At Halfords, we have over 600 Autocentres nationwide, with our experts always on hand to help you with all your motoring needs. We offer a variety of services at our Autocentre’s from MOTs to tyre replacements but, if you’ve never booked with us before, you may be wondering what to expect.  

Here we’ll break down the process for our different services and tips on how to prepare, so you can feel confident when you come to visit us. 

On the day of your MOT 

Once you have booked an MOT with Halfords, we advise you to drop off your vehicle 10 minutes before your appointment. We usually keep your car for no longer than an hour and you can track the progress via a link that we will email to you.  

Should your car fail its MOT for any reason, we will call you to explain the work that is required. At Halfords, we will never undertake work on your vehicle without speaking to you first and will call you again once your vehicle is ready for collection. 

Preparing for an MOT

Did you know that almost half of all MOT failures are for simple things that could have been checked and fixed before the test? 

Spending some time checking over your vehicle before its MOT could mean the difference between a pass and a fail – so it’s definitely worth doing! Our engineering experts have listed 12 checks that anyone can do to identify common faults that cause MOT failures. 

To find out what these are and for further information on how to prepare for your MOT, take a look at our handy guide on how to pass your MOT. 

On the day of your car service

Once you have booked a car service with Halfords, please drop off your vehicle 10 minutes before your appointment time, which will be at either 08:30 or 11:30. We usually keep your car between 4 to 5 hours, which can be tracked via a link that we will email to you. 

If any additional work is required, we’ll give you a call and will never undertake work without speaking to you first. We’ll call you again once your vehicle is ready for collection.  

Preparing for a car service

You can’t fail a car service, but there are a few things you’ll need to bring with you to make sure your service goes smoothly, so make sure that you bring your locking wheel nut, an empty boot so we can check the tread depth of your spare tyre and don’t forget your service book.  

For more information about what to take to your car service, take a look at our article on what to bring with you 

On the day of your MOT and service

The annual MOT and car service are two essential ways to keep your car safe and running smoothly. 

If your car is over three years old, you’ll need to get an MOT every year. Together, your annual car service and MOT test provide peace of mind that your car is safe to drive. Here’s a guide on the importance of MOTs and servicing and why it pays to combine the two. 

Please drop off your vehicle 10 minutes before your appointment time and expect to leave your car with us for the day which can be tracked via a link that we will email to you. 

If your car fails its MOT or further work is required, we will give you a call before making any changes and will call you again once your vehicle is ready to collect.  

For more information on how to prepare for your MOT and what to bring with you for your car service, take a look at our article on what to bring with you. 

On the day of your tyre replacement

Once you have booked a tyre replacement with us, please drop off your vehicle 10 minutes before your appointment time. You can expect us to keep your car for at least an hour or a little longer if all four tyres are being replaced and if your car requires wheel alignment. We will email you a link so you can track the progress of your car and we will call you once your vehicle is ready for collection.  

How to prepare for a tyre replacement

If we’re replacing your tyres, we’ll need your locking wheel nut when you arrive and you may also need wheel alignment, also known as tracking. Difficulty steering or the vehicle pulling to one side are both symptoms of wheel misalignment. Discover more with our wheel alignment help and advice guide 

On the day of your car check

Once you have booked a car check with Halfords, please drop off your car 10 minutes before your appointment time which will be at either 08:30 or 11:30, where our technician will discuss with you the time needed to complete the car check. This can be tracked via a link we will email to you. 

If any additional work is required, we’ll give you a call as Halford’s will never undertake work without speaking to you first and will call you again once your vehicle is ready for collection. 

We offer a free 5 point car check or you can upgrade to a 10 point car check for just £15 – maintaining your vehicle with Halfords is both simple and affordable.   

And there you have it, some further insight into what you can expect when visiting one of our Autocentres, whatever service you have booked.  

Remember, if you want quality service for all your motoring needs, you want Halfords.