Finding a reliable mechanic
The UK has many great mechanics out there, however, there isn’t really a website we can turn to for useful insight into the garage’s reliability. Whilst most garages are very reliable, we all arrive with uncertainty if we have never used that particularly garage previously.
It’s very similar to choosing a builder, or say, someone to tile your roof. Whilst we may have used that business in the past, it could be a completely new builder or tiler. After all, the quality service they provided 5 years ago may have slipped significantly since.
While garages do have ratings under the ‘Good Garage Scheme’, you have to wonder how these garages were provided their ratings. Do they give the garage a ‘heads up’? Or do they use the garages services without them knowing? The latter, you would think, would be the most efficient option.
Although there are many schemes that provide impartial advice on what garages they recommend, our advice is to choose The Retail Motor Industry Federation’s Trust My Garage Scheme, comes pretty close. They have over 2,000 garages in their scheme, and frequently check that the garage is working to the required standards.
Moving onto The Motor Codes, this scheme must comply with guidelines with the UK trading standards. Motor Code has over 8,000 garages on their books, which are checked regularly by the AA. Motor Code checks their garages whilst Trading Standards UK, check their work. The Motor Code is constantly connected with the Trading Standards Department, so you can be sure that any garages under this scheme are likely to give you an honest, reliable service.
