Brits are becoming happier with their garages and service centres.
That’s the conclusion of a trade body which annually asks motorists about their experiences.The survey of 1,000 car owners by The Motor Ombudsman, the automotive dispute resolution provider, has revealed that consumers have an increasingly favourable perception of the vehicle service and repair sector when compared to the same period last year.
It showed that 51% of respondents enjoyed a positive experience, versus 44% in 2017, whilst 39% of individuals expressed a neutral view in 2018 compared to 45% 12 months earlier.
The results of the yearly research, which is carried out by the body to gauge the opinion of motorists on different aspects of the automotive industry, and their awareness of The Motor Ombudsman and its role, saw 57% of male drivers being complementary about the sector, in contrast to 46% of their female counterparts. In addition, those aged between 18 to 35, and individuals living in the South, hold this area of the motor industry in the highest regard (65% and 51% of participants respectively).
Drivers were also asked if they had a complaint with their garage (including those related to vehicle maintenance), and if so, was it resolved.
Encouragingly, out of the 49% of respondents who had an issue, 91% stated they had successfully concluded it directly with a garage or vehicle manufacturer (up from 87% in 2017 and 83% in 2016). Since January this year, the major source of consumer contacts to The Motor Ombudsman’s impartial alternative dispute resolution (ADR) service, concerning its Service and Repair Code of Practice, has been in regard to the level of workmanship, staff attitude, the booking in process, and potentially misleading advertising.