Authorized Service Center Vs Local Garage - Where Should You Get Your Car Serviced?

Servicing your vehicle is an integral part of the overall ownership. The vehicle owners are often left with choosing between the authorised service centre and the local roadside garage. If you wonder which one of these will better service your vehicle, here is a detailed authorised service centre vs regional garage comparison.

Authorised Service Center

Pros

• The warranty on the vehicle will not get void.
• The technicians at the authorised service centres are well versed with the vehicle and will be able to diagnose a problem better.
• You need not worry about the parts being genuine.
• The quality of the work is expected to be better.
• The proper maintenance schedule is followed, and the critical parts are replaced at the correct intervals.

Cons

• The cost of labour is prohibitive.
• The authorised service centre usually experiences a high workload, due to which the technicians may hurry and may not address all the issues adequately.
• Most authorized service centres will not let you stay near the car while your car/bike is being worked upon.

Local Garage

Pros

• Cheap labour helps keep the overall costs in check.
• May save you from expensive repair bills.
• Some mechanics go the extra mile to deliver an excellent service experience and address all the issues with the car.
• You can choose what parts, oils, and other components are used in your car. Some service centres do not let owners use any other engine oil apart from that recommended by the brand.

Cons

• Modern vehicles are heavily loaded with electronics and complex systems, making it difficult to diagnose the issues correctly without any advanced equipment that the authorised service centres are equipped with.
• The parts used during the service may not be genuine.
• The local mechanics may not know everything about each vehicle in great detail.
• Vehicle manufacturers often release updates for the vehicles, and the roadside garages will not have access to these.

Final Verdict

Considering what has been discussed so far in this authorised service centre vs local garage battle, we suggest you get your car serviced every year at the authorised service centre if your overall use is low. At the same time, if your running is high, you can alternate between these as this will ensure that you do not get high bills. At the same time, your car/bike gets maximum care.

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