2017 Car Servicing Chains

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Compare car servicing chains in New Zealand at Canstar Blue. Oil Changers, AA Auto Service & Repair, Pit Stop and VTNZ were compared on value for money, time taken, cost of any parts required, warranty of repairs, effectiveness of repairs, customer service, advice received and overall satisfaction.

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Oil Changers are slick when it comes to customer service

Making it five in a row, Kiwi car servicing company, Oil Changers has once again claimed the Canstar Blue Customer Satisfaction Award for 2017.  Proving themselves to be unbeatable, Oil Changers were the only provider to earn a maximum five star rating – and they did it in every category!

Regular car services can stop minor issues becoming major problems

In New Zealand we love our cars but to make sure a vehicle is running smoothly and efficiently it is important to service it regularly.  How often depends on the make, age and mileage of your car (you should be able to find the correct service frequency for your car in the manufacturers handbook) but a good rule of thumb is once a year or every 10,000km.  Like 23% of the people Canstar Blue surveyed, it may be tempting to skip a car service or get it done less frequently, after all it will probably save a few hundred bucks.  But be careful, this short-term gain could lead to long-term pain on you and your wallet as a lack of general maintenance can result in some pretty major – and expensive – problems later on.

Many of the checks carried out during a car service are on the components and bits of the car we can’t see, and let’s face it (because we’re not all car experts) may not even know about!  Fluids and oils need changing, pressures and filters checked, and belts, drives and plugs may need replacing.  Not getting these things done may, at best, cost you a lot of time and money when it results in damage to your engine.  At worst it could cause a catastrophic failure that could put the safety of you, your passengers and other road users in danger.  A sobering thought.

What we want from our car service

When we get our car serviced from any reputable mechanic, the minimum we expect competent maintenance and repairs. But when it comes to car servicers, what separates the good from the great? As part of Canstar Blue’s research, we discovered the key drivers of satisfaction are:

• Advice received – We’re not a nation of car mechanics so a little bit of advice on how to maintain our vehicle can go a long way!
• Value for money – Some of us want cheap and cheerful, some prefer to pay more to get more but whatever your preference, it’s important we think we’re getting our monies worth.
• Customer service – Not really surprising that this was one of our main drivers of our satisfaction. Clear communications, keeping to appointment times and letting us know when we might have to pay a bit extra can really make a difference.
• Effectiveness of repairs – If we’re paying for repairs, we want them to work!
• Warranty of repairs – Those repairs we may not have been expecting cost a good few bucks so we want peace of mind that if it does go wrong again, it’s not going to cost more money.
• Time taken – Us Kiwis rely on our cars so if we’ve got to go without it, we want to make it quick!
• Cost of any parts required – Obviously the less surprises here the better.

How much does a car service cost in New Zealand?

There’s no set cost for a car service and the range of things being looked at (as part of the service) can vary quite a bit too.

We had a quick look at the providers that were rated in our survey and found that costs varied from $79.95 up to $289 and this covered everything from a basic 15 point check through to a more thorough 50 point check service.  If you drive a European brand or a vehicle with a diesel engine, you can expect to pay more.

The providers

Oil Changers

As mentioned, Oil Changers has proven itself a champion of car servicing since 2013, again rating five stars in overall satisfaction. The company’s website lists a wide range of services it offers with the price of its full services starting at just $79.95 – considerably lower than the advertised prices for similar services by its competitors. On top of its other services, Oil Changers also offers free checks & top ups to eligible customers.

AA Auto Centre

AA Auto Centre offers up to four levels of car servicing ranging from bronze to platinum – platinum being the most comprehensive package. Prices begin at $179 ($159 for members) for its non-European petrol car bronze servicing deal.

Pit Stop

Pit Stop’s website advertises five services: Express, extensive, elite, eurocar and Diesel, vans & 4 x 4. The basic express, 15-point check package starts at $139.

VTNZ

With 82 branches nationwide, VTNZ is the largest provider in New Zealand.  They offer a basic service as well as a range of maintenance and assessment packages.