Consumers are increasingly considering the use of mobile mechanics, as BookMyGarage.com announces the addition of these services to their line-up of repairers.
The company’s latest study shows that 68% of motorists would think about turning to a mobile mechanic to service or repair their vehicle. The trade has grown in popularity in recent years, and the survey by BookMyGarage.com shows that more than a third of its customers have used one in the past.
In particular, popularity grew during the COVID-19 pandemic when social distancing measures were in place. Of the respondents who have used a mobile mechanic previously, 40% said they used one for the first time after the first lockdown started in March 2020.
The study found that convenience was the number one reason for using mobile mechanics, with 70% of drivers who have used one previously stating this as the reason for doing so. One-in-four also said it was more cost effective.
As more and more people work from home, and limit their daily travel, mobile mechanics offer much more convenience than workshops. Drivers can remain at work and not have to consider how to drop a vehicle off and travel back to their home or place of work, and then back later to collect it. While mobile mechanics may not be able to offer all the services that workshop-based technicians can, many forge alliances with garages where they can take vehicles for more complex work.
Customers using mobile mechanics can choose to have a multitude of work caried out on their vehicle, including routine servicing, brake disc or pad replacement, tyre replacement, air conditioning re-gassing, battery replacement, diagnostic checks, alternator repairs and coolant changes.
The survey also showed that tyre replacement (39%), mechanical repairs (35%) and routine servicing (23%) are the top three reasons for its customers using mobile mechanics.
Adding mobile mechanics to service offer
BookMyGarage.com is now adding mobile mechanics to its roster, giving consumers more choice while also helping another sector of the independent aftermarket.
“We want to offer our customers as much convenience and choice as possible,” said Jessica Potts, Head of Marketing at BookMyGarage.com. “With the option to book servicing and repairs using either our collect and deliver service or mobile mechanics, customers using our website can enjoy the convenience of having work carried out on their vehicle from the comfort of their own home.
“Mobile mechanics are a convenient way to have your car serviced or repaired if you can’t make it to a garage, or struggle to find time in your day to take the car to one. Many operate outside of normal working hours and on weekends, adding even greater flexibility for our customers, and without the overheads of running a garage, they can often be a cheaper option too.”
BookMyGarage already has many garages signed up to its mobile mechanics network, and expects the number to grow significantly over the coming months. Independent garages already on the network have the option to add mobile mechanics as a service offering through the platform.
