helpful questions to ask your mechanic.¹

Get to know your mechanic or service manager

You are more likely to meet a mechanic when the business is small. This is because large dealerships servicing cars of international brands usually have a service manager who records what you need serviced. Establishing a relationship with either person will allow for good interaction and communication. It’s great to know that the mechanic or service manager has your best interests at heart.¹

Understanding what is wrong

There is no reason that you can’t question any car repair details. By asking pertinent questions, you can learn more about your car’s challenges. It also indicates that you care about your car and that you are not easily intimidated by mechanical terminology or jargon.¹

Paying for unnecessary repairs

Know what you are paying to make sure it isn’t for unnecessary repairs. If you don’t understand, ask a family member or trusted friend to help you. If you don’t feel confident to ask questions yourself, bring someone along who can ask on your behalf. In that way, you may feel more encouraged to ask questions yourself the next time.¹

Can you afford the service?

You might find yourself in the same situation as most motorists, needing to follow a strict budget and unable to pay for a full service. You could ask the mechanic which items they need to repair straightaway and which ones they can fix later, allowing you to budget for the next set of needed repairs.¹

Ignoring a repair job

Delaying a repair job does not make the problem go away. To safeguard yourself from greater expenses later, find out from a professional if it is a wise decision to wait. Remember you don’t have to accept the first verdict on a specific repair job. It’s preferable to get a second opinion, which could help you make the right decision, provided your vehicle isn’t at risk of further greater damage.¹

Is the mechanic using original parts under warranty?

A mechanic can lower their prices by not using original car parts that fall under the warranty of your car. So, make sure they uses original, good-quality car parts that are under warranty. This protects you from any financial consequences later when a replaced part fails.¹

Ask for a discount

It doesn’t cost you anything to ask for a discount on car parts, especially if you are a pensioner. And often, you may be pleasantly surprised.¹

Stick with large dealerships

It’s important to be sure that you can send your car back if a repair goes wrong. Stick to reputable businesses that are prepared to take accountability if something should go wrong after a service. So, find larger dealerships to service your car, especially those that guarantee their work.¹

Disclaimer

The purpose of this article is to protect you, the consumer, from spending money on unnecessary car repairs. Knowledge of how a car works empowers you and will give you the ability to know what to do when you take your car for a service.¹

Sources:

1. 1. 6 questions to ask when you take your car for a service