FAQs & Motoring Tips
Caring for Your Vehicle: Video Tips
It’s important to maintain your vehicle. You can check the pressure and tread of your tyres, oil, screen wash and coolant yourself, but of course there will occasions when you need to take it to a garage. Check out our video guide with our Technician and MOT Tester Vicky Kempton.
Top 5 Misadventures of Summer Roadtrips
Summer driving may seem like a piece of cake compared to the snow and ice challenging drivers in the winter, but the heat presents its own challenges. So just like the winter months, planning ahead can keep you safe and stress-free on the roads.
Winter Driving Tips
Turn your windscreen wipers to the off position when you park at night. That way, when you start the engine in the morning, the wipers won’t start automatically. If there’s a heavy frost or snow you’re at risk of blowing a fuse, damaging the wiper blades or worst case, burning out the wiper motor.
MOT Testing – Myth of the Grace Period
No doubt you’ll be aware that to drive your vehicle on a public road, it must be classified as ‘roadworthy’ and, for the most part, must be tested every three years. However, if you are under the misapprehension that there is a grace period for lapsed MOT’s, then you could be prosecuted if caught; more information on this below.
How to Change a Wheel on Your Car
As always, we recommend that you check your vehicle handbook for any specific information on changing the wheel in your car, as it may include specific advice.
That said, with the right tools and the basic knowledge provided below, changing the wheel on your car should be straightforward. Why not practice at home when it’s a nice dry day, so that you’ll feel more confident if a puncture should occur when you’re out on the road, especially if it’s dark or wet.
What is Motor Codes?
Motor Codes, or the Motor Industry Code of Practice as it was previously known, is a government-backed self-regulatory body for the motor industry. It’s a voluntary scheme for garages that are committed to maintaining high standards throughout the business, from new car sales, administration of new car warranties, service and repair.
How Can I Look After My Car Engine?
Follow our simple care and maintenance tips to keep your car engine running smoothly. And, of course, it goes without saying, please adhere to the recommended service intervals.
Running-in
Modern technology means that it’s not really necessary to run-in a new engine. However, if you’ve just taken delivery of a new car, we still recommend that you take a look at the owner’s manual for advice on what to do for the first month of two.
How Can I Check My Vehicle’s Oil Level?
Checking your vehicle’s oil level has to be one of the simplest things to maintain on your vehicle in between services. Ideally, you want to check the oil level monthly. However, if this feels impossible, try to do so at least before every long journey.
It need only take 5 minutes, but is a vital element to ensure your car runs smoothly
How Can I Check a Used Car’s Service History?
Unfortunately, the only way to check the service history, specifically, of a used car is if the details have been completed and maintained in the owner’s handbook, provided from new by the vehicle manufacturer, or by contacting the servicing dealer (if known).
How Much Does a Service at Roy Chapman Cost?
The cost of a service with Roy Chapman will be subject to the following:
- The make and model of your vehicle
- The age of your vehicle
Can Roy Chapman Collect My Car for Repair?
The short answer is yes, we offer both a collection and delivery service, to our customers local to Berkhamsted, Tring and Hemel Hempstead. Alternatively we can offer courtesy cars, subject to availability and insurance requirements, and a ‘while-you-wait’ service. And, whether you book in for a routine service, MOT or any other repair work we will wash and vacuum your car for free!
How Can I Ensure Mileage is Genuine When Buying a Used Car?
Buying a car, whether new or used, should be exciting experience, but it can be nerve-wracking at the same time! Undoubtedly, you’ll check the bodywork, listen to the engine, look at the tyres and take it on a test drive. However, low mileage is regarded as a selling point for a vehicle and it can be falsified, called ‘clocking’, thereby reducing the mileage and increasing the price.
How Does Oil Work in a Car?
A regular oil change will help keep your engine reliable along with keeping the engine efficient, minimising wear and tear on other components, prolonging the life of your car. The oil in your car has many uses.
Our Tips for Keeping Your Kids Entertained on LongJourneys
With all the bank holidays coming up and the rapidly approaching six week summer break, you’re bound to take some day trips with your family in the car, or perhaps into foreign territory! Below we provide some simple ideas (not including in-car DVD’s) for keeping young (and old) kids entertained during long journeys:
Our Tips for Buying a Used Car
The Benefits of Changing to Winter Tyres
We want to help local motorists keep moving this winter, whatever the weather has in store for us!
Our Tips for Looking After Your Car
Everything works better if we look after it, right? Here are some basic tips for what you can do to look after your car in between servicing and MOTs.
Our Checklist When Taking Your Car Abroad
Taking your car abroad for your holidays this summer? Please find below our simple checklist for driving on the Continent.
