Automotive Technician Accreditation

Make motoring merry this Christmas

Motorists are being advised to make a pre-Christmas pit stop to avoid the misery of an unwanted holiday breakdown.

Experts from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) say car owners should get a professional technician to give their vehicle the once over to make sure it can handle the worst of the cold winter weather.

IMI chief executive Sarah Sillars said: “With millions of us planning trips to visit family and friends, plus often limited or disrupted services on public transport, the roads are notoriously busy at Christmas. 

“The last thing people want is for their car to let them down, so it’s definitely worth making sure everything is working properly before the holidays begin.”

A good place to start, according to the IMI, is your vehicle’s log book to check exactly when its annual or regular service is due.

“It sounds so obvious, but we surveyed more than 1,000 motorists and found that 52% didn’t know the date for their next scheduled service,” said Sarah.

“Even if yours isn’t due, it’s still a good idea to have a winter safety check of essentials such as tyres, brakes and fluid levels and many garages do this free of charge.”

Choosing a professional and trustworthy technician to carry out the work should help avoid any unwanted aggravation. 

The IMI recommends seeking out those with Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA), a standard which tests skills and competencies and has been awarded to 12,500 vehicle technicians nationwide.  Each has their details registered at www.okwithata.com.

Sarah said: “ATA technicians abide by a professional code of honest conduct and have had their skills assessed by an independent expert. 

“Opting for an accredited technician gives motorists peace of mind, while having a well maintained vehicle means you’re more likely to spend time sitting by the fireside rather than the roadside this Christmas.”

ENDS