As people prepare themselves for their festive season travels, they should spare some time to prepare their vehicles as well.
Lucious Bodibe, public affairs manager of Motor Industry Ombudsman of South Africa, issued some tips to help motorists deal with service and repairing issues before its too late.
They are:
- Plan the servicing of your vehicle as soon as possible. Servicing dealerships and workshops, including fitment centres, are extremely busy this time of the year. It is therefore important not to wait until it is too late to book your vehicle in for a service, repairs or inspection
- Servicing dealerships and workshops stock necessary and in-demand parts, they do not usually keep slow-moving components. These parts will only be ordered when there is a need for them and therefore the time needed for the parts to arrive could take longer than usual
- It is always safe to ask for a written quotation, be it for repairs or service. This will assist you to identify the type of service or repairs required. If a servicing dealership or workshop provides you with an inspection report or recommendations during the service, view it in a serious light and authorise the repairs if you can afford it. If not, you can reject the quotation and shop around for an affordable option from another reputable workshop
- Collect your costing invoice when the service is completed. The invoice often reflects warranty conditions at the bottom or on the reverse side. This report is crucial in the event of a claim or should a dispute arise as a result of any failure or defect in the service. You can even ask for a copy of the physical job card for your records.
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