September 2021

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.

If you find yourself always at the dealer for repairs and need to decide if you should continue to repair or junk your used car, please see the resource below.

According to bicycle accident attorneys, in a perfect world all cyclists will have a full understanding of what they should do after an accident. With this being said however, the shock of the situation and the potential injuries afterwards, often mean that cyclists will have a tough time making sure that they follow the steps which they should do. This even includes minor sideswipe accidents. To help you get prepared for this kind of event, and of course we hope that it doesn’t happen, it is important to understand the common mistakes which are made.

Not Leaving a Police Report

Unfortunately it is quite common for the police to be more interested in the driver of a motor vehicle rather than the injured cyclist. This is not so much a mistake on the part of the cyclist, as much as it is the fault of the police. It is however important that a police statement is made by the cyclist so that it is registered.

Failure to Preserve Evidence

Whilst it may not seem like much, the clothes and even the bicycle could prove to play a significant role in attributing blame after these kinds of accidents. It is also worth keeping the equipment to one side for future use, rather than washing or throwing away the clothes which were being worn during the accident.

Negotiating With The Driver

Most drivers who know that this was their fault will try and negotiate with the cyclist so that they do not push this case forward any further. This is not a good way to negotiate however and there are a couple of reasons why. Firstly it may be that the driver changes their mind later on, and you may have not followed steps at the time which will help lawyers as a result of a deal. Secondly you honestly have no ideas of the extent of your injuries or the status of the driver until some days after the event.

Negotiating With Insurance Companies

You may find that the insurance company of the guilty party seeks to get in touch with you and offers some level of compensation. What they are trying to do here is get ahead of the curve and pay out far less than they will have to if the case moves forward to court. If you receive a call from the insurance company then simply say that you will be in touch with them in due course.

Not Calling a Lawyer

It is always worth getting legal advice after this kind of event, as you need to know what your rights are. Even if you push the case forward there is no obligation to call a lawyer, but it will always make the best sense. Representing yourself can be tough and the best option is to get in touch with a great personal injury lawyer which specializes in bicycle accidents. .

Try to avoid these mistakes if this kind of event should ever take place.