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Formula One Autocentres Reviews

4.4 Rating 363 Reviews
88 %
of reviewers recommend Formula One Autocentres
4.4
Based on 363 reviews
Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Methods
Own Driver
Customer Service
Communication Channels
Telephone, Email, Live Chat
Queries Resolved In
Under An Hour
Customer Service
3.3 out of 5
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Phone:

01438746633

Email:

careline@f1autocentres.com

Location:

ASTON HOUSE 18 BOULTON ROAD
Stevenage
SG1 4QX

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Formula One Autocentres 1 star review on 21st September 2025
Aries
Anonymous
Anonymous  // 01/01/2019
FORMULA ONE (Basildon) Background: My door mirror was damaged by a 3rd party, I needed a new indicator cover for it. My MOT was due in a few weeks, so, as usual I phoned these, felt they could be trusted as my partner & I have used them over the last  few years for our MOT's/Services & tyres etc & they have always been friendly & helpful. I've  even given them a positive review before. I contacted them as usual to book the MOT & Service, both needed & they give a £20 discount on the MOT if booked/completed on the same day. I told him about the door mirror indicator cover/bulb, "not a problem, it's  a quick job, we'll do that at the same time, no charge." I thought that was nice & helpful. It was agreed that I just had to wait for the cover to be delivered before I confirm any booking. It arrived, and I booked it. HOW THINGS CHANGE! A different member of staff stated that: " The indicator cover/bulb isn't  as straight forward as that, I don't  know why he said that." I took my car in late Tuesday, 2nd/12/25, for the booking the next day. About 15 mins later I got a call stating that I'd need a completely new door  mirror as the bulb "keeps blowing & the part the bulb goes in can't be purchased on it's  own" & to fit it would be 30 mins labour. I questioned this as the door mirror functions perfectly in every way, but APPARENTLY, this can happen regardless of that. We decided to turn back & collect the car that same night in order to buy a new door mirror & rebook. We spoke to the mechanic who confirmed that although it works perfectly in every way, there is an electrical fault to the bulb that can't  be rectified. I phoned the company that was recommended, who stated it would cost £150. OUT OF THE BLUE: Whilst driving onto somewhere else, I decided to contact another company we know  of to see if they can advise, told them my problem & what I'd been told, IMMEDIATELY he said that CAN'T  NOT correct & if it's  working so should the bulb part & suggested we pop by & they will look at it, they close at 10, so we went straight there. When we arrived, he said to his colleague what I'd  told him & he also said that ISNT right. They not only put a bulb in but also put the whole unit back together, including the indicator cover WITHIN AROUND 90 SECONDS (so it IS a very quick job), they tested it.  WORKED PERFECTLY!!! I thanked them & went to pay for the bulb, was told not to worry as I'd  clearly  had a stressful time (what a very nice thing to do/say). I asked how much their MOT/Services cost, (IT'S CHEAPER) & that's with Formula One's  £20 discount (£45 saving if the jobs done on seperate day's). I contacted Formular One the next day & asked  how much the labour would be, told £40, so that would cost £190 in total plus the cost of the MOT/Service. I informed him of the above & all he said was 'that's  good, no problem, when  you bring it in", I reminded him that he told me the casing/bulb would be a harder job than the 1st person told me but it wasn't, he didn't  have an answer!! I also asked how the mechanic got it wrong about the unit, he just said 'Sir, it's working fine now, though, isn't  it!", I confirmed it was, but if it hadn't been looked at that night & I hadn't had the sudden idea of getting a 2nd opinion, it would have cost me £190!! He just repeated what he said previously & that it's "probably an Intermittent problem" , told him he's  missing the point & that 'mistake' cost me a lot of running around & stress, AGAIN, he just repeated (for the 3rd time), what he'd  already said, told him he sounded  very defensive which he obviously denied. I told him to cancel  my appointment. & put the phone down. IT'S NOT AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM & IT'S  STILL WORKING FINE!!! 'Strange' how the other company put a bulb in & it didn't blow,  but when Formular One tried it a  few times, every bulb did!!! NOTICE: NO APOLOGY!!! Their 'mistake', so at LEAST apologise as, again, that 'mistake' would have cost me £190 PLUS all the running around & grief. I'VE BOOKED WITH THE OTHER COMPANY. My partner will also from now on. TWO CUSTOMERS LOST!!!
Helpful Report
Posted 1 month ago
Online booking and paid for tyre. Attending for appointment, centre people said they dont have the facility to replace the tyres for vans. I had to cancelled order and search for others.
Helpful Report
Posted 2 months ago
This is the worst MOT experience I ever had. The summary: 1, For something you don't know how to fix, or you don't want to fix, why did you spend a whole day and give me a call right before 6 o'clock and asked me to fix it somewhere else? 2, Once MOT failed, they will offer you only 2 weeks later time slots for retest. 3, This shop never give you an estimation time on when they will start looking at your car because they won't look into it until something missed their appointments. 3, This shop only fix easy problems. 4, Often, there is no one to answer calls. They don't want you to call them but they will never let you know what was happening. 5, Each time you call, there are different people to pick up the call who don't know what the previous one told me. 6, They said I could claim the car while waiting for a time slot when they are available. When I get the car, the manager said it was not and I could not send in the car for a retest. The story was this. On 26th Aug, 2025 at 8:30am, we drove the car to F1 to wait for them to open. They said they would open @ 8:30am, but they were late on that day. We dropped the car for them. Their web site said that the MOT would take 45minutes to 1 hour. However, 90 minutes later, we did not receive anything about the status. At around 10:30am, they called me saying that the car boot could not be opened. I could open the car boot but they said it is not legal. OK, I authorized them to fix it. At around 4pm, I called them what was the status, they said they don't know. They don't even know when would they look into the issue and told me that they will call me when it is fixed. At around 5:45pm, they called me that they are not going to fix it and asked me to fix it somewhere else. If you are not going to fix the issue, why not tell me early in time? And I could not claim the car since it is already late. I took the car the next day. I opened the boot and checked. There were parts separated. I just put them back in and apply some glue and stipe it. It took me less than an hour. I don't know what happened in F1 and they just don't fix it. I immediately physically go back to the shop and asked for a time slot to retest. That day was 27 Aug, they don't have any available slot until two complete weeks later that was on 9 Sep. They offered me 11:30. I asked if there are other available slots either earlier or later? They said no. The attitude just like you just take it or leave it. OK, you win. I took the slot. However, when I got back home, I checked their website, on 9 Sep, there were other available slots. Anyway, I waited two weeks. I turned the car in. There were other problems. They said there were cracking on the suspension and the horn did not work. OK, I asked for a quotation. The quotation took one day and they did not let me know until I called them. OK, I authorized them to fix it. Then I kep calling them two times a day and asked what is the estimated time the car will be fixed. Each time I called, they replied they will call me back when the car was ready. That meant when? You got to let me know the estimated time. Today? Tomorrow morning, afternoon? Day after tomorrow morning, afternoon? They said they could not give me. On 12 Sep afternoon, I called them that if you don't know when would you look at the car, can I get the car and return it to continue when you left off when you are available. The technician who the first time talked to me said that he needed to talked to the manager. He then said OK, I could get the car and send it back when they are ready. When I get the car, the manager told me that they already gave me one free retest and they could not offer again. Then why did you say yes on the phone? I put the car in and they never know when they could look into the car. The manager said it has to be someone who missed his appointment and then they will look into my car. So, it meant when? That could be two months! And they charged me for the fix of the suspension. They will just fix the easy issue, for something that needs troubleshooting like the car boot which I just fixed it in less than 60 minutes, they don't do it. Or ,they are not capable to do it. I asked them why did they not tell me all the MOT problem at once? They said that when they spotted a major issue, they stop the MOT. I asked other technician and they said it is not unless it is a blocking issue. OK, assuming that when they said is true, why did they not tell me early in time they won't fix/not capable to fix? I highly NOT recommend this shop to anyone unless you want to give a 1 star rating to it.
Formula One Autocentres 1 star review on 21st September 2025
Helpful Report
Posted 3 months ago
This is the worst MOT experience I ever had. The summary: 1, For something you don't know how to fix, or you don't want to fix, why did you spend a whole day and give me a call right before 6 o'clock and asked me to fix it somewhere else? 2, Once MOT failed, they will offer you only 2 weeks later time slots for retest. 3, This shop never give you an estimation time on when they will start looking at your car because they won't look into it until something missed their appointments. 3, This shop only fix easy problems. 4, Often, there is no one to answer calls. They don't want you to call them but they will never let you know what was happening. 5, Each time you call, there are different people to pick up the call who don't know what the previous one told me. 6, They said I could claim the car while waiting for a time slot when they are available. When I get the car, the manager said it was not and I could not send in the car for a retest. The story was this. On 26th Aug, 2025 at 8:30am, we drove the car to F1 to wait for them to open. They said they would open @ 8:30am, but they were late on that day. We dropped the car for them. Their web site said that the MOT would take 45minutes to 1 hour. However, 90 minutes later, we did not receive anything about the status. At around 10:30am, they called me saying that the car boot could not be opened. I could open the car boot but they said it is not legal. OK, I authorized them to fix it. At around 4pm, I called them what was the status, they said they don't know. They don't even know when would they look into the issue and told me that they will call me when it is fixed. At around 5:45pm, they called me that they are not going to fix it and asked me to fix it somewhere else. If you are not going to fix the issue, why not tell me early in time? And I could not claim the car since it is already late. I took the car the next day. I opened the boot and checked. There were parts separated. I just put them back in and apply some glue and stipe it. It took me less than an hour. I don't know what happened in F1 and they just don't fix it. I immediately physically go back to the shop and asked for a time slot to retest. That day was 27 Aug, they don't have any available slot until two complete weeks later that was on 9 Sep. They offered me 11:30. I asked if there are other available slots either earlier or later? They said no. The attitude just like you just take it or leave it. OK, you win. I took the slot. However, when I got back home, I checked their website, on 9 Sep, there were other available slots. Anyway, I waited two weeks. I turned the car in. There were other problems. They said there were cracking on the suspension and the horn did not work. OK, I asked for a quotation. The quotation took one day and they did not let me know until I called them. OK, I authorized them to fix it. Then I kep calling them two times a day and asked what is the estimated time the car will be fixed. Each time I called, they replied they will call me back when the car was ready. That meant when? You got to let me know the estimated time. Today? Tomorrow morning, afternoon? Day after tomorrow morning, afternoon? They said they could not give me. On 12 Sep afternoon, I called them that if you don't know when would you look at the car, can I get the car and return it to continue when you left off when you are available. The technician who the first time talked to me said that he needed to talked to the manager. He then said OK, I could get the car and send it back when they are ready. When I get the car, the manager told me that they already gave me one free retest and they could not offer again. Then why did you say yes on the phone? I put the car in and they never know when they could look into the car. The manager said it has to be someone who missed his appointment and then they will look into my car. So, it meant when? That could be two months! And they charged me for the fix of the suspension. They will just fix the easy issue, for something that needs troubleshooting like the car boot which I just fixed it in less than 60 minutes, they don't do it. Or ,they are not capable to do it. I asked them why did they not tell me all the MOT problem at once? They said that when they spotted a major issue, they stop the MOT. I asked other technician and they said it is not unless it is a blocking issue. OK, assuming that when they said is true, why did they not tell me early in time they won't fix/not capable to fix? I highly NOT recommend this shop to anyone unless you want to give a 1 star rating to it.
Helpful Report
Posted 3 months ago
Basildon Branch -Recently had fout tyres changed on my classic car and the staff were amazing. Care was taken with the vehicle and it was great to be welcomed by staff that seem to be happy in their work. Used a different chain for a tyre change and they couldnt complete it but took it the branch and it was completed with no fuss what so ever. A credit to your company!
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Posted 6 months ago
site did not work on mon eve but was fine tues morning
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Posted 6 years ago
Easy to book, I will let you know when my car has had its MOT how I rate the service.
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Posted 6 years ago
Thank you so much for your positive review!
Posted 6 years ago
Booking easy
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Posted 6 years ago
Thank you so much for your positive review!
Posted 6 years ago
Great service
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Posted 6 years ago
Thank you so much for your positive review!
Posted 6 years ago
Always the best price for tyres, quick and friendly service.
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Posted 6 years ago
Thank you so much for your kind words and positive review!
Posted 6 years ago
Always good service at a great price
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Posted 6 years ago
Thank you so much for your kind words and positive review!
Posted 6 years ago
Very quickly and intuitive web.
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Posted 6 years ago
Thank you so much for your positive review!
Posted 6 years ago
Always helpful, honest and reliable.
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Posted 6 years ago
Thank you so much for your kind words and positive review!
Posted 6 years ago
Easy to use booking online
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Posted 6 years ago
Thank you so much for your positive review!
Posted 6 years ago
Very simple and quick
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Posted 6 years ago
Thank you so much for your positive review!
Posted 6 years ago
Super website and very good team 😊
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Posted 6 years ago
Thank you so much for your kind words and positive review!
Posted 6 years ago
Brilliant! Thank you.
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Posted 6 years ago
Thank you so much for your positive review!
Posted 6 years ago
Good.
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Posted 6 years ago
Thank you so much for your positive review!
Posted 6 years ago
Excellent booking experience
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Posted 6 years ago
Thank you so much for your positive review!
Posted 6 years ago
Excellent service very helpful and pleasant
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Posted 6 years ago
Thank you so much for your kind words and positive review!
Posted 6 years ago
Formula One Autocentres is rated 4.4 based on 363 reviews