Is your vehicle suffering from a fault? Do you want professional vehicle servicing at a cheaper price? By visiting a local independent garage instead of a dealership, you can receive top-quality service from trained mechanics — and all at a fraction of the cost. 70% of drivers said they preferred visiting a local mechanic instead of a dealership, and we’ve revealed the reasons why.
Price
Independent garages operate at a far smaller scale than large dealerships. As a result, independent garages have fewer overheads and can offer their services at a lower price.
But a lower price doesn’t mean a lower-quality service. You’ll typically find that technicians at local independent garages are fully trained and qualified. Many are even former technicians from franchise dealerships.
Supporting Local Businesses
One of the top reasons people choose local independent garages over dealerships is because they like to support local businesses. A local independent garage will have a much smaller revenue stream than a franchised dealership. Your service as a customer will be more appreciated by independent garages and will have a greater impact on the business’ development.
A personal service/better customer service
Customer satisfaction is key to an independent garage, as they rely on positive reviews and word of mouth to build a customer base. Consequently, you’ll typically find that employees will go the extra mile to help you.
Unlike franchised dealerships, you’ll be able to speak directly to the mechanic working on your vehicle. This one-to-one interaction allows for a more personalised service. Independent garages are able to tailor their services to meet your needs, unlike franchised dealers which typically stick to a rigid service list.
Local and convenient
Franchised dealerships are usually located in city centres or other built-up areas. If you live in a rural area, a local garage may be the closest option. Independent garages are often located in villages and small towns. Not only will you save money on services by visiting your local garage, you’ll also save petrol money and valuable travel time.
Keep your warranty intact
Contrary to popular belief, you won’t void your warranty by using the services at independent local garages. Many of these garages source spare parts directly from the official manufacturer. You’ll receive identical replacement parts as you would if you went to an official dealership — but at a fraction of the cost.
Oaks Services are proud to be an independent garage local to the Surrey area. From our Chertsey base, our servicing and testing centre serves Weybridge, Woking, Addlestone, Staines and all the surrounding Surrey areas. We’re proud to offer some of the most competitive prices in the industry, including offers such as half-price MOTs with every service. If you’re interested in any of our professional vehicle services, get in touch with our team today.
