The quality of work is usually of a high standard and charges compare favourably with those in other European countries (they’re usually much lower than in the UK). It’s generally cheaper to have your car serviced at a village garage than at a main dealer, although the quality of work may vary considerably from garage to garage.
Note that when a car is under warranty it must usually be serviced by an approved dealer in order not to invalidate the warranty, although since October 2002 dealers no longer have exclusive rights to servicing and the supply of spare parts, which were previously marked up by up to 400 per cent. (On the other hand, new car dealers are no longer obliged to offer after-sales service.) If you need urgent assistance, particularly with an exotic foreign car, you’re more likely to receive sympathetic help from a small general garage than a large specialist dealer.
If you drive a rare car, it’s wise to carry a basic selection of spare parts, as service stations in France may not stock them and you may need to wait several days for them to be sent from abroad.
Garages are generally open from 08.00 to 19.00 and close for lunch between 12.00 and 13.30. Many garages close for the whole month of August. Some garages provide 24-hour breakdown assistance (at a price – e.g. €150 for 15km/10mi).
Garages don’t usually provide a free ‘loan car’ ( véhicule de remplacement) while yours is being serviced or repaired, although your insurance company may do so; otherwise, you can usually hire a car from a garage at a reasonable rate. Some garages will collect your car from your home or office and deliver it after a service, or will drop you off at a railway or bus station or in a local town and pick you up when your car is ready for collection.
This article is an extract from Living and working in France. Click here to get a copy now.