Garage Services

February 10, 2023 by S4LadminPARC

Whether your vehicle has been in an accident, or if you or another driver has unintentionally caused damage, then you may be looking for car body repairs. If you notice any harm to the exterior of your vehicle, we can help you. Here are a few popular problems that can easily be fixed.

Scrapes & Dents

Your car is bound to endure some scrapes and dents in it’s lifetime. No matter how much you look after your vehicle, it’s bound to happen. Sometimes it’s your fault, other times it can be the fault of other drivers. Minor damage can be caused by bumping into obstructions or even from other car doors opening too close to your vehicle.

If it’s only small, it might be tempting to leave car body repairs until a later date. Dents and scrapes can be unsightly and ruin the look of the exterior. If they’re big enough, they might even cause further harm. If you have any damages, small or large, that you haven’t got fixed yet, then get booked into a garage.

Car Body Repairs: Paint Damage

Whether you want to refresh your current paint or get a brand new finish, PARC can help. If the exterior of your vehicle is looking a bit tired and worse for wear, then a fresh paint job will leave it looking as good as new.

Accident Repairs

If your car was involved in an accident, it might require some work to return it to its former glory. Not only does this involve checks on the performance of the vehicle, but also the exterior. Whether you’ve got a smashed windscreen or are in need of extensive car body repairs, you should visit a garage when your vehicle is damaged.

Alloy Wheel Refurbishment

If you take pride in your alloys, then it can be frustrating when they become victim to various scrapes and marks. If you want to keep your vehicle looking great, then it might be worth getting your wheels refurbished. Getting them sorted out sooner rather than later can help reduce possible further damage.

Contact PARC Now For Car Body Repairs

At PARC Ltd, we are proud to be Which? trusted traders. You can rely on us to do a good job of fixing any dents or damages. We offer a range of services that will restore your vehicle, so get booked into our Pontypool garage today.

January 27, 2023 by S4LadminPARC

An MOT is required by law on most vehicles, so it’s important to make sure it passes. Of course, you need professionals to carry out the test and any work needed to ensure it doesn’t fail. However, here are just a few things you can do to minimise the chances of a failure.

What You’ll Need:

The steps we go over are mostly just checks, however you may need a few things. You might want to get some cleaning equipment, screen wash, engine oil, lightbulbs and maybe even new tyres. A twenty pence piece might also benefit you. Finally, you’ll need to find a reliable garage to carry out the MOT after you’ve made all the checks.

How Long It Will Take:

Preparing for an MOT won’t take much time. Put aside 1 hour before your test to carry out these checks.

How Much It Will Cost:

Most of the things we look at are just checks. If you have to do all of the things on the list, it might set you back around £100 or maybe even more. Screen wash and bulbs are relatively cheap, whilst the price of engine oil, fuel and tyres will differ car to car. Most vehicles that are kept in reasonably good order won’t require more than £20 worth of supplies to get MOT-ready.

Pre MOT-Checks

1. Keep Your Car Clean

Okay, you won’t fail your test because your car is dirty or cluttered. However, ensuring there are no marks on your windscreen that affect the drivers view is important. Also, your registration plate needs to be legible, so make sure it is cleaned prior to the MOT.

2. Look For Broken Bulbs

Lights are one of the most common reasons for failing an MOT test. Simply check headlights, break lights and other lights by turning on your vehicle and getting somebody to look for you. If you need lights changing, you can do them yourself or inform the garage beforehand and have these sorted out.

3. Check Your Tyres

Tyres are an important part of the MOT test and crucial to making your car roadworthy. The tread depth should be 1.6mm to ensure there’s enough grip and to make sure you are not breaking the law. You can check this using the 20p test. If your tread depth exceeds this, then your vehicle will fail the test. Don’t panic as this is fairly common, check out our other blog on what to do if your car fails the MOT. If you don’t know how to change tyres, then the garage will most likely be able to change them for you.

4. Top It Up

If you’ve ran out of screen wash, your vehicle might fail the test. Furthermore, a garage might turn you away if you don’t have enough fuel and engine oil to complete the test. So, make sure you’ve topped these up before you take it in.

5. Check Your Windscreen

Your windscreen is important as it has to be in a good condition to drive safely. If you have any marks, scratches or chips that are bigger than 40mm, then the vehicle will fail. Also, your windscreen wipers need to be in working order so they can effectively clear your view. If they look a bit worse for wear, then they may need replacing before the MOT.

Get In Touch With PARC Today

Is your MOT is due? Then contact our garage today. If your car is experiencing any of the above problems, inform us before the assessment and we can assist in getting them fixed. We can help get your car up to passing standards and ensure it is roadworthy. To keep your car in top condition, make sure you keep up with regular servicing too.

July 29, 2021 by S4LadminPARC

Often when we think about vehicle maintenance there are 2 things that are synonymous with looking after your car and that’s MOT testing & servicing. However these two parts of maintenance differ in many ways. Both important to keeping your car or van in good condition, we’ll break down the key differences here.

Do you know what happens during a vehicle service or MOT? Due to being a legal requirement, many customers schedule their car in for an MOT without understanding what that entails.

What Happens During An MOT Test?

In the United Kingdom, after a vehicle reaches the age of three years, it is required to be tested annually to verify that it continues to fulfil legal road safety and environmental criteria. An MOT (Ministry Of Transport), may only be performed by approved and recognised specialists who wear the iconic blue and white sign.

Multiple checks surrounding your automobile are carried out, including lights, brakes, exhaust, gasoline, and other safety features. They do not, however, include the inspection of your clutch, gearbox, or engine.

The test guarantees that the vehicle is safe to drive, but it does not guarantee that it is performing at its best. That’s because the MOT test only looks at what’s ‘safety critical’ in your car, not the car or van’s overall health. While the MOT test covers items like brakes, lights, tyres, and seatbelts, it does not examine things like your engine. That’s when a service comes in handy.

Vehicle Servicing Explained

A service is a vehicle examination based on your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations that maintains your car’s reliability, safety, and fully functional. Both a MOT test and a service are comparable in that they both check things like tyres, brakes, and seatbelts.

Having your automobile maintained on a regular basis can ensure that it runs better, smoother, and more reliably in the long term. Servicing your automobile helps to make your vehicle more efficient, which means reduced operating expenses and less repair fees.

Interim Services

Our interim automobile service involves a thorough inspection of numerous key components to guarantee that your vehicle is safe to drive. We also replace items and top off fluids, such as engine oil and oil filters.

Full Service

On top of the intermediate service, a complete service includes several more detailed inspections. In addition to the vehicle inspections and fluid top-ups performed during the intermediate car service, we also replace many of the fluids with new ones to ensure that your car runs smoothly. We change air filters based on mileage and vehicle usage, as well as do extra coolant/antifreeze strength checks and top-ups, clutch fluid, gearbox fluid, and axle oil.

MOT & Vehicle Service Misconceptions

Car Servicing Is A Legal Requirement

While frequent servicing is suggested to maintain your vehicle in excellent working order, unlike a MOT, an annual service is not a legal obligation nor a need for motor insurance. However, if you believe you’ll save a few dollars by deferring your repair, you may wind up paying a lot more later if your automobile requires costly remedial work that might have been avoided if identified early during your service. Skipping a service is a waste of money.

Getting An MOT Test Means Your Vehicle Is Roadworthy For The Whole Year

While the MOT test certificate is valid for a year, the MOT tester may only make decisions based on the vehicle’s condition on the day of the test. In a year, a lot may change to your car’s state, so you can’t rely on the MOT certificate to ensure its safety. Regular inspections and maintenance, such as checking tyre pressure and condition, topping up oil and fluid levels, and replacing blown bulbs, are all necessary to keep you safe on the road.

An MOT guarantees the general mechanical condition of your vehicle

Basic road safety and environmental criteria are met when a vehicle receives a MOT pass certificate. Because the MOT tester is not allowed to dismantle any components on the vehicle, the test does not reveal its mechanical condition.

Contact Us For More Information On Car Servicing In Pontypool

June 28, 2021 by S4LadminPARC

Whether you have been driving for years or if you’re new to taking to the road, you should be aware of your vehicle’s annual MOT test and what is involved. Knowing more about the specific components of your car that are checked will make you more informed about repairs leading up to your assessment.

The law in the UK states that once a car is 3 years old it must be tested every single year to ensure that it still meets the legal road safety requirements and environmental standards. Short for the Ministry of Transport, an MOT can only be carried out by authorised and certified professionals that can be easily identified by the familiar blue and white sign.

The inspection carried out involves multiple checks around your car that range from checking your lights, brakes, exhaust system, fuel system and all safety features. However, they do not cover checking your clutch, gearbox or the condition of your engine.

With as much as 40% of MOT tests failing the first time round due mostly to minor faults, it is important to understand exactly what is checked so you may be able to repair these issues beforehand. Typically, we see a few common mistakes people make before signing their car in for inspection.

Issues With Your License Plate

This can be anything from being too dirty to an illegal type face or missing completely. As a legal requirement your registration plate must be clearly visible and meet the requirements of the DVLA.

Screen Wash & Other Fluids Not Topped Up

Vital to the proper running of your car, the screen wash, oil, power steering, brake fluid & coolant should all be at the appropriate levels prior to your inspection. This can prevent very simple failures from happening.

Headlights & Indicators

Easily checked by yourself before your inspection, if your car’s headlights or brake lights are faulty then let us know when booking in your test to prevent a failed inspection. Our mechanics can replace the broken lights prior to your test to ensure they pass the assessment.

Warning Lights

A later addition to the MOT checks are warning lights on your dashboard. If any of these show up, you should have your vehicle checked by a professional as soon as you can. If any are lit up before your test, then this will cause your vehicle to fail.

By simply checking these things beforehand, you give your car the very best chance of passing with the components that are within your control. Of course, our team of mechanics can assist with any work that needs to be done prior to your test.

Components Checked In An MOT

Primarily the Inspection is put in place to make you and other road users as safe as possible. This is why the tests have such a clear focus on safety mechanisms and components both internally and externally.

Mechanical Components

Handbrake

Suspension

Fuel, Oil & Other Fluids

Exhaust

Handbrake

Suspension

Fuel, Oil & Other Fluids

Exhaust

Safety Features

Windscreen Wipers

Seatbelts & Seats

Horn

Windscreen Wipers

Seatbelts & Seats

Horn

Failing Your MOT

If your vehicle fails its MOT, the test centre will issue you a VT3O Certificate that explains why. You must repair these failure areas and schedule a partial MOT retest with us before you may drive your vehicle again.

Contact Us For More Information On MOT Tests In Pontypool

May 25, 2021 by S4LadminPARC

Servicing your car is an important part of maintaining your vehicle and extending its lifespan. As car and van servicing experts in Pontypool, we have seen the effects of not servicing your vehicle regularly and know that it is a much more cost-effective way of looking after your vehicle. Our fully equipped garage employs only the best and most experienced mechanics to ensure that the services we conduct leave your vehicle performing better and safer.

Servicing Your Vehicle - Is It Necessary?

If you have noticed the performance of your car or van deteriorating or if it’s been a while since your vehicle has had a service then it might be time to book one in. This will help your car run smoother, perform better and be more cost-effective to drive. Vehicle services are important for indicating any potential problems that might arise in the near future too.

Often preventing breakdowns and larger mechanics bills, having your car serviced at least once a year will improve its efficiency and extend its life. Regular services can also help to hold the value of your car as many buyers want to see a well-kept service history.

It is a common misconception that not servicing your car or van will save you money in the long run however, the reality is that as trained mechanics we do tend to pick up on minor issues starting to occur before they become bigger problems which may end up costing much more money than a service. We advise everybody to have their vehicle fully serviced at least once a year or every 10-12,000 miles. This way your car will be checked in a reasonable time frame for any issues, thereby saving you on costly repair jobs.

The two types of service we offer are interim and full services. These two options serve different purposes in terms of maintaining your vehicle. Your vehicle may require one of our packages, depending on how many miles you drive and when the last service was performed. We have outlined both services here:

What Does Our Interim Service Include?

The interim service we provide includes a thorough inspection of multiple key components to ensure that your vehicle is in good working order. We also replace certain filters and parts, as well as top up fluids. This includes oil filters & fluid plus any others that require topping up for example power steering and window washer fluid.

On top of checking filters and fluids, we also assess the vehicle’s wheel nuts for their torque and adjust them if they need it. There are many other components that our skilled mechanics test for instance tyre pressure, your clutch brake fluid and the power steering reservoir to ensure that your vehicle is safe and performing as best as possible.

The rest of the component checks are conducted before informing you of any minor issues that may need further attention. We check the car or van’s brake pads and discs as well as the depth of tread on your tyres. If we do discover any additional issues that require further work, we will let you know before starting. The aim of our interim car service is to ensure that your car is healthy and working as best as possible before a full service may be required.

Full Car Service - What Is Included?

A much more in-depth and elaborate vehicle service, the full car service that we offer checks many more components than the interim service. We typically recommend booking your service at least once a year or every 10-12,000 miles if you tend to drive your car or van a lot. This will help to make sure your car and you are safe on the road and driving as efficiently as possible.

On top of all of the components checked on the interim service, the full service means more comprehensive checks to all major components of your car or van. Unlike the interim service, we completely empty and change the engine oil and top up other fluids. This can improve your engine health and its efficiency in the long run. Based on the usage of your vehicle and the condition of your air filters, we will change them if necessary. We finish the full service, once all of the in-depth component checks are complete and by topping up the windscreen wash, antifreeze/ coolant and any other fluids that your vehicle requires.

Many makes and models of vehicles are different which is why we conduct our services to the specific vehicle and its specifications. As experienced mechanics, we have knowledge of working with most car and van models meaning we are confident with the varying guidelines set by vehicle manufacturers for services.

How Much Do Car Services Cost?

Both of the car services we provide are completed at our Pontypool-based independent mechanics. The cost of a vehicle service varies based on whether or not your car or van needs extra maintenance to be safe. We provide high-quality automotive services at affordable rates.

Contact Us To Find Out More Information On Car Servicing Pontypool

For more information or to book your vehicle in for a service then contact us today. Our team of expert mechanics will be happy to help answer any question you might have and advise you on the right service for your vehicle.

October 16, 2020 by S4LadminPARC

If you are in need of immediate professional accident repair in the Pontypool area, then you will need Pontypool Accident Repair Centre (P.A.R.C)

Accident repair is extremely important, as cars are a vital part of our daily lives. So you need an accident & repair centre that will deliver guaranteed quality with competitive prices. Contact P.A.R.C on or visit our site for more information.

Support & Help With Your Accident Repair

Professional accident repair can relieve mountains of stress from someone. Just knowing your car is in good hands can put your mind at ease. However if you need some support or further help with your repair, then P.A.R.C can assist.

The experienced staff at P.A.R.C will be happy to offer advice on the best solution to your accident. This could consist of offering immediate solutions. Like repairs or courtesy cars, or even a simple phone call to us so we can arrange for your vehicle to be picked up if not driveable.

Whatever the issue, call us or visit our site for professional and quality support & help with your accident repair!

Car Body Repairs

Unfortunately, cars are not indestructible. They will need repairs at some point, whether it is from an accident or even just maintenance.

Through our experience in the industry, we can assist with all types of car body repairs . Even if you need a small scratch gone, or a dent fixed, our trusted team at P.A.R.C will be on hand to repair.

Our garage comes equipped with the top-notch facilities that can take care of those little fixes. But we also have the necessary equipment to tackle larger jobs such as bumper repairs.

Whether it is a small job you want fixed right away or a bigger job for your car body, P.A.R.C is the place to go. With competitive prices and guaranteed quality customer service we pride ourselves in our professional accident repair.

Accident Repairs & Insurance work

Car accidents are scary. No matter how serious. After seeking medical attention if needed, you will need to notify your garage (P.A.R.C if your lucky enough to be in the south wales area!) for further instructions.

If your car is not drivable, as discussed we will provide a courtesy car so you can carry on with your driving. But any repairs that can be done to get your vehicle back to its best will be done by our experienced mechanics. We work quickly and efficiently to offer professional accident repair, so that you can be behind the wheel of your car in no time.

The other aspect when an accident occurs is the insurance side of it. Your insurance company might recommend a company for your repairs, as they feel it will best suit your plan. However P.A.R.C is an insurance approved repair centre, therefore we can communicate with your insurance company to find the best possible solution for you and your vehicle !

Whether you have any more questions or queries on our professional accident repair, don’t hesitate to call P.A.R.C or visit our website!

Garage Services

Scrapes & Dents

Car Body Repairs: Paint Damage

Accident Repairs

Alloy Wheel Refurbishment

Contact PARC Now For Car Body Repairs

What You’ll Need:

How Long It Will Take:

How Much It Will Cost:

Pre MOT-Checks

1. Keep Your Car Clean

2. Look For Broken Bulbs

3. Check Your Tyres

4. Top It Up

5. Check Your Windscreen

Get In Touch With PARC Today

What Happens During An MOT Test?

Vehicle Servicing Explained

Interim Services

Full Service

MOT & Vehicle Service Misconceptions

Contact Us For More Information On Car Servicing In Pontypool

Issues With Your License Plate

Screen Wash & Other Fluids Not Topped Up

Headlights & Indicators

Warning Lights

Components Checked In An MOT

Mechanical Components

Safety Features

Failing Your MOT

Contact Us For More Information On MOT Tests In Pontypool

Servicing Your Vehicle - Is It Necessary?

What Does Our Interim Service Include?

Full Car Service - What Is Included?

How Much Do Car Services Cost?

Contact Us To Find Out More Information On Car Servicing Pontypool

Support & Help With Your Accident Repair

Car Body Repairs

Accident Repairs & Insurance work

Pontypool Accident & Repair Centre

Garage Services

Body Repairs

Other Services

Contact Details