Travelling for the holidays?
If you have ever broken down or been involved in an accident in a small town en route to holiday, you will relate to the feelings of frustration in trying to find a dealer who can assist you without compromising your car’s warranty.
With just two weeks to go before the big December holiday rush, the good news for holidaymakers this year, said Kate Elliott, CEO of Right to Repair, is that the new competition guidelines will make it easier to manage the crisis now that the market has opened up to include all accredited independent service providers.
In terms of the new guidelines, you have the right to choose your service provider. An independent service provider can now service and perform maintenance and repairs on cars both during the in-warranty period and after.
“This clearly makes life easier for motorists who find themselves in a bind. You just need to make sure you are using an accredited workshop,” she said. If you are involved in an accident, you will need to check with your insurer which repairers are accredited for that area. Elliott said just as the original equipment manufacturers had to comply with the new guidelines, so too do the insurers have to, and in future, they cannot restrict their panels. This should make life easier going forward, should you find yourself in the unfortunate circumstance of having an accident in a small town.
At least you will now you should be able to find a local approved repairer to carry out the repair work, without having to first tow your vehicle for hundreds of kilometres.
Here are some useful hints and tips to keep you safe while travelling:
• Start off by ensuring you have done all pre-holiday checks on your car first, so there are no unexpected surprises on route.
• Know your route – Google the route you intend travelling and the distances between towns before you leave. This way you can plan your fuel usage and stop at familiar places for a top-up. If you are driving on a golden oldie route, check if the service stations have workshops.
• Have your insurers’ and your local workshops’ phone numbers handy so they can advise you of the closest support centre in case of an emergency. • Check that your spare wheel is in your boot and is properly inflated. The same applies to your jack. • Spare keys? Where are they? If they are not with you, make sure they are readily available.
• If you intend going off the beaten track, pack some “I won’t need that” stuff. Some cable ties, a rope, battery charger cables, water and a spare fan belt would be worth considering.
• Have all emergency numbers handy, specifically the police (10111), ambulance services (10177) and emergency services: Emer-G-Med (086 100 7911)/Netcare 911 (082 911)/ER24 (084 124).
“Remember that the holiday season is also the time when opportunistic criminals take chances. Make sure your car’s locking system works, that your bags containing valuables are hidden, and if necessary, carry these bags with you when getting out of the car for a break.
Also, remember your journey is a destination, not a race – so take it slow and enjoy the ride,” said Elliott.
Source: Cathy Findley PR
