With rising fuel prices, road tax, insurance and parking is it any wonder that more and more people are opting to hold on to their car for longer. But the older your car is the more expensive it is to keep on the road, so we have five tips to cut the cost of servicing writes Geraldine Herbert
Shop around
An older car can cost up to 50% more to maintain each year than a new one, so it pays to shop around when it comes to servicing. Costs even vary between franchised dealers, so don’t just return to the one where you bought your car. There can also be significant regional price differences on labour charges.
Franchised Dealers
Many franchises offer fixed-price servicing for cars over a certain age The benefit of this, is that not only will you get an affordable service but you will be guaranteed that manufacturer-trained technicians will work on your car using original parts.
Independent Garages
If you do go to an independent garage, ensure it is VAT-registered and make sure the parts and fluids used are genuine manufacturer products. Get receipts and part serial numbers to prove this. .
Timing
Always stick to your car’s servicing schedule as this will save you money in the long run and ensure that the servicing book is stamped.
Warranty
Read your warranty document thoroughly before booking your car in for servicing. If your car needs some warranty work carried out, however, this must be done at a franchised dealer in order to keep your warranty intact.
Geraldine Herbert
8th April, 2015
RT 
