"The mot was done in perfect timing, was told I’d be given a call around 11:30, 1 hour after I dropped the car off. I received my call at exactly 11:29 to say it was done and ready to pick up! Super happy with the service and communication received"

"Everything was made very easy, friendly service and really pleased with the work and communication throughout. Really happy to have found a local garage that are a pleasure to deal with and we can trust. Will definitely be back next year."

"I just chose a day I wouldn't need my car and booked it, my car got picked up in the morning and returned to me by a friendly man later. He took payment straight away so I didn't need to worry about anything at all! The price was incredibly reasonable for what I had done and the work seems to have been done well!"

What does a car diagnostic check do?

A diagnostic check is carried out on your vehicle by a mechanic, who will plug your vehicle into a specialised code reader. It can detect problems with your vehicle which may be difficult to spot manually.

The main components which are tested in a diagnostic check are the car’s:

electronic control units (ECUs) - these control various element of the car and its performance including engine running

emissions and exhaust sensors

braking system

electrical components such as central door locking

transmission if electronically controlled

ignition coils

throttle setting

fuel injectors

air flow and coolant

Why is a car diagnostic check important?

A diagnostic check is very important as it can detect a potential problem with your car, even before a breakdown. The computerised equipment scans your vehicle’s system to check for any faults, no matter how minor or major. A diagnostic test is a quick, easy and accurate way to discover any faults and will give you the chance to get them fixed before they turn into bigger and more expensive issues. When your car has a fault, this may show as a warning light on the dashboard. If the light goes out the system will store the fault code so the garage will find this when they do the diagnostic check.

What are the possible signs that your car needs a diagnostic check?

There are many different signs which will indicate that your vehicle needs a diagnostic check. Essentially, if you suspect that there is an issue with your car but don’t know what, you will probably want to book a diagnostic check to find out what the problem is. Here are some of the key signs:

Engine warning light - if the engine warning light appears on your dashboard, it’s important to take your vehicle to a garage as soon as possible as there is a wide variety of problems which the light may be flagging up.

Strange noises – any strange noises coming from your car need to be checked out before they turn into more serious problem. Some of these sounds may include; whining from the bonnet, abnormally loud exhaust, uneven engine noise, brake squealing or gear crunching.

Smoke - if you see smoke or steam coming from under the bonnet, your vehicle may be overheating.

Vibrating - if you notice any vibrating or pulling under your brake, the issue may be due to work brake discs or pads. However, it could also indicate a problem with your suspension or steering.

How long do car diagnostics take?

You can expect a diagnostic check on your car to take approximately 90 minutes. You may want to allow for more time though as the mechanic who will be carrying out the check might not be available to start right away.

How much does a car diagnostic check cost?

The price of a car diagnostic test can vary, depending on the garage that you visit. Each garage has a fixed price for diagnostic checks, ranging from £30 - £100.

Enter your vehicle registration number and post code into BookMyGarage (at the top of this page) and you can instantly compare diagnostic check pricing from all of the garages in your local area. As well as price, you can see the garages’ reviews, distance from your post code, extra services offered and availability. You don’t even have to register to get access to all of this information. When you have selected a suitable garage, you can choose a date, any optional extras (such as collection and delivery, loan car etc.) and book online.

About Smart

Smart Automobile is a company headquartered in Böblingen, Germany, that has marketed a range of microcar and subcompact vehicles. Marketed in 46 countries across Asia, North and South America, Africa, Australia and Europe, the design concept for the company's automobiles was first developed at Mercedes in the early 1970s and in the late 1980s. It was quite a lengthy gestation period, and the first model was finally launched by Daimler-Benz in 1998. Several variants on the original design have been introduced, with the original two-seater (called the Fortwo) now in its third generation and the Smart now being available as a fully electric offering.

The brand name Smart derives from its early cooperative studies with Swatch and Mercedes: Swatch Mercedes ART - although we have to say, it does make it a bit difficult to search online with a name like that! Overall, it is a very specialised company that builds ultra-compact cars, designed to carry up to four passengers through congested city streets with ease.

How can you save money (and the environment) while you drive?

As every garage owner will tell you, there are some tried and tested ways to cut down on your petrol costs
(and consumption) while you’re out and about in Brent or beyond. One is to shut your windows. If you can hear that wind
noise in your car it’s costing you more to drive. This is because the car becomes less aerodynamic and has to work harder to
motor along. Removing a roof rack will improve your fuel efficiency for the same reason. Another useful tip is to combine short
trips into one; each time you drive after your car has been parked for a while the engine will be cold and need to use a
lot more fuel for the first 5 miles or so. If you do one trip from school drop-off to supermarket to office you’ll use far
less fuel than if you do all those trips individually.