Believe it or not there are only a few weeks left until the December school holidays start. Now is the time to consider getting your pre-holiday vehicle checks done before the last-minute scramble begins, advises Les Mc Master, Chairman of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA).
“Every year workshops get flooded in December with motorists wanting vehicle checks and needing repairs just days before they plan to leave on holiday. What motorists don’t realise is that should maintenance be needed on their vehicle and spare parts are not in stock, these need to be ordered. This could take several days, if they are available at all. It is risky leaving things to the last minute and could put a real dampener on holiday plans,” he says.
Typically workshops start offering free or discounted vehicle checks at this time of year and Mc Master strongly recommends that vehicle owners take advantage of these offers. “MIWA itself is running a free Holiday Safety Check campaign throughout November at its workshops nationwide.”
The mechanics will do a thorough check of the vehicle which will include a road test and an assessment of the following parts:
- Lights
- Suspension
- Drive lines
- Brakes
- Tyres, including the spare and tools
- Fluid levels
- Wipers and windscreen
- V Belts, and
- Exhaust.
If a problem is identified, the mechanic will be able to advise the vehicle owner and provide a quote for repairs needed. No repairs will be done without the consent of the owner, he explains.
For a list of MIWA workshops, vehicle owners can visit the MIWA site: www.miwasa.com.
“There’s nothing worse than having your holiday plans delayed or cancelled because of car issues. Don’t wait until December. Get your vehicle holiday-ready now,” concludes Mc Master.