Compare car servicing centres in New Zealand at Canstar Blue. Oil Changers, Advantage Tyre Solutions, AA Auto Service, Pit Stop and Midas were compared on Overall Satisfaction, Value for Money, Effectiveness, Time Taken, Customer Service and Cost of Parts.
See our Ratings Methodology.
Kiwis have voted Oil Changes No.1 for customer satisfaction.
Our review compares used car servicing on customer satisfaction, so you can discover what other Kiwis think about our compared car servicing before you go ahead and book in your car for a service. Think of it like asking hundreds of your closest mates which car service chain they think is best!
Canstar Blue surveyed 340 Kiwis who had had their car serviced in the past two years and asked for their feedback on the car servicing chain they used.
Respondents rate their satisfaction with their car service chain from zero to ten, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and ten is extremely satisfied. Brand satisfaction was rated by respondents on the following criteria:
The winning brand is the one that receives the highest Overall Satisfaction rating once all the scores from the Overall Satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.
Car servicing chains must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all chains available in the market have been compared in this survey. The car servicing chains rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.
Find more information on our Most Satisfied Customer methodology.
Oil ChangersComing out on top once again, Oil Changers earns a perfect sweep of 5-Stars across the board, taking out Canstar Blue’s Most Satisfied Customers | Car Servicing 2024 award. Oil Changers is also the only chain to earn multiple 5-star ratings in this year’s results.
Founded in Christchurch in 2001, the Kiwi company has 14 locations across the country, and provides a variety of different services (in addition to the services outlined below) catering to different vehicle requirements. Oil Changers services include:
| Service Package | Details | Price* |
| Air Filtration | Helps maintain proper air to fuel mixture and optimises fuel economy. | $26.95 |
| Oil and Filter Service Package | Helping to prolong engine life, with fresh oil cooling, sealing, lubricating and cleaning the engine properly, helping quieten noisy engines, with regular filter changes keeping contaminants out. | $109.95 |
| Engine Flush | Delivering better performance and fuel economy, reduced emissions and longer engine life. | $39.95 |
| CVT Transmission | Removes old, worn out fluid from the transmission system and promotes smooth shifting. | $149.95 |
| Automatic Transmission | Removes 99.9 per cent of the fluid in the transmission system, including the torque converter and transmission cooler, extends transmission life by providing resistance to oxidation, sludge formation and varnish, reduces risk of premature transmission failure, promotes smooth shifting, and reduces wear and scouring of clutch plates. | $179.95 |
| Manual Transmission | Extends transmission life by providing resistance to oxidation and sludge formation, reduces risk of premature transmission failure, promotes smooth shifting and reduces wear. | $64.95 |
| Differential | Protects ring and pinion gears from premature wear, rust and corrosion. | $64.95 |
| Coolant Service | Prevents corrosion of cooling system and provides lubrication of water pump seals. | $99.95 |
Oil Changers also offers free checks and top-ups in-between regular service intervals.
Advantage Tyre SolutionsAdvantage Tyre Solutions comes in second this year, earning an impressive 4-Star rating for Overall Satisfaction. The chain performs exceptionally well for Customer Service, where is earns a 5-Star rating. Advantage Tyre Solutions is the only brand, excluding our winner, to earn a 5-Star rating in any category.
The Advantage Tyre Solutions brand represents the coming together of two of NZ’s largest tyre retailers: Beaurepaires and Advantage the Tyre Professionals. The chain offers a wide range of servicing options, including:
AA Auto Service & RepairEarning 4-Star ratings across the board, AA Auto Service & Repair performs well in every category, proving the chain’s customers are thoroughly satisfied with its services.
AA offers three levels of service for petrol, diesel and hybrid cars: Bronze, Silver and Gold.
Silver (AA Bronze Service +) (AA member price: $269 | Non-member price: $299)
Gold (AA Silver and Bronze +) (AA member price: $329 | Non-member price: $369)
Pit StopDespite earning a 3-Star rating for Overall Satisfaction, Pit Stop scores highly for its Time Taken and Customer Service. With steady 3-Star ratings across the remaining three categories, Pit Stop’s customers are clearly satisfied with the overall service they are receiving.
With over 40 stores across the country, Pit Stop is New Zealand’s largest car servicing chain, specialising in general vehicle repairs, brakes, suspension and vehicle servicing.
Pit Stop offers seven service packages:
MidasClosing out our top car servicing chains awards, Midas earns a satisfactory 3-Star rating for Overall Satisfaction. The chain stands out for its Time Taken and Customer Service, in which it earns 4-Star ratings.
Midas has been proudly Kiwi owned and operated for over three decades. With 23 stores across the country, it’s no hassle getting your car serviced with with one of Midas’ five service options:
Whether you drive a brand new SUV, or a pre-2000s Toyota Hilux, one thing is important when getting it serviced: Value for Money.
In our survey, nearly 30% of respondents base their car servicing choice on how much dough they’re dishing out for a good look-through and top-up of fluids. Cost of required parts is at the bottom of the list, which makes sense: if your car is being regularly serviced by a quality mechanic, you shouldn’t need to replace major parts too often.
Here’s the full rundown of what the consumers in our survey say are the main things they consider when rating their choice of car servicing chain:
A regular car service is an important factor in keeping your automobile on the road, running safely and smoothly. A car service can also help to maximise your car’s overall lifespan and potentially increase its resale value when it comes time to sell.
Servicing can range from a routine once-over, comprising topping up of fluids and an oil and filter change, to a more comprehensive inspection, testing a variety of components, which can take hours.
In this guide we look at what to consider when weighing up what’s right for your car, what to keep in mind when seeking out a service centre, and what’s on offer from service centres around the country.
How often you should service your car is usually explained in your car logbook or owner manual. Your car manufacturer will usually recommend maximum times and distances to leave between servicing intervals, considering factors such as the age, make and model of your vehicle.
But as a general rule of thumb, professional servicing is recommended every 12 months or 10,000km (whichever comes first), but this may vary. If you have an older car, you might choose to service it more regularly, such as every 5000km.
When working out what’s best for your car, you need to take into consideration:
You should also pay attention to the things you can do yourself in terms of basic maintenance between services. This includes checking tyre pressure and engine oil levels and ensuring all the car’s lights are operational, etc.
Of course, if you notice any issues in between services (such as warning lights coming on, or irregular noises) it’s important to get the problem looked at sooner rather than later.
When it comes to choosing a service centre, it’s worthwhile shopping around. Find a business that you feel comfortable with, that is convenient for you, offers competitive pricing and caters to your needs.
Some factors to consider include:
It’s important to keep in mind that there are a range of options available, and if you’re looking for a new service provider, or thinking of switching providers, you should actively seek out a best deal.
About the author of this pageThis report was written by Canstar Content Producer, Caitlin Bingham. Caitlin is an experienced writer whose passion for creativity led her to study communication and journalism. She began her career freelancing as a content writer, before joining the Canstar team.
Believes regular car services save money in the long run: 65%
Chooses service centre based on price: 36%
Services their car less often than previously: 28%
Thinks branded car servicing centres are more trustworthy: 24%
Always gets a second quote for major work: 24%
Puts off getting car serviced for long as possible: 20%
To save money: 67%
Conducts regular checks themselves: 27%
It’s a hassle to organise: 26%
Doesn’t have the time: 18%
Leaves servicing until something goes wrong: 11%
Oil: 78%
Tyre pressure: 72%
Water: 71%
Tyre tread: 58%
Windscreen wipes: 56%
Canstar Blue surveyed 2502 New Zealand consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from respondents who had their car serviced in the last two years. In this case, 340 New Zealanders.
Dealerships must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all dealerships in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criterion.
The past winners from Canstar Blue’s Car Servicing ratings:
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