Holidaying in the UK this summer? Make sure you avoid ‘staycation’ exasperation!

Holidaying in the UK this summer? Make sure you avoid ‘staycation’ exasperation! Volcanic ash clouds! Airport chaos! Stress and anxiety! Yes, it can only mean one thing. UK holiday season is here again! This year instead of heading for foreign shores for a vacation, thousands of holidaymakers are favouring a ‘staycation’ in the UK. But with many more motorists hitting the UK’s roads this summer, holiday happiness could turn to ‘staycation’ exasperation if cars aren’t in tip top condition. Why bother checking my car? The holiday season is here and it’s time to think about taking that well-earned summer break. You wouldn’t pack your suitcase without double checking everything. But for thousands of holidaymakers staying in the UK this year, many will be taking to the roads at some point without giving the condition of their cars a second thought. But avoiding simple checks before setting off could leave the wheels coming off a holiday before it even starts. What should I be checking for? Some of the most common problems are caused by failing to make simple checks. Checks should be made on: • Coolant levels to avoid engines overheating. • Tyre pressure to cope with the increased weight of luggage and passengers. • Brakes, clutches, power steering, fluids and oil. • Air conditioning systems. • Tyre tread, windscreens and wipers. There’s never a good time for your car to break down but these simple checks can be made quickly and play a part in preventing motorists running into trouble on the roads. Need some help? The Good Garage Scheme is here! Holiday reps are on hand to help out if you run into problems overseas. If you need help to give yourself peace of mind for holiday motoring in the UK the Good Garage Scheme’s own squad of 2900 independent garage experts are on hand, offering the perfect solution to help ensure trouble-free motoring. Its nationwide membership network of garages and workshops are committed to providing the highest standards of work to customers and can identify any problems before your holiday starts. Simply logon to www.goodgaragescheme.com and type in your postcode to find your nearest Good Garage Scheme member garage. A self-regulatory body for independent workshops and MOT centres, the Scheme ensures the best industry standards are maintained by its members. It has more than 2,900 members who adhere to a strict Code of Conduct and offer an Industry Standard Service. Good Garage Scheme members: • Adhere to a strict Code of Conduct and pledge to have their customers’ best interests at heart • Must agree what work needs doing with their customers before it is carried out • Work to an Industry Standard Service checklist • Must supply each customer with a feedback card allowing them to give their views on service directly to the Good Garage Scheme, which operates a stringent complaints procedure The Scheme also operates a customer feedback system, highlighting the areas of best practice and areas for improvement which are identified by motorists using member garages for work. A five-star rating system is produced for each member garage on the Good Garage Scheme website www.goodgaragescheme.com, based on the feedback forms, to help potential future customers find the best workshop in their area. Nationally, the Good Garage Scheme receives around 12,000 customer feedback forms every month while member garages that fail to submit any feedbacks are investigated and potentially removed from the scheme. • Further information can be found by visiting www.goodgaragescheme.com

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