There was a time when the only real option when it came to getting your car serviced was to take it back to the dealer you bought it from. This was generally because other garages often found it difficult to get hold of parts such as brake calipers for your particular make and model. In fairness that wasn’t the sole reason, as using your authorised dealer ensured that your service history was always kept up to date which is obviously beneficial when you come to either selling or trading in your car for a new model.

These days, a lot more independent garages have sprung up who will quite often provide the same quality of service at a more competitive price. As a result of new European Legislation that was brought in during 2003, an independent garage has the ability to service and repair vehicles without invalidating manufacturer warranty. The …