Tips for Choosing a Commercial Vehicle Repair Company

When you have a fleet of vehicles for your company, looking after these is important for the efficient running of your business, which is why you need to find a reliable and capable company to service and repair them when things go wrong.

But how do you go about finding such a company? Rather than employing the services of the first vehicle repair company you find, we’ve put together a list of the key considerations you should be making when scoping your local area for the most reliable and trustworthy business to trust your vehicles with, at the most efficient price.

From Lorry Loaders to Truck Repairs: The Importance of Finding the Right Repair Company

Whether your commercial vehicle is more specialised or as simple as being a car or a van, there are a number of reasons why it is important to look around for the right company to suit your needs.

Firstly, it will be in the best interest of your staff’s safety. Finding a reliable and capable company who know what they’re doing and have plenty of experience with whatever commercial vehicle you require to be serviced ensures that they will actually fix the issue at hand, so that when the vehicle is back on the road whoever will be driving it will not be at risk of further problems occurring that may put their and/or others’ safety at risk.

Trying to keep expenditures as cost-effective as possible is key for every business. This is why it will be in your best interest to scout various repair companies for the best price - best meaning the one that is most suitable for your budget.

Finding the right company now will also save you time, and potentially money, in the future. If you can find a commercial vehicle repair company whose service you're happy with and you are willing to pay for, then establishing a positive relationship with them and becoming a returning customer means you know that you can rely on them if and when necessary in the future. Not only will you not have to worry about spending your time searching for someone to repair your vehicle, but by becoming a valued customer they will be familiar with your needs and are more likely to prioritise these in emergency situations.

Things to Look Out For

Licence and Certification

When something goes wrong with your commercial vehicle, it is important for you to have the piece of mind that it is being handled and repaired by someone who knows what they’re doing and will get the job done, rather than worrying that they won’t actually be able to fix the problem or cause further issues.

One of the best ways to determine that a mechanic or mechanics at an auto-repair shop have the knowledge and capability you expect them to is by checking whether they have certification. If they aren’t displaying all their relevant certifications already, then you can ask to see these. This will allow you to verify their qualifications and see what relevant repair and maintenance work they are able to do, as well as how up-to-date their knowledge and skills of such practices are.

It is also important to check that they have a licence. Having a licence indicates that they have the appropriate permissions to operate their business. Not having a licence could suggest that a business does not conduct itself professionally and is more likely to end in poor service or scams.

Experience

Just as important as certification, if not more, is experience. A vehicle repair company that has been in business for many years, or at least employs mechanics who possess years of experience in the trade, will have worked with more vehicles that have had an array of issues, making them more adept at diagnosing various problems and overcoming any complications that may arise.

They will also be more experienced in dealing with customers and what to do to ensure customer satisfaction. An experienced, prosperous business will understand the importance customer satisfaction plays in securing their reputation, so you can rest-assured that they will meet your customer service expectations as well as your vehicle service expectations.

Pricing

Vehicle repair can be expensive, especially when you own many vehicles that may need maintenance overtime, so you will understandably want to find the best deal available. In spite of this, don’t be fooled by the cheapest quotes. While it is good to look around and compare prices, if one is significantly cheaper than the rest then there is often a reason for this - that reason being the price will likely reflect the service you’d get.

Competitive prices are better than the cheapest prices, as they allow you to find the most affordable deal that is still realistic for the repair work you require. Furthermore, consider it a red flag if a company is not willing to give you an upfront estimate of how much all your repair work will cost (and explain exactly what repairs are needed), as this implies that they are either unprofessional or dishonest, and will try to charge you more than necessary.

Finding the best deal is about finding the most cost-effective solution, so other factors such as experience, qualifications and reviews all tie in together when deciding which company offers the best price to you.

Visit their Garage

One of the best ways to get an idea of how well someone works and treats their customers is through observations. Don’t hesitate to visit them and have a look at their working environment, how they operate and interact with customers.

A professional auto repair company will ideally work in an organised environment, allowing their mechanics to get work done efficiently and without hazard. On your visit, note how the staff treat any customers or how they treat you if asking them your own questions - doing so will give you an idea on how approachable and helpful they are, as well as how knowledgeable they are about their work, thus reflecting their likely reliability.

Check Reviews

Online reviews and word of mouth are upon the most powerful of evidence in determining the reliability of a business and the quality of the services they offer. Reading online reviews from real customers will paint you an overall picture of how well they treat their customers and if their service is worth your money.

When searching for online reviews, try to look on sites that are reliable (such as Google reviews) rather than relying on those on a company’s own website, as this will ensure you’re reading the opinions of real customers.

Likewise, personal recommendations from friends, family and acquaintances who you know can be trusted reflects favourably on a company whose repair services you are considering using.

Additional Services

Even if you don’t require them, it is a positive sign when a vehicle repair company offers additional services. For example, if they offer commercial vehicle maintenance, inspections and haulage services (e.g. plant machinery or boat transport), such as the services offered by Nick Sampson, this signifies that they are knowledgeable in vehicles used for commercial use and further emphasises any experience they have working with such vehicles.

Check Your Warranty

Before taking your commercial vehicle in for repairs, always check your vehicle’s warranty first (if it hasn’t yet ran out). Some warranties stipulate that you can only take your vehicle to certain repair shops that are affiliated with them, or that certain parts cannot be used on your vehicle.

If your vehicle is no longer covered by warranty anyway, then this will not be an issue for you.

Nick Sampson Commercial Vehicle Repair Services

If you are based in north Devon and are in need of reliable, comprehensive and expert repair, maintenance or inspection services for your commercial vehicle, then look no further than Nick Sampson.

With over 30 years of industry experience, we carry out repairs on all kinds of commercial vehicles, big or small, as well as inspections and servicing carried out to DVLA standards. On top of our repair services, we also offer haulage services and mobile crane hire for those that need to transport large, heavy items but do not have access to the vehicles that allow them to do so.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today for more information on the services we offer and to discuss what we can do for you - a member of our team will be more than happy to help.