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  • DVSA-approved MOT Class 4 & 7 test centre
  • 15 St Chad's Close, Rochdale OL16 1FG
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Our services

MOT, servicing and repairs, all in one workshop

Six things we do properly, in our own bays on St Chad's Close. Whatever your car needs, you deal with the same team from the first phone call to the moment you collect the keys.

Official MOT testing station, Class 4 & 7

Cars, vans and motor caravans tested on site by DVSA-approved testers, with the full repair workshop right behind us for anything that needs putting right.

Book your MOT

Your MOT, without the mystery

An MOT should not feel like a verdict handed down from behind a counter. Book a slot with us and you are welcome to watch the test being carried out, then we go through the result with you line by line: what passed, what failed, what is only an advisory and how long that advisory can reasonably wait.

Because the test and the workshop are the same building, anything that fails can usually be repaired here without a second trip across Rochdale. You approve the price first, every time.

  • Class 4: cars, small vans and motor caravans up to 3,000kg
  • Class 7: larger goods vehicles from 3,000kg to 3,500kg
  • Results uploaded to the DVSA database, so your record is always current
  • Free re-test if the vehicle stays with us for the repair, under DVSA rules
  • Test up to a month early and keep your existing renewal date
A car on an MOT test lane with a tester checking the front wheel and a headlamp beam tester positioned in front
Fresh engine oil being poured into a car engine during a service, with a new oil filter set out alongside

Car servicing that protects your warranty

Servicing is the cheapest motoring you will ever do. Oil that is changed on time, filters that are actually replaced and fluids checked properly are what stop a £60 job turning into a £600 one.

We service every make and model to manufacturer schedules, using parts and fluids that meet or exceed the maker's specification. Under Block Exemption rules that keeps your warranty intact, and we record the work so your service history stands up when you come to sell.

  • Interim service: oil, oil filter and a safety inspection, ideal between full services or for high-mileage drivers
  • Full service: the interim work plus air and cabin filters, spark plugs where due, brake and suspension checks and a full fluid top-up
  • Book it alongside your MOT and save yourself a second trip
  • Anything we spot gets reported to you with a price, never fixed uninvited

Mechanical repairs, diagnosed before they are quoted

Replacing parts until a noise goes away is an expensive way to fix a car. We find the actual fault first, then tell you what it costs to put right, so you are only paying for work your car genuinely needs.

From brakes and clutches to cambelts, suspension and cooling systems, the job is done in our own bays by people who will still be here next year if you have a question about it.

  • Brakes: pads, discs, calipers, handbrake and brake fluid changes
  • Suspension and steering: shocks, springs, bushes, wishbones, track rods
  • Engine work: cambelts, water pumps, oil leaks, overheating and cooling faults
  • Exhausts, emissions faults and MOT failure repairs
  • Second opinions on somebody else's quote, very welcome
A brake disc and hub with the wheel removed during brake work on a car raised on a lift
A technician using a handheld diagnostic scan tool plugged into the port under a car dashboard

Auto electrical work and diagnostics

Modern cars throw warning lights for hundreds of reasons, and most of them are not what the internet says they are. We plug into the car's systems, read the live data properly and tell you what the fault code actually means.

That is the difference between fixing the problem and replacing a sensor that was innocent all along.

  • Engine management, ABS, airbag and emissions warning lights
  • Non-starting cars, flat batteries and charging system faults
  • Battery drain, wiring faults, lighting and electrical window or lock problems
  • Sensors, glow plugs, alternators and starter motors
  • You get the fault code and the plain-English translation

Four wheel alignment on a dedicated bay

Rochdale's roads are hard on suspension geometry. One decent pothole is enough to knock your tracking out, and after that your tyres start scrubbing themselves flat on one edge while the car quietly pulls to the left.

Our four wheel alignment bay measures all four corners against manufacturer figures and adjusts them back to spec. You get a straight steering wheel, tyres that last the mileage you paid for and a car that feels planted again.

  • Worth doing after new tyres, kerb knocks, potholes or suspension work
  • Fixes uneven tyre wear, pulling to one side and off-centre steering wheels
  • All four wheels measured, not just the front pair
  • Before and after figures shown to you, so you can see what changed
A car on a four wheel alignment rack with sensor heads on the wheels and a technician adjusting the front suspension
A gearbox and clutch assembly laid out on a workshop bench and inspected under a lamp

Transmission services, manual and automatic

Gearboxes rarely fail without warning. A clutch that bites at the top of its travel, a judder pulling away, a whine that changes with the gear, an automatic that hesitates before it engages: these are all early conversations worth having.

We diagnose transmission complaints before anything is stripped, because knowing whether it is the clutch, the linkage, a mount or the box itself is the difference between a manageable bill and a very large one.

  • Clutch replacement, slipping clutches and judder on pull-away
  • Manual gearbox faults: crunching, jumping out of gear, selection problems
  • Automatic transmission fluid changes and hesitation or harsh shifting
  • Driveshafts, CV joints, gearbox mounts and linkage adjustment
  • Honest advice on whether the repair is worth it for the car's value

What it costs

Clear prices, agreed before the work starts

Every car is different, so we quote yours rather than hiding behind a headline price that changes at the counter. Ring or message with your registration and you will get a real figure, not a range.

MOT test

Class 4 and Class 7

Ask for today's price Call or WhatsApp with your registration for a fixed price
  • Full DVSA test on site
  • Result explained line by line
  • Free re-test if the car stays with us for repair
  • Wait on site if you prefer
Book an MOT

Repairs & diagnostics

Priced per job

Quoted after diagnosis We find the fault first, then give you the figure
  • Diagnostic read with the code explained
  • Parts and labour itemised separately
  • Nothing proceeds without your approval
  • Alignment and transmission work included
Get a quote

Prices depend on your vehicle, its age and the parts it needs. Call 01706 655551 or WhatsApp 07749 058326 with your registration for an exact figure.

Common questions

MOT and servicing questions we get asked every week

If yours is not here, ring us. We would rather answer it now than have you worrying about it.

How long does an MOT test take?

A Class 4 MOT usually takes around 45 to 60 minutes. Book a slot and you are welcome to wait on site rather than making two trips. If the test finds something that needs putting right, we talk you through it and price the repair before any work starts.

What is the difference between a Class 4 and a Class 7 MOT?

Class 4 covers cars, small vans and motor caravans up to 3,000kg design gross weight, which is the vast majority of vehicles on the road. Class 7 covers goods vehicles between 3,000kg and 3,500kg, so most larger vans fall into it. We are approved to test both here at St Chad's Close.

Do I get a free re-test if my car fails?

Under DVSA rules, if you leave the vehicle with us for the repair, the re-test is free. If you take it away and bring it back within 10 working days, a partial re-test is free. We will tell you exactly which applies to your vehicle before you leave, so there are no surprises.

How early can I get my MOT done before it runs out?

You can have the test done up to one calendar month minus a day before the expiry date and keep your original renewal date. Booking early is the sensible move, it gives you time to sort any failures without driving on an expired certificate.

Will servicing here affect my manufacturer warranty?

No. Block Exemption rules mean an independent garage can service your car without invalidating the manufacturer warranty, provided the correct parts and fluids are used and the service is properly recorded. That is exactly how we work, and your service record stays intact for resale.

How do I know if I need four wheel alignment?

The usual signs are tyres wearing unevenly or faster than they should, the car drifting to one side when you let go of the wheel, or a steering wheel that sits off-centre when you are driving straight. It is also worth checking after fitting new tyres, hitting a pothole or having suspension work done.

My car has broken down, can you look at it today?

Ring 01706 655551 and we will tell you honestly what we can do that day. Urgent faults, warning lights and cars that are not safe to drive get prioritised wherever the workshop schedule allows. If we cannot help today, we will say so rather than leaving you waiting.

Do you look after vans and business fleets?

Yes. We test and service cars, vans and motor caravans, and we look after local business fleets with regular MOT and service schedules so vehicles stay legal and on the road. One point of contact, and we keep track of the dates for you.

Can I get a second opinion on another garage's quote?

Absolutely, and plenty of people do. Bring the quote in, or send a photo of it, and we will go through it item by item and tell you what we think is genuinely needed. If the other garage was right, we will tell you that too.

Book your slot

Tell us the job, we will tell you the price

Pick a day and a time that works around you. We confirm every booking by phone or WhatsApp before your visit.

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