Has anyone had any questionable quotes from Kwik-Fit or other similar national garage chains?

The reason I ask is that last week my sisters partner took her car in for its MOT and it came back with a fail sheet and a quote of just over £1,200 for repairing the failures (and some work that the vehicle didn't need).

The failures were :
- Sticking caliper
- Brake pipes underneath car excessively corroded
- Drop link worn
- Low headlamp aim
- No fluid in screen wash reservoir

Also came with advisories that brake discs worn but still within legal limits, tyres worn on both outer edges, brake fluid low but not below minimum.

No problems with any of the failures/advisories because they're fair, my problem is with the work they've quoted for.

They've said to get it through its MOT it needs a new caliper, new brake pipes, new brakes and pads, 3 headlights need adjustment (there's only two last time I checked), wheels need aligning and the brake fluid needs topping up and the system flushing.

So for those that have seen the failures and then seen the remedies will notice a disparity.

The brakes and pads dont need replacing for the MOT test as it's not failed on them. The brake fluid is low because the brakes are worn (no leaks). The tyres suggest they've been running underinflated for sometime but in any case, unless the wheels are excessively out of alignment, there's no failure there.

They come across as a bunch of rogues, anybody else had anything similar?

smithster1001 said:

Has anyone had any questionable quotes from Kwik-Fit or other similar national garage chains?

The reason I ask is that last week my sisters partner took her car in for its MOT and it came back with a fail sheet and a quote of just over £1,200 for repairing the failures (and some work that the vehicle didn't need).

The failures were :
- Sticking caliper
- Brake pipes underneath car excessively corroded
- Drop link worn
- Low headlamp aim
- No fluid in screen wash reservoir

Also came with advisories that brake discs worn but still within legal limits, tyres worn on both outer edges, brake fluid low but not below minimum.

No problems with any of the failures/advisories because they're fair, my problem is with the work they've quoted for.

They've said to get it through its MOT it needs a new caliper, new brake pipes, new brakes and pads, 3 headlights need adjustment (there's only two last time I checked), wheels need aligning and the brake fluid needs topping up and the system flushing.

So for those that have seen the failures and then seen the remedies will notice a disparity.

The brakes and pads dont need replacing for the MOT test as it's not failed on them. The brake fluid is low because the brakes are worn (no leaks). The tyres suggest they've been running underinflated for sometime but in any case, unless the wheels are excessively out of alignment, there's no failure there.

They come across as a bunch of rogues, anybody else had anything similar?

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I was waiting in a Kwik-Fit once and saw a car that had failed it's MOT, quote was more than it's worth and ten one of the employees bought the car "to save the owner taking it to the scrapyard. Conflict of interest or what? I don't know what the failure(s) or quote where.


Robert G8RPI.

Why do some people take their cars to these places?!!!!!!! They are legendary for all the wrong reasons.

People use them because they think they're going to get a good service and a fair price because they're a big brand.

As for what you saw g8rpi, what an absolute joke, theres a definite conflict of interest there. I don't want to berate anyone that works there but it's just wrong.

smithster1001 said:

People use them because they think they're going to get a good service and a fair price because they're a big brand.

As for what you saw g8rpi, what an absolute joke, theres a definite conflict of interest there. I don't want to berate anyone that works there but it's just wrong.

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Some people are very naive then. Kwik Fit are well known for all the wrong reasons by many.

the brake fluid.. it might be leak-tight..

BUT NOT when they replace the pipes and hoses.


as you say.. that's not all MOT work.


we had our SEI brakes done at National Tyres ( due to handbrake MOT fail), job and price was FAIR..

but they inspected and quoted.. then found other issues ( which were almost certainly there),.. - but they should've seen them on the initial visit.
had a voucher for 20% off which helped..

I remember sons 307 failed MOT there on front suspension wear ,
quote was @£500 - buying parts cost @£80 - back when I could do such work.

Easy remedy. Go to a small local garage with a good reputation and ask their opinion. All this stuff may need doing, but their quote will be a lot less.

Kwik-Fit are ok for tyres, if you know you need them. For everything else, even the worst rogue in a backstreet is better.

portland_bill said:

Easy remedy. Go to a small local garage with a good reputation and ask their opinion. All this stuff may need doing, but their quote will be a lot less.

Kwik-Fit are ok for tyres, if you know you need them. For everything else, even the worst rogue in a backstreet is better.

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That is most definitely the easiest remedy. I've always used the same garage having found them by chance.

smithster1001 said:

That is most definitely the easiest remedy. I've always used the same garage having found them by chance.

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The last two small independent garages I found and trusted were both bought out by property developers, knocked down and blocks of flats built. Owners retired with a big cheque in their pocket having been unable to find alternative premises


Robert G8RPI.

I'm in the fortunate position of having a trusted mobile mechanic for the jobs I cannot tackle. No hiding place up here in the Highlands, you soon get found out if you are a dud.

Maybe its not fiat but a Ferrari. I also think the local dealer gets confused when he's looking in his parts bin , looking at what they as ask for parts lol.

Unfortunately, due to 'one hell of a year' I had completely sleepwalked through the new 2018 MOT changes, and wasn't aware of the new 'Dangerous' endorsement that, whilst it can be argued is no different to before, e.g. if you drive a 'dangerous' car, you run the risk of being stopped and getting points, is seeing peoples cars trapped at garages through fear of driving them home to fix themselves. However, I would argue that the average plod would have struggled to pick out dangerous from run of the mill failure - now it is spelled out in black and white for them. One example I read about was a woman who had a frayed passenger belt, automatically classed as dangerous by the computer and at a garage that didn't offer repairs, only MoTs, so unable to drive the car for repair even though she had no passenger!

So it might seem strange that we always had out MoTs done at the local KwikFit, this was mostly as they were the nearest garage and from the outset I let them know that any issues would be being fixed by me, I found them (or rather their MoT trained guy) to be surprisingly fair, knowledgable, and I've previously had more issues with smaller garages, the highlight being a 'failed' MoT on a 2002 Astra, up on the guys 2 post lift, whilst he tells me both front suspensions were 'hanging off loose, it's a well dangerous car mate, I can't believe you got here without killing someone or yourself'. My response - 'If you lower the car to the ground so the wheels are on the floor, pressing the cones into the turrets, you'll find it isn't an issue...'.

But had I known about the 'dangerous failure' thing I would never have set foot in the door of a KwikFit type place with my Panda ever again...

So as it was they said one tyre front, and one rear, had exposed cord and so we needed 4 new tyres and new discs and pads. It immediately became clear to me that I didn't actually recognise any of the people from before, and I knew I was in trouble. Quote - £500. During all this his mate was, I can only describe as 'briskly', moving my car onto the public road. No doubt a few people have just chucked the keys of uneconomical MoT failures at them and walked off?

Now, as someone else had said, for tyres they are much of a muchness, and it was easy to get that quote down to £180 or something. As I say, it has been a hell of the year and I kicked myself for not getting around to doing the brakes. Funny enough he conceeded the discs (their price £180!!) 'weren't all that bad', I got them to remove the tracking, and in the end the bill came to £270ish. Seeing as this is the most money we have ever spent on an MoT, you could argue that isn't all that bad, and wasn't worth the hastle of arguing too much over, since my girlfriend had only just come out of hospital (routine op, but not having our own transport if anything went wrong felt a bit of a gamble).

Anyway, the next day they give us a ring and cheerfully pronounce it's all ready. We go and pay and I drive off. 5 miles later the dualogic is making a noise like a tank, alarm comes on (and off) and it won't go into 1st anymore.

Did they do something? Prat about on a rolling road in semi-auto mode? Drop oil or fluid into the clutch or something? Disturb some wiring? We will never know, it would not be worth getting anyone to prove it (or not) for a 2006 Panda

Still, at least it's got 12 months MoT and 4 brand new tyres

Just in case anyone is going 'huh?' about the new MoT rules - https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-mot/

2018 MOT changes saw the reclassification of the criteria from advise/fail to Major/Minor.

The tester always had the option to endorse a defect as dangerous pre 2018.

There has been no change to how a dangerous defect is dealt with. Pre 2018 you could drive it away, if you so wanted to. This has NOT changed under the new 2018 rules. If you want to, you can drive it away from an MOT station to a different place of repair or home.

The choice is yours. The garage has no right to stop you or withhold your car should you want to remove it from them to a different place even with a "dangerous" defect recorded.

So in the case of the seat belt as an example, it would have been fine for the lady to drive away to a place of repair or to home to be fixed.

The details on the site link are incorrect as were many when the changes happened. This is the MOT manual and it DOESN'T say it can't be removed.

https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/manuals/class3457/Introduction.html#section_7

Also
https://mattersoftesting.blog.gov.uk/how-the-new-mot-defect-categories-will-work/

This is the advise given to MOT testers in their MOT blog. about dangerous defects.

They were very careful to state that they were not stopping me driving the car away, as indeed they would have been unable to do, however, the online government advice seems pretty crystal clear;

From https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/after-the-test

Driving a vehicle that’s failed
You can take your vehicle away if:

your current MOT certificate is still valid
no ‘dangerous’ problems were listed in the MOT

Otherwise, you’ll need to get it repaired before you can drive.

If you can take your vehicle away, it must still meet the minimum standards of roadworthiness at all times.

You can be fined up to £2,500, be banned from driving and get 3 penalty points for driving a vehicle that has failed its MOT because of a ‘dangerous’ problem.

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I agree the option was always there for a garage to call a car unroadworthy, or for plod to do you for the same MoT or not. As I say, if it had been something other than tyres, e.g. being something I can't do myself it wouldn't have troubled me too much to drive the 60 seconds or so home, although next year I'll be making sure that I use the garage opposite my Dads house, I'll push the thing across the road if I have to! And also yes, if I was the woman with the belt I would have just driven off!

Hi,

A frayed seat belt is not "Dangerous" it must be "webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened" to be dangerous. Brake disks have to be loose, broken or missing to be dangerous. Obviously we have not seen the car but it sounds like the only issue was the tyres. The only significant change with the new rules is the when you take your car for a MOT the old one is cancelled so if it is fail you can't continue to drive on the old MOT. THe .GOV guidance seems to contradict this, I think the problem is that the PNC will show the car as having no MOT so you are likely to get stopped. It will take a court case to determine this one. You can still drive it home from the test or to a locaton for repair (pre booking is a good idea in case you are stopped). You could not drive a "dangerous" car home under the old rules.. On disks, note that scoring is not a fail and thickness is subjective but if you know the OEM thickness limit and it;s not less than that you are OK. In cases of doubt they should give the lower assessment i.e minor rather than major.
Sounds like some garages are taking advantage.


Robert G8RPI.

Having done some more research, it.seems the advice has changed. Around May it was implied that the old MOT was cancelled, they now seem to be saying it isn't. I'm not sure why the change. Obviously if the car does not meet Construction and Use requirements, including things that are not covered by the MOT, you could get a ticket. It's still not clear if the Police National Computer (PNC) is updated with the failure date. This is important as PNC data is used for ANPR cameras as well a manual police checks. If the PNC records the latest failure you are much more likely to get stopped.

One thing is certain, the media spread lots of confusion and FUD over the new rules.


Robert G8RPI.

g8rpi said:

It will take a court case to determine this one.

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Indeed - but as someone that relies on maintaining a very clean licence for a living, it won't be me kicking the hornets nest

I should have also added that although we are only 60 seconds from garage to home, it means crossing a major A-road, one turnoff from which is the new combined Police and Road Traffic Section station - too risky.

One thing I am unclear on though - is it the *garage* that applies the dangerous endorsement or is it automatic based on the nature of the issue, I had assumed with the seatbelt lady that the reason it was classed as 'dangerous' was because all such seatbelt issues were automatically thrown up thus? Or does the garage have a free hand and that's the big issue?

Could a garage be a **** and state that a discoloured indicator is 'dangerous'?

datadiffusion said:

Indeed - but as someone that relies on maintaining a very clean licence for a living, it won't be me kicking the hornets nest

I should have also added that although we are only 60 seconds from garage to home, it means crossing a major A-road, one turnoff from which is the new combined Police and Road Traffic Section station - too risky.

One thing I am unclear on though - is it the *garage* that applies the dangerous endorsement or is it automatic based on the nature of the issue, I had assumed with the seatbelt lady that the reason it was classed as 'dangerous' was because all such seatbelt issues were automatically thrown up thus? Or does the garage have a free hand and that's the big issue?

Could a garage be a **** and state that a discoloured indicator is 'dangerous'?

Click to expand...

Dangerous issues are automatically labeled as such depending on what it is
Here's an extract from the not manual to show

datadiffusion said:

Indeed - but as someone that relies on maintaining a very clean licence for a living, it won't be me kicking the hornets nest
<SNIP>

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In that case I suggest you check your tyres more often. There's really no excuse for letting two get down to the cords. (someone had to say it)


Robert G8RPI.

g8rpi said:

In that case I suggest you check your tyres more often. There's really no excuse for letting two get down to the cords. (someone had to say it)


Robert G8RPI.

Click to expand...

Seeing as the rear two were replaced 6 months earlier, and we do about 5k a year in the car, and there was nothing visible, in hindsight I am beginning to think the 'nice guys' at that branch were moved on in search of targets. Easiest job in the world for a tyre garage to say the tyres are no good at MoT time, preferably 'dangerous', ideally one per axle, and throw them in the bin before the customer sees them, I suspect. Had it not been for everything else going on in the last 12 months, I would have been very tempted to ask to see the old ones.

Years ago I had to order the special tyres for my 4x4 following an 'advisory' from a different MoT garage, again I could see little wrong, I used the French company 'Pneus Online' who sent them by courier, and arranged for a local garage to fit them. The guy who fitted them said that he really couldn't see what the issue was with the old ones and suggested I had wasted my money!