At one time most people especially owners of more high-end motors would always go to the main dealership when their car needed a repair or servicing. There were several very valid reasons for making this choice, such as access to specialist parts and the need to keep that all-important service history up to date.

However, more recently there are many more independent garages available that can provide the same level of service often at a lower price. Under European Legislation introduced in 2003 Independent garages can now service and repair cars without adversely affecting a manufacturers warranty. This legislation was brought in to promote competition and to prevent car manufacturers from stopping independent garages servicing and repairing cars as long as they adhere to a car makers regulations.

This now gives the car owner a much wider choice but are you getting a better service. So, we thought we would have a look at the pros and cons of using the main dealership when you need work doing on your car.

Pros

Probably the biggest reason for using the dealership is that you are 100% certain that your warranty will be preserved. As you know the dealership will be using authentic parts, which along with approved work and certification gives you a certain peace of mind.

Another advantage of a main dealership is that having work completed there will often protect the residual value of your car. This is especially true if you regularly change your car at that dealership as they will usually offer you a better price when you trade in your old car with them.

When you have work done on your car by the main dealership every component is certified by the manufacturer. They also have the most up to date diagnostic tools and equipment.

All the technicians at a dealership will have specialist knowledge of all the models in the manufacturer’s range. This means that the person servicing or repairing your car will theoretically have all the relevant skills and knowledge to guarantee a quality service.

The reasons listed above are some of the main benefits of using the main dealership now let’s have a look at some of the disadvantages.

Cons

Probably the biggest downside of main dealerships is that they are more expensive than an independent. This is because they will almost always have much larger overheads as a result of high-end facilities, larger staff numbers and hidden charges.

Before having work done why not ask for a breakdown of charges to help you assess whether you feel it is value for money.

Another disadvantage is that you don’t always get the same level of personal service at a dealership. This is usually as a result of the amount of work they take on meaning that staff often become disconnected from their client base.

In conclusion, there is no right and wrong decision, if you are looking for say an Audi R8 clutch replacement make sure you do your research to make sure you get the best deal. Whether that is with a main dealership or an independent because there are advantages and disadvantages of both.