Confused by car servicing? We've spoken to our friends at Bosch Car Service to help make a visit to the garage a more pleasant experience for women...

A recent survey commissioned by Bosch Car Service showed that most women still leave the job of getting their car serviced to men. Just three in 10 women said they take their own cars for a service, and more than 50% admitted that they passed on this responsibility to the men in their lives. This is perhaps because they are less confident that they will get a good service; it’s not been uncommon in the past for women to feel like they have been patronised – or even ripped off – at the garage. Indeed, Bosch Car Service’s survey showed that 35% of women were not confident that they would have a good experience at a garage, compared with just 24% of men.

A good service for all
Bosch Car Service’s Howard Price, brand manager, said: ‘The industry has come a long way in terms of overall opinions towards car servicing; the majority of the general public – 70% – now say that they feel confident they would get a good experience when taking their cars for a service. However, this sentiment is less true with women than it is with men. Car servicing professionals need to do all they can to change this, and to build the same levels of confidence among all customers, regardless of whether they are male or female.’

At Bosch Car Service, we want to ensure all our customers feel at ease, regardless of their gender or any other factor. That, to us, means making sure our services are always transparent and fair, and making sure our customer service is second-to-none. Every garage in our network is carefully vetted before becoming a member and, once they are on-board, they then work to an Office of Fair Trading-approved code of practice. All of our garages also employ qualified and trained technicians, using the latest diagnostic equipment and quality parts for servicing and repair.

And our system works. Our yearly customer satisfaction surveys show consistently high results, with 2010 being one of our best yet; 99% of our customers said they would use the same garage again, and would also recommend it to a friend or family member.

Bosch Car Service is a national network of independent garages, now comprising of over 500 members in the UK and Ireland. It was set up by household name Bosch, in 2003, to provide motorists with a high quality and competent alternative to car servicing and repair, for all vehicle makes and models.

Prepare for winter
Another factor that is equally important to us at Bosch Car Service is road safety. In 2010, there were 222,000 people reported injured in road accidents in the UK, with just over 2,000 of these sadly resulting in fatalities. A large part of staying safe on the roads means having a vehicle that is safe to drive. And in winter, with driving conditions harsher and nights longer, keeping the car in top condition is imperative. Many of our garages offer quick, hassle-free winter checks to ensure your car is fit for the winter season. From checking your brakes, lights and anti-freeze levels to checking the grip on your tyres, winter checks can be a crucial part of staying safe on the roads. And many of our garages offer basic checks free-of-charge.

As well as bringing your car in for a service, successful vehicle maintenance starts with its owner. There are many things you can do yourself to keep your vehicle in the best possible condition between services. Regular car maintenance checks will help you spot minor issues before they become costly or worsen into damage that is dangerous or breaking the law. Checking that the pressure of your tyres is correct is one of the easiest things you can do. As well as keeping you safe, it is also better for the environment and will save you money because under-inflated tyres create more rolling resistance, which consumes more fuel. Tyre tread depth should also be checked regularly; look for excessive or uneven wear or damage, check the tread wear indicators on the tyres (in the bottom of the tread grooves around the whole wheel), and remove any stones that may have become stuck in the grooves. You should also keep track of fluid levels in the vehicle, such as the engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid and screen wash. Keeping these all topped up is really important in maintaining a safe vehicle. If you perform regular checks of the fluids, you will also be able to detect any leaks if levels suddenly drop.

‘We want our customers to be 100% satisfied with the service they receive at Bosch Car Service garages,’ said Howard. ‘And we want everyone to feel welcome.  All garages have a duty to reassure all their visitors, and make an effort to explain to them about any problems that are detected in their vehicles to make sure they gain an understanding – and therefore a confidence – in maintaining a car, detecting faults, and staying safe on the roads.’

Customers can now also take advantage of Bosch Car Service’s new online booking system. The new system allows customers to locate their nearest Bosch Car Service garage and book their vehicle in for their service or MOT. Customers can book a Gold, Silver or Bronze service, an MOT and various other repair jobs. The system also shows the cost they will be expected to pay for each service they have booked.

To find out more about Bosch Car Service or to book an appointment, please visit www.boschcarservice.co.uk/athome.