Keeping your car in peak driving condition is not an option while driving in the West Midlands. It’s a necessity. You must have absolute control over the steering and all the critical functions if you have to drive around the infamous ‘Spaghetti Junction’, which handles a whopping 220,000-plus vehicles daily.
It doesn’t come as a shock to read the DVSA reports that about 40 per cent of vehicles fail their first MOT. Neglected maintenance is the top reason. If you are regularly driving on congested roads, such as the Aston Expressway, it is imperative that you get your car service Birmingham done regularly and at a reputable garage.
Most car drivers in Birmingham, and across the UK, believe that regular car service is about compliance with regulations. They are missing the point. It’s about avoiding breakdowns in high-traffic areas. It is also about driving safely, avoiding accidents, and saving lives.
Birmingham Drivers – Stick to This Car Maintenance Checklist
Keep local challenges in mind when you take your car for servicing the next time. An experienced and customer-friendly service station in Birmingham will focus on:
- Tyres: Your car tyres must be in good condition to deal with potholes and bad roads.
- Brakes: For driving on steep streets like Constitution Hill, the car must go through the hill-start system check.
- Battery: Stress testing is a must to drive through Birmingham’s start-stop traffic, such as on Broad Street.
- Air Filters: In the city centre, where pollution exceeds WHO limits 18 days every year, your car’s air filters must be in peak-performance mode.
The MOT Test Challenge
Is your car registered more than three years ago? You must go for an MOT test. Let’s take a look at this Birmingham-specific data:
Top Reasons for MOT Test Failure:
- Light Issues 28 per cent – Your car must have well-lit and properly functioning lights.
- Suspension problems 19 per cent – Over 7000 potholes are filled annually. Your car’s suspension must work perfectly while driving on such roads.
- Brake performance 15 per cent – An impeccable braking system is a must-have while driving on 40mph bends (Hagley’s Road is an example).
- Hidden Danger: One in every five MOT failures in Birmingham involves serious defects that need urgent attention and repairs.
Useful Tip: Local garages offer 25 per cent faster turnaround times from April to June. Book your MOT Birmingham accordingly.
Birmingham Garage Scenario
Not all garages offer the same kind of quality car service Birmingham. There are over 300 garages throughout the city. Choose a trusted resource.
The Red Flags
Avoid using the services of garages offering fixed-price MOTs below the DVSA’s maximum fee of £54.85.
The Green Flags
Some garages offer real-time video updates of car servicing. Choose such accredited garages.
Look for garages with fair and transparent pricing. For your information, labour rates in the city centre hover around £60–£85/hr and £45–£65/hr in the suburbs.
Neglecting Maintenance Comes at a Hefty Price
Are you ignoring routine maintenance for your car? It can hit you hard in many ways in Birmingham.
Financially:
- It will cost you £150+ in the city centre traffic for an average breakdown repair work.
- A failed MOT retest is 30 per cent more costly, and that includes garage storage fees.
Safety:
- Vehicle defects are responsible for a large number of accidents every year in the West Midlands.
Convenience:
- It has been observed that rush-hour breakdowns on the M6 are responsible for delays of four hours or more.
How to Future-Proof Your Driving in Birmingham
The car service situation in Birmingham is evolving to meet the changing demands of car drivers. These services are now tuned with an eye on the future.
Some of the key trends observed in car servicing are:
- Eco-Services: A good percentage of local garages now support green vehicles by providing specialised hybrid batteries.
- Mobile Services: Birmingham garages have increased the convenience level for customers with their 24/7 mobile mechanic service. These services cover a wide range of repairs and can be availed in areas such as the Chinese Quarter and Digbeth.
- Integrating Technology: New apps have been developed to provide customers with real-time service tracking features. They improve transparency and offer peace of mind.
What to Remember on Your Next Car Service in Birmingham
With Birmingham focused on expanding the Clean Air Zone, complying with emission regulations is important. Local garages perform 25 per cent of all their services. Local garages now report that they now receive a good number of hybrid and electric cars for servicing than before. Progressive car servicing outlets are now offering EV battery health diagnostics and regenerative braking systems.
When To Book
You must plan your car servicing and MOT well in advance and also identify the garage where you want to visit for these services.
- Car service is done annually or every 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.
- The MOT test must be done before the current certificate expires. Fines for late tests begin at £1,000.
- A pre-MOT check may be a wise choice as it can catch most of the usual failures early.
Conclusion
Not carrying out the maintenance of your car regularly can result in stiff fines and compromised safety. Arrange your car service and MOT test with a respected and known vehicle servicing provider in Birmingham. It assures the safety and longevity of your car as well as a nice driving experience.
