Kwik Fit MOT - horror stories or fine?
Discussion
I know many people in the general population take the Martin Money Saver view that:
- Kwik Fit MOTs are a false economy (at £25/30)
- because they will "find issues" that aren't actually MOT failures and get to you to pay for unnecessary work (or at least work that doesn't NEED done to pass an MOT)
- you should go to council MOT centres if your car is middle aged for the fairest assessments
BUT I have never encountered an issue at Kwik Fit, and always find they're OK for basic stuff that I need done in a hurry (a quick tyre change, discs and pads if i can't be arsed on the runaround).
I guess the average person has no clue what is actually performed in an MOT test, but from my limited knowledge isn't SOME of it statutory and well-defined?
- the tyre either does or does not have adequate tread
- the brake disc either is or is not too heavily lipped
- the emissions pass or fail or a calibrated instrument
To what extent do they have true flexibility to create fails where there aren't really fails? What sort of stuff can a car fail on that is in any way subjective?!
I grew up in NI where garages do not have the right to conduct MOTs and all cars HAVE TO BE assessed by the local government - any time I've sat and watched the test (which only takes about fifteen minutes) it's all done quite quickly and I've not really seen much that a modern car could fail on that isn't done by a machine or precise measurement tool...
Is Joe Public just getting worked up that Kwik Fit try to sell "recommended work"? I have no problem saying no thanks to stuff which isn't compulsory.
- Kwik Fit MOTs are a false economy (at £25/30)
- because they will "find issues" that aren't actually MOT failures and get to you to pay for unnecessary work (or at least work that doesn't NEED done to pass an MOT)
- you should go to council MOT centres if your car is middle aged for the fairest assessments
BUT I have never encountered an issue at Kwik Fit, and always find they're OK for basic stuff that I need done in a hurry (a quick tyre change, discs and pads if i can't be arsed on the runaround).
I guess the average person has no clue what is actually performed in an MOT test, but from my limited knowledge isn't SOME of it statutory and well-defined?
- the tyre either does or does not have adequate tread
- the brake disc either is or is not too heavily lipped
- the emissions pass or fail or a calibrated instrument
To what extent do they have true flexibility to create fails where there aren't really fails? What sort of stuff can a car fail on that is in any way subjective?!
I grew up in NI where garages do not have the right to conduct MOTs and all cars HAVE TO BE assessed by the local government - any time I've sat and watched the test (which only takes about fifteen minutes) it's all done quite quickly and I've not really seen much that a modern car could fail on that isn't done by a machine or precise measurement tool...
Is Joe Public just getting worked up that Kwik Fit try to sell "recommended work"? I have no problem saying no thanks to stuff which isn't compulsory.
Edited by JohnnyMc on Tuesday 20th March 18:16
As with many I think it depends on the particular garage. I use them for mine and they've always offered the work but never pushed it (ie "do you want us to quote for that"). When the MPS once failed on emissions they said it was almost certainly exhaust and recommended taking it elsewhere for repairs.
They've never been anything other than fair either...although that might be because I'm one of the few that watches and shows an interest!
They've never been anything other than fair either...although that might be because I'm one of the few that watches and shows an interest!
Why did they have to run a whole advertising campaign with the strapline "We're the ones to trust"...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1j7733DfD...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1j7733DfD...
I've actually used Kwik Fit to MOT both my CLS63 and my Twingo RS without any problem. Admittedly that's all I'd use them for!
The reason being that I can book a slot for the MOT and sit and wait for it to be done. They are both low mileage, low useage cars and neither time have they tried to extort any money with finding faults that aren't there.
The reason being that I can book a slot for the MOT and sit and wait for it to be done. They are both low mileage, low useage cars and neither time have they tried to extort any money with finding faults that aren't there.
Best bet is have a friendly local mechanic that knows the MOT tester at whatever cheap MOT testing branch - pay your mechanic the normal test fee of ~£55, he takes it to his friendly tester who doesn't f
k him about/if there are issues will pass as advisory on the proviso the friendly local mechanic sorts them. Friendly mechanic takes the full fee and pockets the difference for time, you get a MOT with only the real issues disclosed which can then be sorted at a mutually convenient time over the next few weeks unless hugely dangerous.
Best of both worlds.
k him about/if there are issues will pass as advisory on the proviso the friendly local mechanic sorts them. Friendly mechanic takes the full fee and pockets the difference for time, you get a MOT with only the real issues disclosed which can then be sorted at a mutually convenient time over the next few weeks unless hugely dangerous.Best of both worlds.
Alex_225 said:
I've actually used Kwik Fit to MOT both my CLS63 and my Twingo RS without any problem. Admittedly that's all I'd use them for!
The reason being that I can book a slot for the MOT and sit and wait for it to be done. They are both low mileage, low useage cars and neither time have they tried to extort any money with finding faults that aren't there.
Exactly this. The reason being that I can book a slot for the MOT and sit and wait for it to be done. They are both low mileage, low useage cars and neither time have they tried to extort any money with finding faults that aren't there.
They did my R56 MCS when it was due it's first MOT. Sub 20k miles they were never going to say anything was wrong.
At the minute however I use an old EP3 for a daily 120 miles and it's due its MOT. It is a banger, but nothing wrong with it, just a bit creaky in the steering like rack like all of Swindon's finest. This seems much more likely a candidate for an unjustified failure - I'm just trying to work out what, if anything they could possibly say if all the basics are right (lights perfect, tyres new, breaks new etc etc)...
I used the local Kwik fit when I misread the date due of my MOT, mistaking the 9th for the 19th. This meant I needed it done on a Saturday morning and it was the only place with a slot.
I hadn't had a chance to give the car any sort of look over and was expecting all sorts of recommended work to pop up.
I am a mechanic for a living but I kept that to myself, mainly to avoid embarrassment if there was something I had missed!
Passed no problems, mentioned brake pads were really low at front but didn't even suggest they would do them.
I hadn't had a chance to give the car any sort of look over and was expecting all sorts of recommended work to pop up.
I am a mechanic for a living but I kept that to myself, mainly to avoid embarrassment if there was something I had missed!
Passed no problems, mentioned brake pads were really low at front but didn't even suggest they would do them.
I used Kwik Fit in Wakefield when I discovered my A6 was 5mths over due, booked in with no hassle and the car passed first time without issue.
They did also provide a list of items they read from fault code and tested which ran to about £800 of work they would recommend but it was totally optional and independent of the MOT. It included stuff like a new battery as it was at 80% health for £140, tyres which were at 4.5mm all round, disks which had top edge corrosion etc...
Zero pressure on the list and they weren’t surprised when I didn’t have the work done. They aren’t my first choice but sorted a problem when I needed it - which is what they can be perfect for!
They did also provide a list of items they read from fault code and tested which ran to about £800 of work they would recommend but it was totally optional and independent of the MOT. It included stuff like a new battery as it was at 80% health for £140, tyres which were at 4.5mm all round, disks which had top edge corrosion etc...
Zero pressure on the list and they weren’t surprised when I didn’t have the work done. They aren’t my first choice but sorted a problem when I needed it - which is what they can be perfect for!
alorotom said:
I used Kwik Fit in Wakefield when I discovered my A6 was 5mths over due, booked in with no hassle and the car passed first time without issue.
They did also provide a list of items they read from fault code and tested which ran to about £800 of work they would recommend but it was totally optional and independent of the MOT. It included stuff like a new battery as it was at 80% health for £140, tyres which were at 4.5mm all round, disks which had top edge corrosion etc...
Zero pressure on the list and they weren’t surprised when I didn’t have the work done. They aren’t my first choice but sorted a problem when I needed it - which is what they can be perfect for!
Cheers for the insight mate - similar issue here. Just realised my MOT has been out for over a month. Surprised to read online (including ph) that ANPRs on the M25 and the like typically don't pick this up...They did also provide a list of items they read from fault code and tested which ran to about £800 of work they would recommend but it was totally optional and independent of the MOT. It included stuff like a new battery as it was at 80% health for £140, tyres which were at 4.5mm all round, disks which had top edge corrosion etc...
Zero pressure on the list and they weren’t surprised when I didn’t have the work done. They aren’t my first choice but sorted a problem when I needed it - which is what they can be perfect for!
JohnnyMc said:
I guess the average person has no clue what is actually performed in an MOT test, but from my limited knowledge isn't is mostly statutory and well-defined?
- the tyre either does or does not have adequate tread
- the brake disc either is or is not too heavily lipped
- the emissions pass or fail or a calibrated instrument
There's a LOT more to it than that.- the tyre either does or does not have adequate tread
- the brake disc either is or is not too heavily lipped
- the emissions pass or fail or a calibrated instrument
JohnnyMc said:
To what extent do they have true flexibility to create fails where there aren't really fails? What sort of stuff can a car fail on that is in any way subjective?!
It is all well defined, and the full manual is online - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mot-ins...BUT there's a lot of tester's opinion in terms of what's acceptable play etc. Take front suspension: https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/m...
"Excessive movement". Next page refers to "roughness" in a wheel bearing. You simply can't have a strictly tangible measurement that could possibly apply to all types of suspension - which is why all testers need to be qualified and experienced mechanics.
JohnnyMc said:
I've not really seen much that a modern car could fail on that isn't done by a machine or precise measurement tool...
The machine wiggles the wheel. The tester looks for the movement, and makes a judgement call.JohnnyMc said:
Is Joe Public just getting worked up that Kwik Fit try to sell "recommended work"? I have no problem saying no thanks to stuff which isn't compulsory.
You might not, but when the fitter gives your missus or mum the "Oooh, it's dangerous, I can't possibly let you drive out..." spiel. Which they do. Frequently.KF are franchises, so some are considerably better than others. But the corporate oversight and enforcement of standards is clearly... lax.
TooMany2cvs said:
You might not, but when the fitter gives your missus or mum the "Oooh, it's dangerous, I can't possibly let you drive out..." spiel. Which they do. Frequently.
KF are franchises, so some are considerably better than others. But the corporate oversight and enforcement of standards is clearly... lax.
Cheers for the thorough reply!KF are franchises, so some are considerably better than others. But the corporate oversight and enforcement of standards is clearly... lax.
Funnily enough I was recommended a local 'friendly' garage that did MOT'S. My OH's Corsa failed on anti-roll bars and they suggested themselves for the work. It was a few orders of magnitude more than my usual mechanic ended up charging for the work. Not that I had an issue with it failing the MOT, but certainly they applied some pressure for me to carry out the work in their garage.
On the other hand I've used kwik fit for MOT'S on my Civic and always sailed through. Had new discs and pads fitted by them as well when I needed to get them done in a hurry. They replaced the exhaust on my old Panda for a reasonable cost with a 3 year warranty. At other times they've topped up my oil free of charge etc so I don't have a bad word to say about them. They've never once tried to rip me off and quite happy to price match tyres etc as well when I've asked previously.
On the other hand I've used kwik fit for MOT'S on my Civic and always sailed through. Had new discs and pads fitted by them as well when I needed to get them done in a hurry. They replaced the exhaust on my old Panda for a reasonable cost with a 3 year warranty. At other times they've topped up my oil free of charge etc so I don't have a bad word to say about them. They've never once tried to rip me off and quite happy to price match tyres etc as well when I've asked previously.
I take my cars to a private MOT only place where I can sit with a cup of tea adjacent to the ramp and chat to the tester as he does his work. He has no vested interest in finding spurious reasons to fail my cars as they don't do repairs.. If there is something not right he will find it and issue a fail. Fix it and take the car back within a week and it's passed at no extra cost. I have seen some of the cars passed by KF, probably for mates, and they were death traps. It's not unknown for them to smear oil on the shocks and say they are leaking, allegedly.
Based on experience of family/friends - I wouldn't use the branches local to us.
Without going into a tirade which could fill many pages - my professional opinion of them is not particularly high based on the not-unheard-of tactic of preying on the demographic who are not mechanically-minded - framing work that may not necessarily be needed as necessary. Such work may not then be undertaken to a standard that I would deem to be safe or competent.
There, I got through that bit without too much bias!
(I wouldn't trust them to navigate a toy-duck in a bath - much less work on a complex motor vehicle. Or a simple motor vehicle for that matter.)
Without going into a tirade which could fill many pages - my professional opinion of them is not particularly high based on the not-unheard-of tactic of preying on the demographic who are not mechanically-minded - framing work that may not necessarily be needed as necessary. Such work may not then be undertaken to a standard that I would deem to be safe or competent.
There, I got through that bit without too much bias!
(I wouldn't trust them to navigate a toy-duck in a bath - much less work on a complex motor vehicle. Or a simple motor vehicle for that matter.)
I’ve been to them twice in the last 5 months and both times fine. In fact better than other places I’ve used.
First time girlfriends car had a slow puncture, I expected them to up sell a new tyre. They removed a piece of metal and fixed the puncture for about £25. I asked how they reset the tpm and he even cane out to show us. Not much, but he didn’t have to do that.
Last week I wanted 4 new conti 6 fitted. To my surprise they were £15 per corner cheaper than black circles and cheaper by some way than anywhere else. I expected the up sell on balancing etc, they checked it for free and said nothing needed doing. I also booked a free brake test as I had some squeal. Was told the breaks were fine but they had given them a quick clean, see if that helped. Doesn’t squeal anymore.
No one is more shocked than me. We had the same guy both times. He will probably be sacked soon...
First time girlfriends car had a slow puncture, I expected them to up sell a new tyre. They removed a piece of metal and fixed the puncture for about £25. I asked how they reset the tpm and he even cane out to show us. Not much, but he didn’t have to do that.
Last week I wanted 4 new conti 6 fitted. To my surprise they were £15 per corner cheaper than black circles and cheaper by some way than anywhere else. I expected the up sell on balancing etc, they checked it for free and said nothing needed doing. I also booked a free brake test as I had some squeal. Was told the breaks were fine but they had given them a quick clean, see if that helped. Doesn’t squeal anymore.
No one is more shocked than me. We had the same guy both times. He will probably be sacked soon...
Flumpo said:
I’ve been to them twice in the last 5 months and both times fine. In fact better than other places I’ve used.
First time girlfriends car had a slow puncture, I expected them to up sell a new tyre. They removed a piece of metal and fixed the puncture for about £25. I asked how they reset the tpm and he even cane out to show us. Not much, but he didn’t have to do that.
Last week I wanted 4 new conti 6 fitted. To my surprise they were £15 per corner cheaper than black circles and cheaper by some way than anywhere else. I expected the up sell on balancing etc, they checked it for free and said nothing needed doing. I also booked a free brake test as I had some squeal. Was told the breaks were fine but they had given them a quick clean, see if that helped. Doesn’t squeal anymore.
No one is more shocked than me. We had the same guy both times. He will probably be sacked soon...
Sorry, I know you said specifically mot but thought this might be helpful.First time girlfriends car had a slow puncture, I expected them to up sell a new tyre. They removed a piece of metal and fixed the puncture for about £25. I asked how they reset the tpm and he even cane out to show us. Not much, but he didn’t have to do that.
Last week I wanted 4 new conti 6 fitted. To my surprise they were £15 per corner cheaper than black circles and cheaper by some way than anywhere else. I expected the up sell on balancing etc, they checked it for free and said nothing needed doing. I also booked a free brake test as I had some squeal. Was told the breaks were fine but they had given them a quick clean, see if that helped. Doesn’t squeal anymore.
No one is more shocked than me. We had the same guy both times. He will probably be sacked soon...
My local one is very good for mot's and will try and correct minor stuff during the test.
He spent 10 mins trying to get the number plate light to work.
A couple of small advisory's were noted but no pressure.
These Included a nail in a tyre the repair was done for a fiver as i'd had the mot done. No pressure for extra work at all
He spent 10 mins trying to get the number plate light to work.
A couple of small advisory's were noted but no pressure.
These Included a nail in a tyre the repair was done for a fiver as i'd had the mot done. No pressure for extra work at all
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