never dealt with a main dealer before always had my car’s serviced by independents or done it myself. I have decided to have my nd serviced by Mazda not due until next year I was just wondering if they offer you a courtesy car when it’s in for a service
You’ll need to ask, the earlier the better. They may have a couple of cars, but if they’re all reserved out to other customers, you’re gonna be stuck. When are you expecting the service to be done?
not due until next may just wondered if they generally offer courtesy cars. so your not actually entitled to a car then
It’s not something you are entitled to as such. A main dealer (depending on size) will have between 10-20 service bookings a day and maybe 2-3 courtesy cars. If you do want one you would need to book anywhere from 2-4 weeks in advance. Most dealers charge to insure you (£10 approx) plus you will need to replace the fuel. If the car is just in for a service I would tend to drop it off and leave it or ask for a while you wait appointment and amuse myself a couple of hours (no idea of your location but a walk into the town - spot on brunch/lunch etc). Most dealers could also drop you into town or home if local if you ask.
Even my MX5 indie will charge me for a courtesy car that’s pretty broken itself.
My brother gets his 15 year old Merc MOT’d at the local dealership, who then produce a nice video showing him all the broken bits, which he fixes himself. Meanwhile, they give him a random new Merc; he’s had an E-Class coupe in the past. I’ve heard of X-type owners getting a F-Type for the weekend.
Yes, I always have a courtesy car; sometimes there is a small charge for the insurance but not always. Mazda dealer in Nottingham provides a Ford, Mazda dealer in Lincoln provides a Mazda - I had a delivery mileage MX30 one time
My daily driver Skoda, while it was still in warranty and so getting dealer serviced, they used to come & collect it from my home and bring it back.
Skoda dealership in Ipswich charge £25 for courtesy car (to cover insurance), plus fuel used or 17p per mile driven.
I don’t charge for a loan car……
Maybe time I did
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After having my son’s blown up Evoque for three months trying to get a refurbed engine replacement to drive more than 5 miles without some JLR part failing, the garage have finally handed him a 7-seater Discovery as a courtesy car. 212,000 miles on the clock.
It’s one of the reasons I took out a service plan with my new car last year.
It’s my daily driver and I live 20 miles from work so a CC while it’s being serviced is a must and it was included with the plan.
Unfortunately as M and M says above, Sandicliffe Nottingham provided me with a Ford Puma when I had my first service. I didn’t like it at all…and worse whoever had it before me had left the interior filthy and full of rubbish and it hadn’t been cleaned. Not too impressed.
Must be nearly 30 years ago but my kids refused to let me take them to football in this courtesy car.
Really enjoyed driving it though!
From both BMW and Mazda I have had a range of cars, including some with delivery miles only. Remember, it’s in their interest to supply good quality cars; 1. It reflects well on them, so it’s good PR, and, 2. It could represent a sales opportunity or at least could spark an interest.
Hi they will do if you ask. There maybe a small admin charge though.
Dealers are independent businesses and each has its own policies on such matters. You need to ask but remember, nothing is ever ‘free’. Chances are that a dealer which does offer a courtesy car will look for a contribution to insurance or whatever or just hike the already silly service cost.
Some dealers may offer collect and return.
If its a minor service you’re probably far better off waiting for it to be done. There is surprisingly little work in that expensive ‘service’.
I take both my cars (an MX-5 RF and a Lexus RC F) to main dealers and I always ask for a loan car (booked in advance). This usually costs £15, which is less than the price of a cab to get home and back.
Interestingly (or not), both dealers provide almost new electric vehicles. I am not a fan of these and I really feel that standards have slipped in terms of the internal materials used. Yes, even in the Lexus!
Mine offers to collect and deliver free, but they probably rag it all the way there and back!
A Toyota dealer once gave me an ancient Fiesta with paper-thin brake discs and a huge dent in the back. Long story, but they were basically giving me a free car for 3 weeks as grudgingly as possible. When my car turned up, it was a right lemon and I never had another Toyota.
The oddest period of my courtesy car history was when they were changing from Euro IV to V engines
I had a Volvo V50 on order and a couple of shiploads from Volvo turned up with IV spec engines and they all had to go back. I spent a couple of months in a variety of Volvo courtesy cars, the most fun being an S40 T5 with 216 bhp 0-60 in 6.6 seconds. A real wolf in sheep’s clothing.