Header Background Image

Diagnostic Check in Guildford

Instantly compare diagnostic deals from garages near you & book online

4.6* on Trustpilot

*Based on Trustpilot: our average rating
4.6 out of 5 from 5485 reviews.

Don't know your vehicle registration?
Diagnostic Check

Instantly compare diagnostic deals from garages near you & book online

4.6* on Trustpilot

*Based on Trustpilot: out average rating
4.6 out of 5 from 5485 reviews.

happy man using his phone

14,109,939 happy drivers can’t be wrong.

“I’m always on the go, so booking my MOT on my phone was really useful.
I compared garages, picked the best one for me and even saved money, all whilst waiting for my morning coffee!”

4.6/5 based on over 5485 Trustpilot reviews*
* Based on Trustpilot: our average rating 4.6/5 from 5,485 reviews.
BEST SERVICE CENTRE LIMITED Logo
BEST SERVICE CENTRE LIMITED
BEST Service Centre, 59 recreation road, GUILDFORD, GU1 1HE
977 Reviews
Over 25 years experience

Loan Car

Collect & Deliver

Customer Drop-off

Diagnostic Check FROM £90

BEST Service Centre in Guildford has over 25 years experience in the motor trade. Our main objective is to offer excellent service at an affordable price. BEST Service Centre are specialists in vehicle parts, repair and replacements including brakes, exhausts, suspension, tyres and MOT services.

Kingfisher Cars Logo
Kingfisher Cars
framptons yard, bryanstone avenue, guildford, GU2 9UW
115 Reviews
Established in 1983

Loan Car

Collect & Deliver

Customer Drop-off

Diagnostic Check FROM £25

Kingfisher cars is a local, friendly garage in Guildford providing MOT testing, car servicing and repairs for our customers. A professional and respected garage established in 1983, our team of highly trained mechanics offer a range of services for all makes and models of cars and commercial vehicle...

Guildford Auto Servicing and Repairs Ltd. Logo
Guildford Auto Servicing and Repairs Ltd.
Ridgemount, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7TH
8 Reviews
One Stop Shop for all your needsTrusted by Motor TradersInsurance Approved

Loan Car

Collect & Deliver

Customer Drop-off

Diagnostic Check FROM £60

Guildford Auto is one stop for all your car needs. Our Engineers Certified Technicians have over many years experience with maintenance and repairs to all vehicles. Call us today to schedule your repair or maintenance for your car. We even offer maintenance services for a range of vehicles. Our...

MOTORMECH GUILDFORD LIMITED Logo
MOTORMECH GUILDFORD LIMITED
UNIT 1H CATHEDRAL HILL INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, GUILDFORD, GU2 7YB
12 Reviews

Loan Car

Collect & Deliver

Customer Drop-off

Diagnostic Check FROM £69

At Motormech we service, repair and MOT all makes and models of vehicles and we aim to provide true value for money. Our customers benefit from a team who are open to questions and who know and believe in the advice and information we give to our customers. We always try to develop a positive and tr...

What does a car diagnostic check do?

A diagnostic check is carried out on your vehicle by a mechanic, who will plug your vehicle into a specialised code reader. It can detect problems with your vehicle which may be difficult to spot manually.

The main components which are tested in a diagnostic check are the car’s:

  • electronic control units (ECUs) - these control various element of the car and its performance including engine running
  • emissions and exhaust sensors
  • braking system
  • electrical components such as central door locking
  • transmission if electronically controlled
  • ignition coils
  • throttle setting
  • fuel injectors
  • air flow and coolant

 

Why is a car diagnostic check important?

A diagnostic check is very important as it can detect a potential problem with your car, even before a breakdown. The computerised equipment scans your vehicle’s system to check for any faults, no matter how minor or major. A diagnostic test is a quick, easy and accurate way to discover any faults and will give you the chance to get them fixed before they turn into bigger and more expensive issues. When your car has a fault, this may show as a warning light on the dashboard. If the light goes out the system will store the fault code so the garage will find this when they do the diagnostic check.

What are the possible signs that your car needs a diagnostic check?

There are many different signs which will indicate that your vehicle needs a diagnostic check. Essentially, if you suspect that there is an issue with your car but don’t know what, you will probably want to book a diagnostic check to find out what the problem is. Here are some of the key signs:

  • Engine warning light - if the engine warning light appears on your dashboard, it’s important to take your vehicle to a garage as soon as possible as there is a wide variety of problems which the light may be flagging up.
  • Strange noises – any strange noises coming from your car need to be checked out before they turn into more serious problem. Some of these sounds may include; whining from the bonnet, abnormally loud exhaust, uneven engine noise, brake squealing or gear crunching.
  • Smoke - if you see smoke or steam coming from under the bonnet, your vehicle may be overheating.
  • Vibrating - if you notice any vibrating or pulling under your brake, the issue may be due to work brake discs or pads. However, it could also indicate a problem with your suspension or steering.

 

How long do car diagnostics take?

You can expect a diagnostic check on your car to take approximately 90 minutes. You may want to allow for more time though as the mechanic who will be carrying out the check might not be available to start right away.

How much does a car diagnostic check cost?

The price of a car diagnostic test can vary, depending on the garage that you visit. Each garage has a fixed price for diagnostic checks, ranging from £30 - £100.

Enter your vehicle registration number and post code into BookMyGarage (at the top of this page) and you can instantly compare diagnostic check pricing from all of the garages in Guildford. As well as price, you can see the garages’ reviews, distance from your post code, extra services offered and availability. You don’t even have to register to get access to all of this information. When you have selected a suitable garage, you can choose a date, any optional extras (such as collection and delivery, loan car etc.) and book online.

How can you save money (and the environment) while you drive?

As every garage owner will tell you, there are some tried and tested ways to cut down on your petrol costs (and consumption) while you’re out and about in Guildford or beyond. One is to shut your windows. If you can hear that wind noise in your car it’s costing you more to drive. This is because the car becomes less aerodynamic and has to work harder to motor along. Removing a roof rack will improve your fuel efficiency for the same reason. Another useful tip is to combine short trips into one; each time you drive after your car has been parked for a while the engine will be cold and need to use a lot more fuel for the first 5 miles or so. If you do one trip from school drop-off to supermarket to office you’ll use far less fuel than if you do all those trips individually.

Book Online Today!

Don't know your vehicle registration?
Diagnostic Check