Independent garage in Reading since 2011
Servicing and repairs, priced before we lift the bonnet.
Four bays, five technicians and a fixed price for every job. Wait while we work or drop it off, and keep your manufacturer warranty.
Today in the workshop
Closed now. Showing Monday 26 October.
- Bay 1 · Servicing While you wait 15:30
- Bay 2 · Servicing and repairs Drop-off 11:00
- Bay 3 · Brakes, tyres and tests While you wait 11:00
- Bay 4 · Diagnostics and clutches Drop-off 07:30
Pick a row to book that slot. Bars show the day's bookings, 07:30–18:00.
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Price agreed first
Every job is quoted before we start. Anything extra, we call you and wait for a yes.
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24-month warranty
Parts and labour, 24 months or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first.
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Keeps your car’s warranty
Parts to manufacturer spec and a stamped service record, so the factory warranty stands.
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Free courtesy car
Two small hatchbacks for drop-off jobs. Book one with your slot.
What we do
Every job has a price before the work starts
Prices are for a family petrol car and include parts, labour and VAT. The quote below adjusts for size, fuel and how you want to wait.
Interim service
An oil and filter change with 42 safety checks, for cars that cover a lot of miles between full services.
Full service
The yearly service. Oil, air and cabin filters, 68 checks and a stamped book that keeps your manufacturer warranty.
Major service
Everything in a full service, plus spark plugs, brake fluid and coolant. Usually every second year.
Brake pads and discs
Front pads and discs replaced, fitted and road-tested. Fixed price by car size, usually while you wait.
Clutch replacement
A new clutch kit and release bearing, fitted in a day at a fixed price. Courtesy car included.
Diagnostic check
A warning light or a fault found, tested and explained, with a fixed price for the repair. The fee comes off the repair.
Annual roadworthiness test
The yearly safety test at the capped price, with a free re-test within 10 working days and no pressure to fix anything here.
Tyres, fitted today
Budget, mid-range and premium in stock up to 17-inch rims. Fitting, valve, balancing and recycling included.
Find your sizeInstant quote
Get the price and the next free bay
Pick the job, your car and how you want to wait. The price is fixed; the slot is the first one we can hold for you.
The workshop
From one ramp to four bays since 2011
Fernley started as two technicians and one ramp. It is now five, with four bays and a waiting room, and the person who checks your car in is the person who works on it.
- Cars a year
- 3,100
- Technicians
- 5
- Courtesy cars
- 2
How a visit works
Drop it off at eight, collect it by five
Or wait in the waiting room for anything up to 2½ hours.
Book a bay
Pick a price and a slot online or by phone. You get a text the day before.
Check-in at the counter
Two minutes with the technician who will work on your car. Tell us about any noises.
A call before anything extra
If we find something, you get a photo and a fixed price. Nothing is done without a yes.
Collect with a report
Stamped service book, a written report of every check and your old parts if you want them.
Garage, dealer or chain?
Why pay dealer rates for the same service?
The work is the same schedule, to the same spec, recorded the same way. The hourly rate is not.
| Fernley Garage | Main dealer | Fast-fit chain | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labour rate per hour | £72 | £150–£190 | £90–£110 |
| Parts | Matching original spec, genuine on request | Genuine only | Own-brand where it can |
| Warranty | 24 months / 24,000 miles | 12 months | 12 months, parts only |
| Keeps the manufacturer warranty | Yes, stamped book and digital record | Yes | Check the small print |
| Courtesy car | Free, book ahead | Often charged | Rarely |
Dealer and chain figures are typical for the Reading area in 2026. Labour rates include VAT.
Reviews
What drivers say when they collect the keys
“Booked online on Sunday night, sat in the waiting room with my laptop on Monday and drove off before lunch. The price on the screen was the price on the invoice.”
“The dealer wanted over £1,300. Fernley did it for £859 with a dual-mass flywheel check, gave me the courtesy car, and the van was ready at half three as promised.”
“They rang before touching the rear brakes, sent me a photo of the worn pad and the price. No pressure. I said yes and it was done the same afternoon.”
“Engine light had been on for a month and two places just cleared it. Here they found a split vacuum hose, showed it to me, and knocked the £69 off the repair.”
“Hybrid owners get told to go back to the main dealer. These guys had the right software, stamped the book and the warranty people accepted it without a question.”
“Rang at nine, fitted by eleven. They told me the other two had a year left and to leave them. That honesty is why I keep coming back.”
Guides
Plain answers from the workshop floor
FAQ
Warranty, waiting and tyres: the short answers
Anything else, ring the workshop. The technicians pick up between jobs.
Will a service here keep my manufacturer warranty?
Yes. Block exemption rules let you have a new car serviced anywhere, as long as the work follows the manufacturer schedule and uses parts of matching quality. We do both, stamp your book and add the record to the digital service history.
What is the difference between interim, full and major?
An interim service is an oil and filter change with 42 checks, for cars doing high mileage between full services. A full service is the yearly one: oil, air and cabin filters and 68 checks. A major service adds spark plugs (or a diesel fuel filter), brake fluid and coolant, usually every second year.
Can I wait while you do it?
Yes, for jobs up to 2½ hours: interim and full services, brakes, the annual test and diagnostics. Longer jobs are drop-off only. The waiting room has wifi, a desk and coffee.
Do you service hybrids and electric cars?
Yes. Two of our technicians hold high-voltage qualifications and we have the equipment to isolate the battery safely. Electric services cost less because there is no oil, filter or spark plugs to change.
How do I get a price for a repair that is not on your list?
Book a diagnostic check (£69). We find the fault, give you a fixed price for the repair, and take the £69 off if you go ahead within 30 days.
Do you use genuine parts?
We fit parts that match the original specification from the same suppliers the factories buy from. If you want genuine dealer parts we will order them and quote the difference before we start.
How long is the warranty on repairs?
24 months or 24,000 miles on parts and labour, whichever comes first. If something fails away from Reading, call us first and we will arrange the repair under the warranty.
Can I have a courtesy car?
We have 2 small hatchbacks for drop-off jobs, free for the day. Book one with your slot; you need a full licence and to be over 23.
What is included in the fitted price?
The tyre, fitting, a new valve, wheel balancing and recycling your old tyre. There is nothing else to add at the till.
Do I need to replace tyres in pairs?
Not always, but the two tyres on an axle should have similar tread. If one is worn and the other has plenty left, we will tell you and fit just one.
Which tier should I choose?
Budget tyres are fine for low-mileage town driving. Mid-range is what most customers pick. Premium tyres stop shortest in the wet and last longest, which pays back on motorway mileage.
Do you do wheel alignment?
Yes, a four-wheel alignment check is £39 and takes about 40 minutes. We recommend it with new front tyres if the old ones wore on one edge.
Hear a noise you can’t place?
Bring it in for a free 15-minute check. A technician drives it with you, tells you what it is and what it costs. No obligation to book the work.