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Car servicing

10 Questions to Ask Before Approving a Service Quote

Most unpleasant surprises on a service bill come from something that was never agreed in writing. Ten questions prevent almost all of them.

Published by the Serviced247 editorial teamLast reviewed 29 August 2026Evergreen - reviewed annually

A service quote is a proposal, not a bill, and you are entitled to understand it before agreeing. These questions are neither confrontational nor unusual; a well-run garage will have ready answers for all of them, and asking them makes competing quotes genuinely comparable.

Key takeaways

  • Ask for the quote in writing, itemised, before the car is booked in.
  • Confirm whether prices include VAT, sundries and disposal charges.
  • Agree explicitly that extra work needs your authorisation before it is carried out.
  • Oil specification and parts quality drive both price and warranty position.
  • Ask how the visit will be recorded - service book, digital service record, or both.

The ten questions

  • 1. Can I have the quote in writing, itemised into labour and parts? A verbal figure is difficult to hold anyone to and impossible to compare properly.
  • 2. Does the price include VAT? Some quotes are shown excluding VAT, which changes the comparison materially.
  • 3. What exactly is on the checklist? Ask for the list of items inspected and items replaced, not just the tier name.
  • 4. What oil specification will you use? Ask for the manufacturer approval code, especially if the car is under warranty or on a service plan.
  • 5. Are parts OE, OE-equivalent or budget, and what warranty applies? Ask for part numbers on the final invoice.
  • 6. Will you contact me before doing anything not on this quote? Agree that no additional work proceeds without your authorisation, and confirm it in writing.
  • 7. Are there sundries, disposal or environmental charges? These are legitimate but should be disclosed up front, not appended at the end.
  • 8. Is there a diagnostic fee, and is it deducted if I go ahead with the repair? Diagnosis is skilled work and often chargeable; the point is knowing before, not after.
  • 9. How will the service be recorded? Confirm whether the garage stamps the book, makes a digital service record entry, or both, and whether they can access the manufacturer system if that is required.
  • 10. What is the warranty on parts and labour, and what do I do if something is wrong afterwards? Ask how complaints are handled and whether the business belongs to a consumer code.

While the car is in

  • Be contactable, so authorisation for extra work is not a delay
  • Ask for a photo or the old part if something significant is replaced
  • Ask what is urgent, what can wait and roughly how long it can wait
  • Do not feel obliged to authorise everything at once - ask for a priority order

Checking the invoice afterwards

  • Compare the invoice line by line against the quote you agreed
  • Check that parts fitted match what was authorised
  • Check the recorded mileage and date, and that the service record is updated
  • Keep the invoice with your other records; a stamp alone evidences very little

If something is wrong, raise it with the garage first and in writing. Citizens Advice sets out your consumer rights, and where a business is accredited to a consumer code such as the Motor Ombudsman's Service and Repair Code there is a further route for unresolved disputes.

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