Hello,
Is it true that the garage undertaking servicing has to be vat registered? Why should I be restricted to where I take my car? My local garage is not vat registered, but is a professionally run business with qualified mechanics. I have used this garage for years and trust them.
Unless it is a condition of your “Warranty” it’s your car and you can take it where every you like.
Rod
Cheers, but for the DSR can my garage still update my record? Or have I been misinformed that only vat registered can use Mazda portal?
I’m not sure that it is a requirement. The Mazda Portal registration form here https://mapps.mazdaeur.com/mud/registerio.html#B5AAD7C8-22FD-4458-B234-805A1D583AE7
has a tick box to indicate that the applicant does not have a EU VAT number.
Have your garage tried recently to register?
Hello, thanks, they haven’t tried yet, will update this thread when I find out.
noh - many thanks for this info, interesting to note access is permitted to ‘Automobile Clubs’ - I wonder if this would be useful for the Club? However, dissemination of the information is not permitted, so that limits the use for members. It could (ha ha) run it’s own garage, but it would be inundated!
jayrepsol - Vat registration is not a criteria of an acceptable business, it’s a requirement under VAT rules only. Subscribing to the Mazda Portal on an annual basis is B - expensive for a small trader, Mazda want £1660 on an annual basis, and that’s a big chunk out of profit and a no-no for a small business wanting to be competitive, despite VAT arguments to the contrary. Having been in both situations I can say that life is simpler without registration than with it. However, the volume of annual business means that if you hit the bottom line in terms of turnover, then you have to apply for VAT registration or face the consequences.
As far as keeping your records up to date (with the Mazda Portal) - does it really matter? Most sensible owners avoid dealers like the plague, cost and trust are the key elements - a dealer may have constantly changing staff, whereas the independent may have good guys who have worked there for years. You put your trust in who you know best, and for me that wasn’t the dealer, or dealer charges either.
Having said that - the good guys are a rare breed, so value them highly if you have one, they are worth their weight in gold - even if it’s your hard earned that finances them.Service records are worth keeping if you want to resell the car at some point, but I’m not convinced they are essential, if you have receipts for work done then that’s as good as any dealer stamp in my book. While the car’s under warranty, then yes, you have to trust the dealer, but my trust lies with a local independent - not my dealer (who gave up Mazda several years back). Once the car is out of warranty, then the skies the limit for most dealers in my experience, no matter what make they sell.
My current independent has stamped the service book (they are also an MOT test station) but most small garages won’t, a pity but that’s one of the facts you have to live with. Mazda aren’t the only source of service info, most good independents have access to other resources that tell them what needs doing at any point in time.
Confused reply above.
There is no charge for access to the DSR or the Mazda Parts info on the Portal for a garage.
The £1600 a year is for a years access to the workshop manuals and service bulletins.
That access to the technical data can also be bought by the hour for a few euros a time.
As long as the garage provides their leterhead to the DSR admin they get access usually the next day if not within the hour to the Digital Service Record.
Info below
PLEASE FOLLOW ALL 4 STAGES OF THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
You can register for Digital Service Record at https://portal.mazdaeur.com/io
Beneath the login is a link to Independent Operator – General Information
Go to the Registration tab, fill in the form and submit.
By return you will receive two emails from the system.
The first advising you of your temporary password.
The second supplying a link, for you to confirm your registration.
Please return to Portal Login page at https://portal.mazdaeur.com/io
NOTE: When you login for the first time the systems will request you to change the password.
The password must have a minimum password length of 8 characters.
It must contain at least one upper case letter, one lower case letter and one number.
You can use the following special characters: @.!#$%&’*+/=?^_`{|}~-()
To get authority to access DSR you will need to fax OR e-mail us a copy of your Company letterhead with your user ID. Our fax number is 01892 501211 and our e-mail address is ishelp@mclgroup.co.uk - We will then add the permissions to your account and contact you to confirm.
If you need any help please contact our Helpdesk on the number below.
Kind Regards
Mazda Portal Helpdesk
Amethyst Group
Head Office
Lodge Road
Staplehurst
Kent
TN12 0QW
Tel No. : 01580 895666
Fax No. : 01892 501211
Email.: ishelp@mclgroup.co.uk