Authorised Service Centre Vs. Local Mechanic: Which is Better for Vehicle Maintenance & Repair?

Key Highlights:

• The cost to repaint a car varies between ₹20,000 and ₹5 lakh.
• Factors that affect the cost to paint a car include the quality and price of paint, labour, pre-paint preparation work, the size of the vehicle and the condition of the surface.
• Authorised workshops or renowned workshops in bigger cities charge higher for repainting a car, due to more expensive labour and operational costs.

Labour Costs

Authorised service centres hire more skilled labour or frequently educate them through various brand-specific training sessions or programmes, which is not the case with independent local workshops. Due to this, the labour costs in local workshops are significantly lower (by a margin of 50-70%) than those of the authorised service centres.

While the labour costs of local workshops are negotiable and vary according to the region or relationship with the workshop owner, those of the authorised service centres are fixed based on the job executed.

Spare Parts Cost

In line with authorised service centres and rising customer preferences, local workshops are now offering authorised spare parts as fitments for vehicles. However, unlike authorised service centres, which are bound to use only genuine OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts, local workshops have the liberty of offering aftermarket or local parts.

Compared to genuine OEM parts, aftermarket parts are 30-60% cheaper, which is why they are preferred more by local workshops and even some customers to save costs. However, after using aftermarket parts, the vehicle's warranty is void. There is also the risk of inferior quality in aftermarket standards, which is not the case with OEM parts.

Diagnostic Equipment and Charges

Authorised centres usually have brand-specific diagnostic tools, which are designed and engineered according to the latest guidelines of the brand. Due to their higher quality standards, offering more accurate outputs, authorised service centres charge around ₹500 to ₹2000 for vehicle diagnostics.

On the other hand, the generic diagnostic tools in local workshops are not brand-specific and are common to all vehicles, leaving room for basic error codes. However, the vehicle diagnostic charges are more affordable here, with them generally varying between ₹100 and ₹500.

Service Packages

Given they are linked to the brand’s product and service guidelines, authorised service centres have the advantage of offering a more comprehensive service package with bundled benefits. Such packages from authorised service centres include additional services such as Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC), Roadside Assistance (RSA) and extended warranties. Local workshops, on the other hand, don’t offer such services, following a pay-per-service model for vehicle service.

Warranty and Records

The brand-specific authorised workshops maintain more synchronised digital track records of all vehicles sold by the brand that are serviced by them. Such service logs are helpful in knowing a vehicle’s maintenance history and for warranty-specific services for both new and old cars. However, no such track record is maintained at local workshops.

Conclusion

With the comprehensive analysis mentioned above, it is clear that both authorised service centres and local workshops have their own sets of pros and cons that are beyond just the repair costs.

Local workshops offer savings of up to 40-50% compared to authorised service centres, thanks to more affordable labour costs and flexibility of using aftermarket spare parts. These savings make local workshops more recommendable for minor repairs or old vehicles that have breached the warranty period.

However, all is not rosy with local workshops, as there is a risk of warranty void, below-average aftermarket spare parts and inaccurate vehicle diagnostic tools that are not brand-specific. To avoid such risks, it is advisable to rely on authorised service centres, especially for new cars that are still under warranty.

FAQs

1. What is the difference between a service station and a local garage?
While authorised service centres work on brand-specific guidelines and use OEM parts and machinery, local garages are independent workshops that have the option to use non-OEM spare parts and tools.

2. How much more expensive is dealership service?
Dealership service centres, also known as authorised service centres, have 50-70% pricier labour costs and 30-60% more expensive OEM parts compared to aftermarket parts.

3. Should I take my car to the dealership or a local mechanic?
If the car is new or under warranty, it is advisable to visit an authorised service centre to comply with warranty guidelines and ensure the use of the right spare parts. For older vehicles out of warranty or minor repairs, local workshops are more sensible.