PRESS RELEASE
Release date 28th August 2013
Trust
My Garage helps students pass vital car test
As
over 550,000 students prepare to take up their places at university in October,
nationwide independent garage scheme Trust My Garage is advising them to take
extra care of their vehicles, especially as this could become an invaluable
resource as they enter academic life far from their home towns.
Thousands
of university students will rely on their cars every day to travel to and from
their university campuses, to drive back to their hometowns to visit family,
and for driving socially when exploring the region. But how many students know
how to keep their vehicles safe for the road and how to budget for important
servicing and maintenance costs?
Recent
AA figures show that 26% per cent of road accidents include at least one young
car driver aged 17 to 24, and recent research released by Trust My Garage shows
that 84% of motorists do not carry out basic car maintenance checks when they
should, which increases the risk of having an accident. It is also widely known
that car insurance is much more expensive for drivers aged under 25 years, with
Money Supermarket quoting £1,211 as the national average for young drivers.
The
key to keeping your vehicle in check for a year of university, according to
Trust My Garage, is through regular servicing and good budgeting. The
countrywide independent garage scheme shares its top five tips for students
below:
1. Go independent to benefit from value
for money –
Official research from the Independent Garage Association found that
independent garages are on average £40 per cheaper an hour than main dealers.
Find a Trust My Garage member you can get to know and stick with it throughout
your university life. Ask second and third year students for their
recommendations on independent garages.
2. Remember the acronym POWER; petrol, oil, water, electrics and
rubber. These are parts of your car you can check yourself. By checking these
components regularly and making sure there are no issues with your vehicle, you
can minimise the risk of a breakdown and prolong the road-life of your vehicle.
3. Pay attention when driving – the best way to stay safe on the
road, and avoid potential damage to your car, is to keep distractions to a
minimum when driving. Always keep within the speed limit and make sure you
don’t overload your car – with passengers or your personal belongings.
You may be tempted to cram everything into your car and on the back seat when
moving between your home town and university, but make sure you don’t comprise
your own personal safety, and always make sure you don’t obstruct your vision
for driving with bulky items.
4. Join a reputable breakdown company. Many breakdown companies
offer very competitive rates and can be an invaluable lifeline if you do
experience an unexpected breakdown. Make sure you ask them to tow your vehicle
to a trusted independent garage.
5. Budget for car maintenance. Save money regularly for servicing
and maintenance, and don’t put off a service to try and save money. It might
seem like a money saving idea at the time, but putting off a service can
exacerbate small problems on your vehicle that can suddenly turn into bigger
ones and lead to more costly repairs.
Terry
Gibson from Trust My Garage explains: “These days, universities are very
expensive. You’ve already had to pay out large tuition fees, accommodation fees
and money for essential start-of-term items. The last thing you want is
to be paying out large sums of money to get your car back on the road following
a breakdown. By following our top tips you can make sure that your car remains
a reliable lifeline for university life and not another drain on your finances.”
-ENDS-
Note for Editors:
Videos showing what to do in the event of a breakdown and
how to carry out maintenance checks using the acronym POWER are available to
use from www.youtube.com/trustmygarage
or by contacting John at Bridge PR using the contact details below.
About
Trust My Garage
TRUST MY GARAGE
(TMG) is a scheme developed for independent garages by the Independent Garage
Association (IGA) to recognise the high standards of independent garages
throughout the UK.
For further information, please contact:-
John Edden, Bridge PR & Media Services on 024 76 520025,
or e-mail john@bridgepr.co.uk