Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP’s) Operation Considerate has been running for a few years now.

It allows Greater Manchester drivers and cyclists to submit video evidence of driving or motorway traffic offences, turning every car or bike into a potential traffic camera.

GMP’s Traffic division suggests that over 2,000 motorists have already been prosecuted through the scheme.

Now they have updated the reporting system so that dashcam owners can upload dashcam, headcam or mobile phone camera footage on a new online portal.

The portal can be used to report a variety of offences including careless driving, drivers on mobile phones, drink driving, speeding and certain parking offences – like the example below.

Some drivers and cyclists have made good use of the system, with some claiming repeat successes.

But for a successful conviction, you need to make sure you capture the vehicle’s registration plate. Otherwise Operation Considerate is unlikely accept your report.

[contact-form-7 id=”984″ title=”MOT Test Reminder Form”]

Some Twitter users also complain that the police are unlikely to deal with certain types of offences, particularly those related to parking.

There is some debate about this online. Generally, it seems that if a car is parked wholly or partly on a pavement or is crossing a hard white line then this is a police matter.

But if a car is simply parked on double yellow lines, then this is a matter for the council.

Any information that you provide to GMP is treated in strict confidence and protected by the Data Protection Act 1998.

Before you upload your video, the portal will ask you where the incident took place.

It will also ask a series of other questions, including what kind of incident happened, when it took place and whether you have video evidence or not.

You will also have to submit a short statement and, if necessary, attent court. GMP says that it cannot proceed without this statement.

To keep your car in the best condition and avoid expensive repair bills, you need to make sure you get your car serviced regularly.

Typically, you should get your car serviced every 12 months or every 12,000 miles – whichever comes first.

But you might need to get your car serviced more regularly if you use your car in ‘severe’ driving conditions.

Your car may need to be serviced more regularly if you:

  • Drive more than 20,000 miles each year
  • Routinely perform short trips, less than four miles
  • Routinely drive on demanding roads, for example, if you live in a particularly hilly area or drive on low-quality roads
  • Routinely drive in very hot or very cold weather

If you meet any of these ‘severe’ driving conditions, you should get your car serviced more regularly. But you may be able to get an interim service rather than a full service.

How often should I get my car serviced | Duffy Motors

Your vehicle’s logbook should have a stamp from the last time it got serviced. It may also suggest an appropriate time interval or number of miles before you should get your car serviced again.

The service book will also give you more accurate information about when your vehicle needs servicing.

If your car has an internal computer or self-diagnostics features, it may tell you when your car needs a service. We recommend that you listen to these warnings and check your car’s service book.

How often should I change the oil in my car

In between services, there are some important maintenance tasks that you need to take care of to keep your car running in peak condition.

This includes changing the oil and other fluids and filters like the engine air filter.

Your vehicle’s service handbook will give you a detailed breakdown of when these wearable parts need to be changed.

Caring for your car saves money

Getting your car serviced regularly and carrying out maintenance in-between services can help you save money in the long run.

Taking your car to a garage regularly gives you the best chance of finding a problem early on when it will be cheaper to fix.

It may be tempting to skip a car service from time to time, but if you do this, you could end up having to replace expensive parts like a radiator, water pump, engine exchange or a cylinder head gasket.

Regular servicing and maintenance can also help improve fuel economy, vehicle life expectancy and the resale value of a car when it comes to being sold.

Second-hand car buyers are often willing to pay a higher price when they see that a car has a fully stamped service book.

Your car’s service manual should tell you when a car’s replaceable parts might need changing.

For more advice on service intervals and car maintenance, speak to a member of the Duffy Motors team today. Call: 0161 834 4168.

When you bring your car for an MOT or service at Duffy Motors, you’ll need to leave your car with us for at least an hour before you can get on your way.

Fortunately, because Duffy Motors is a city centre garage, there are lots of things that you can do to pass the time in Manchester.

There are a lot of great coffee shops within a five or ten-minute walk from the garage. We’ve picked some of our favourites below.

We’re based off Deansgate, just around the back of the Beetham Tower, and it’s easy to get here by car.

To make things easy, many of our customers who work in the city centre like to drop their car off in the morning, before walking or taking public transport to work and picking the car up on the way home. There are lots of great transport links from Duffy Motors and we have the space to store your car free of charge.

ManCoCo

ManCoCo is an artisan micro coffee roaster that imports and roasts all their own coffee. It’s one of the top-reviewed coffee shops in the city – with a lot of reviewers describing it as the best coffee they’ve ever had.

You’ll find their small coffee shop in a railway arch just like ours. It’s just around the corner on Hewitt Street so you’ll have no trouble finding it.

Grindsmith

Grindsmith is our city centre garage’s closest coffee spot. You’ll find it on Deansgate, just on the other side of the Great Northern Warehouse and the coffee and food is well worth the trip.

The  shop also shares the building with a co-working space and a start-up incubator, so you can rub shoulders with some business elites and get some work done.

Where to Get a Coffee Fix During Your City Centre MOT - Duffy Motors

Cloud 23

Located on the 23rd floor of the imposing Beetham Tower, Cloud 23 is the place to enjoy a brew with a view. If you prefer tea to coffee then is the place to go.

There’s an afternoon tea deal with snacks, cakes and even champagne. It’s a little bit on the expensive side, but you can often find discount vouchers on Groupon.

Pot Kettle Black

Located just down Deansgate in the Grade II listed Barton Arcade, the brilliantly light and airy Pot Kettle Black makes coffee for people who really appreciate good coffee.

They’ve just recently opened a second mini-outlet on the bottom floor of the imposing No.1 Spinningfields tower that’s even closer to Duffy’s city centre garage.

Java Bar Espresso

A pleasant and lively café located just on the approach to Manchester Oxford Road train station.

Serving up delicious cakes and coffee made from the finest produce, this place is perfect if you want to grab a quick bite or refreshment before catching a train on to work. And the outside seating area is great for people watching.

We know, we know. There are a hundred things you would rather spend your hard-earned money on than some meaningless service.

But a regular service plan actually helps you save in the long run.

Having a professional technician check your car regularly is the best way to stop small problems developing into expensive ones.

Regular servicing can also boost your car’s fuel efficiency and improve its resale value.

It’s a worthwhile investment, but there are still ways that you can keep costs down with servicing. Here’s our top tips.

Use an independent garage

The first rule to saving money is to go independent. Research shows that independent garages are, on average, 18% cheaper than main franchised dealers.

Who Can Fix My Car found that independents were slightly cheaper for MOTs and servicing.

But they also found that if an MOT or service leads to more significant ‘off-the-menu’ work like a cam belt replacement, then franchised dealer costs can spiral.

Franchised dealers are more popular with newer car owners, but you aren’t obligated to get your car serviced with the dealer that you bought it from.

No matter what the dealer says, there’s nothing stopping you using an independent instead.

Separate research also found that independent garages enjoy higher customer satisfaction ratings compared with franchised dealers.

Stick to a maintenance schedule

You can also save on servicing if you stick to a maintenance schedule and only get a service when your car needs it.

While ensuring your car is serviced every year is a good rule of thumb, you should really check the manufacturer’s service schedule for a more accurate outlook.

If your car is newish, it will probably have a built-in servicing reminder system to tell you exactly when it’s time to service your car.

If you don’t have service reminders built into your dashboard, you’ll have to go by what the owner’s manual says.

The recommended service schedule may be slightly different if you drive in ‘severe’ conditions.

This includes if you do primarily short trips (five miles or less), drive in city centre stop and go traffic or regularly tow a trailer.

If you do any of these, you may have to get your car serviced a little more frequently.

Your manual should also tell you when replaceable parts may need changing and how often maintenance tasks like changing the oil should be carried out.

Think about an intermittent service

An intermittent service is a slightly smaller treatment that you can use to save money if you are a certain kind of driver.

Most manufacturers say you should get your car serviced every 12,000 miles. But if you do more than 20,000 miles each year, this could be overkill.

If you drive long miles for work, then an intermittent service will check all of the necessities and wearables for any damage, while leaving some more durable parts alone.

How to Save Money Servicing Your Car - Duffy Motors

Avoid cowboy service shops (and national chains)

We know that mechanics have a bad reputation. We always try extra hard to please our customers and make sure they don’t feel ripped off.

But we know there are some bad apples out there. And it’s important that you try and avoid them.

When it comes to servicing, one common trick is to identify problems that don’t exist or exaggerate minor problems to get customers to agree to unnecessary repairs.

We’re sorry to say that, in our experience, it’s the big national chains and franchised dealers that are most guilty of this type of behaviour.

Fortunately, it’s now easier than ever to check on a garage’s reputation before you visit – just check their online reviews.

Duffy Motors is one of the top reviewed Manchester garages on the Good Garage Scheme. We also have a sparkling set of reviews on Google.

Shop around

If you are looking to get the best price on your car service, you may want to shop around.

Reputable garages will usually be transparent about their pricing and should be able to give you a quote over the phone.

Be warned though, if a price looks too good to be true then it probably is. These bargain basement garages will try to recoup their costs elsewhere.

If you are worried about getting ripped off, then you can clearly spell out what you want the garage to do. Ask them to contact you before they carry out any additional work and ask for a detailed breakdown of all the costs so you can see exactly what you’re paying for.

Most reputable garages will be happy to do all of this for you.

Want to learn more about our servicing. Speak to a member of the team today. Call: 0161 834 4168.

New research reveals that British drivers are overspending about £90 per vehicle on unnecessary repair work and garage up-sells.

A general lack of knowledge about car repairs and servicing contributed to the overspend, which costs nation’s car drivers a collective £3.4 billion annually, according to roadside fixers Green Flag.

Green Flag also revealed the most common unnecessary work and up-sells that some garages charge for.

They found that changing the brake fluid was the number one cause of extra cost. Most car manufacturers recommend changing brake fluid every 2 years or 20,000 miles, but this research suggests that some garages are changing the brake fluid unnecessarily.

The research also says that Brits are paying for anti-freeze, fuel and oil cleaning and new brake pads and disks when brake wear is within safety limits.

The most common unnecessary work

  1. Brake fluid change
  2. Anti-freeze drain and refill
  3. Fuel/oil cleaners
  4. Brake pads and discs (when wear is within safety limits)
  5. Wiper replacement
  6. Battery replacement
  7. Tracking (Wheel Alignment)
  8. Oil top-ups
  9. New tyres (when tread is well within legal limit)
  10. Pollen filters

Lee Atkinson of Duffy Motors said: “You hear stories about some garages overcharging. I think things have improved. But you still have to watch out for some operators. The new MOT test hasn’t helped. You can argue that it has made it easier for dodgy garages to cheat customers.

“At Duffy, we always try to agree a fair price before any work takes place. If anything crops up we’ll try our best to speak to the customer before charging for any extras to avoid unexpected bills.

“Drivers can avoid dodgy repair shops by using trustworthy garages. Ask your friends for a recommendation, look at reviews or check on the Good Garage Scheme.”

Read Duffy Motors’ Reviews on the Good Garage Scheme

Green Flag found that many British drivers lack the knowledge that they need to challenge drivers on services and prices. Two-thirds didn’t even know what MOT stood for (Ministry of Transport).

Only one in five men and one in ten women said that they were confident about choosing a rough price they should be paying.

They also found that a third of drivers feel apprehensive about negotiating with garages and 40% of Brits underestimate the cost of car servicing.

The research also found that Manchester was the seventh most expensive UK city to get your car repaired in, with an average spend of £414.46.

Londoners paid the most for car repairs, with bills averaging £507.62 in the capital. Drivers in Nottingham had the cheapest costs, spending an average of £348.84 on repairs.

Duffy Motors is one of the top-reviewed garages in Greater Manchester. The company has a 99%+ feedback score on the Good Garage Scheme based on more than 700 reviews. Call 0161 834 4168 to book your next MOT or service.  

Data compiled by WhoCanFixMyCar.com reveals which cars are the cheapest and which are the most expensive to maintain and repair in the UK.

The repair quote comparison site compared maintenance costs across six categories – luxury and non-premium hatchbacks, luxury and non-premium saloons and luxury and non-premium SUVs.

Peugeot made the most expensive cars to maintain in the non-premium hatchback and saloon categories.  The Peugeot 207 came out on top in the hatchback category with an average repair quote of £208.37, while the 407 topped the saloon category with an average quote of £230.15.

Toyota made the most expensive car in the non-premium SUV category, with the Rav-4 costing an average of £297.83 to get repaired. This was actually more expensive than the most expensive luxury SUV repair bill of £271.64 for a Land Rover Freelancer.

The Audi A3 and the Jaguar X-type topped the remaining luxury categories with average repair bills of £215.02 and £234.59 respectively.

WhoCanFixMyCar.com pointed out that the Rav-4 was not the most expensive car across the board, but for some larger jobs it was significantly more expensive.

Replacing the clutch on a Rav-4, for example, cost around £651.97 compared to an average of $428.26 for other cars.

No other Toyota models made it into the top five spots of expensive cars.

Duffy Motor’s Lee Atkinson believes that this is because of the supply of Japanese parts in the UK.

“Non-serviceable items on European cars are usually cheaper than parts for Japanese vehicles because it can be difficult to get hold of these parts,” Lee said.

He continued: “It’s also important that Manufacturers like Toyota and Peugeot don’t have as much market share in the UK compared with your Volkswagens, Vauxhalls, Fords and even BMWs. I would say that Rav-4s are particularly rare, and that’s why the big repair jobs are so expensive.”

Cheapest and Most Expensive Cars to Maintain - Duffy Motors

[contact-form-7 id=”984″ title=”MOT Test Reminder Form”]

Separate research that takes account of costs like fuel and insurance found that the average British motorist will spend £168,880 on car running costs over their lifetime.

The research from AutoEurope.co.uk found that MOTs, servicing and repair costs account for around £40,000 of that total figure.

Independent garages cheaper than main dealers

WhoCanFixMyCar.com previously found that getting your car serviced or repaired by a main or franchised dealer is significantly more expensive than visiting an independent garage.

There are always variables with repair costs, but their study found that independent garages were, on average, 18% cheaper than the main dealers.

For relatively simple work, such as providing MOTs and servicing, independent garages were only slightly cheaper. But if these regular checks lead to more complex ‘off-the-menu’ work, requiring more intensive labour, it is much cheaper to go with an independent fixer.

Tips for bringing down maintenance costs

Here are Lee’s top tips for bringing down maintenance costs. These apply to all cars, not just German brands.

  • Get your car serviced regularly. A low-cost service each year can identify problems and help you avoid an expensive repair job.
  • Avoid cowboys. These can be difficult to spot but you can usually find a good mechanic by reading online reviews, such as those published by the Good Garage Scheme.
  • Don’t go for the cheapest price, because you will get the cheapest work.
  • Change your oil regularly and make sure you only use oil that’s recommended for your car.
  • Check your tyre pressure regularly. Incorrect tyre pressure can cause your tyres to wear very quickly.

Duffy Motors celebrated a key milestone earlier this month and, to celebrate, the team organised an away weekend watching Formula 1 action at Silverstone.

July marks ten years since Lee Atkinson bought Duffy Motors. The gaffer arranged the British Grand Prix trip to thank all the staff who have helped transform the garage into what it is today.

The action-packed race was eventually won by Ferrari’s Sebastien Vettel. British driver Lewis Hamilton fought back to second after a first-lap collision with Vettel’s teammate Kimi Raikkonen.

Crucially, the second-place finish gave Hamilton important points as he tries to stay in touch with Vettel in the driver’s championship. The German leads Hamilton by eight points going into this weekend’s action in Hockenheim.

Not everything ran smoothly for the Duffy team. They missed a good chunk of the action after arriving late on the first day, some of the apprentices got sunburnt and Russ managed to lose his ticket before qualifying!

Fortunately, another company owner treating his employees found the ticket and got it back to Russ in time for the actual race.

Duffy Motors has been trading for more than 50 years and is one of the largest independent service centres and MOT stations in Manchester.

After starting in Salford, the company moved to its current railway arch location off Deansgate in the 1980s.

Lee took charge of the garage in 2008 and has made some important changes that have propelled the company to new heights.

He subscribed the company to the Good Garage Scheme, which helps customers determine which garages they can trust.

Duffy Motors has won a 99%+ rating on the Good Garage Scheme and is one of the the top-rated garages in Greater Manchester.

At Duffy Motors, we always try to deliver the highest quality MOT and servicing work at the most reasonable price points.

But generally, we only see customer’s cars at six-month or one-year intervals. In the intervening time, there are some basic preventative maintenance jobs that you can do that could end up saving you hundreds of pounds each year.

If performed regularly, these five car checks will help keep your car running healthily and could help you spot a minor problem before it develops into a more serious (and more expensive) problem.

Oil level

If you take just one thing from this blog post, check your oil level.

Checking your oil level is the most important thing you can do to keep your engine firing day after day.

Your engine needs oil to lubricate parts, but also for cooling and cleaning purposes. If your oil level dips too low then your engine can seize up or worse, start destroying itself from the inside.

Checking your oil is easy. Just dip the measure into the oil tank and check the fluid level is between the min and max markers.

On many modern cars, the dashboard display will indicate your fluid level.

Tyres

Checking tyre pressure and condition is crucial for performance and safety.

We recommend checking your tyre pressure every two weeks using a tyre pressure gauge. These affordable tools can help prevent tyre blow outs and can increase your fuel efficiency.

You should also be checking for noticeable signs of wear and failing tread on your tyres.

Measure your tyre tread depth to ensure that it is within safe legal limits.

The legal limit for tyres is 1.6mm, which is about the same depth as the outer rim of a 20 pence piece. Most manufacturers recommend changing your tyres when they get down to 3mm.

Lights

Broken lights are one of the main reasons why a car fails its MOT, it’s also one of the things that’s most likely to get your pulled over by the police.

Make sure you check all your lights – including headlights, brake lights, hazard/indicator lights, reverse lights and fog lights.

If any of the lights are broken you need to replace them immediately. If you are having difficulty finding the right bulb or fitting a replacement, one of our experienced fitters would be glad to do it for you.

Screen wash

It is a legal requirement to have a functioning screen wash system.

Make sure you keep your windscreen washer bottle fully topped up, using the right concentration of screen wash additive so that it clears away grime and doesn’t freeze.

If it is extremely cold outside, you can use the concentrated screen wash additive without adding any water.

You should also monitor the condition of your windscreen, looking out for chips and scratches and getting them repaired as soon as possible.

Coolant

You should check your engine coolant level and fan every week or so to make sure it is in good working condition.

Most modern cars have a sealed cooling system, so they shouldn’t need topping up unless they have sprung a leak.

Check the coolant when the engine is cold using a dipstick to check it is between the min and max levels.

If the coolant level has dropped significantly, make sure you get it checked out at a garage as it could be a warning sign of more significant problems to come.

If you have any questions about preventative maintenance, feel free to speak to a member of the Duffy Motors team today. Call: 0161 834 4168.  

Emma Shepherd’s distinctive VW Golf was stolen from Halfords’ Rochdale Autocentre, while it had its MOT test.

Emma has expected a call to say her £11,000 Golf had passed its MOT late in February.

Instead, the medical worker answered the phone to be told that her personalised car had been stolen from the MOT test centre.

Emma was left in a state of disbelief after she was told that the keys were left in the ignition as the car was stolen.

Emma told the Manchester Evening News: “It was stolen off the MOT test bay whilst in their possession and they have got no CCTV. It is quite shocking.

“I am just really shocked and thought it was all a joke at first. I dropped it off for an MOT and now it’s been stolen. I just cannot believe it.”

She continued: “Apparently the person came into the test centre and into a work yard, pushed a mechanic out of the way then jumped into the car and nearly ran him over as he stole the car. The police have been in touch and I have given them an account. Apparently a mechanic was injured too.

“I have been told it was having its MOT at the time and the keys were in the car because they were testing emissions.”

Emma, who works at Salford Royal, also lost her son’s pram and car seat, as well as an iPod, CDs and prescription sunglasses, all of which were in the car when it was stolen.

Emma has written to Halford’s chief executive after pre-paying £30 for the MOT.

The white Golf, which has the personalised number plate X666 ECS has still not been recovered.

Halfords MOT criticism

Social media users poured scorn on Halfords MOT test centres, and not just because the car was stolen on their watch.

Research shows that independent garages like Duffy Motors are, on average, 18% cheaper than large franchised garages and main dealers. Customers also tend to be happier with the service they get from smaller independents.

Image credit: Halfords Autocentre – Nuthall Road cc-by-sa/2.0 – © Anthony Parkes – geograph.org.uk/p/3725562

Potholes are becoming an increasing problem in Manchester.

The recent bout of extreme weather has lead to more holes appearing in roads across the city, causing more damage to vehicles and posing a safety risk.

The RAC has warned that the Beast from the East has left a legacy of potholes in its wake, claiming that callouts related to pothole breakdowns have doubled following last week’s widespread snow and ice.

The RAC estimates that pothole damage costs drivers £100m a year.

Manchester council has recognised the problem and has committed to spending £100m over the next five years to resurface and maintain the road network.

In this blog post we explore the damage that potholes do to cars, how you can report and claim for damage caused by potholes and we will also look at some of the worse pothole hotspots in and around Manchester.

What damage do potholes do to cars?

If you’ve ever hit a pothole, you’ll know the sinking feeling that comes with that sudden deep clunk. You know that something has been damaged down below and you know it is going to be pricey to fix.

Potholes can cause a number of wheel, tyre and other problems. They can lead to:

  • Buckled wheels
  • Cracked alloys
  • Popped tyres
  • Tyre lumps
  • Imbalances in tracking and wheel balancing
  • Suspension problems

If you are concerned after hitting a pothole, its best to pull over straight away and check for any obvious damage to your wheels or the underside of your car.

Some of the damage may not be immediately obvious but you should keep an eye out for unusual vibrations and slight tracking problems.

If you notice these signs then it is best to get a garage to check your vehicle as soon as possible. This will make it easier to claim for pothole damage.

Reporting and claiming for damage caused by a pothole

If your car has been damaged by a pothole, you can file a claim with the local authority that is responsible for maintaining the road (or Highways England if it is a main A road or motorway).

Councils, however, can only be held accountable for damage if they are aware of the pothole and have not fixed it.

Councils regularly perform their own road assessments, but you can also report potholes with the council or with a third-party website like Fix My Street. On Fix My Street, you can also see potholes that have already been reported.

If you intend to claim for damage, return to the scene, take notes and, if it is safe to do so, take photos of the pothole.

Make sure you note down exactly where the pothole is – including the road name and the position in the road. If anyone is in the car or walking down the road, ask if they are willing to be a witness and take their contact information.

If you get a photo, make sure you include a household object like a can of coke to give a sense of how large the pothole is.

Potholes that are 40mm or below – equivalent of two 20p pieces – don’t qualify as potholes according to government guidelines.

Get your car repaired by a trustworthy garage, keeping all quotes, invoices and receipts in support of your claim.

Now you can write to the council responsible for the pothole or contact Highways England if it is a main road.

Manchester pothole hotspots revealed

There are lots of pothole hotspots around Manchester. This map shows all the most recent potholes reported around Manchester City Centre on Fix My Street.

Other hotspots have been identified as particularly tricky.

A Freedom of Information request from Car Parts 4 Less found that the most potholed road in England was Oldham Road in East Manchester with a whopping 741 complaints made about it to Manchester City Council in 2016/17.

Chester Road in Cheshire also made the top ten list.

Wythenshawe labelled particularly bad by the MEN. One anonymous Fix My Street user reported that a pothole on Gladeside Road damaged their suspension linkage arm and steering rack, costing them £300.

Very recently, residents in Trafford have identified the A56, a main road through Stretford as being particularly in need of repair.

Resident Hazel Gibb took to Facebook to warn drivers and cyclists of the dangers of running into the hole which has opened up on the main road.

She said: “Avoid this pothole at the roundabout by Stretford flats if you are coming from Manchester and instead go around the roundabout towards Urmston. Broken spring and that’s the second one!”

Trafford residents recently welcomed plans for the local authority to spend 14.4 million repairing 60,000 potholes. For many road users, it couldn’t come soon enough.

MEN readers also identified Wheler Street in Higher Openshaw, Queens Road in Cheetham Hill, Moston Lane in Moston, Heyscroft Road in Withington, School Lane, Wilmslow Road, Kingsway and Burnage Lane in Didsbury and Wilbraham Road in Chorlton as pothole disaster zones.

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