Name: Formula One Autocentres
Address: ASTON HOUSE 18 BOULTON ROAD, Stevenage
Rating: 4.36

“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

“Why is there a difference is the wheel balancing? Does F1 Autocentres carry out a poor job in the standard wheel balance? The video gives no clue of the extra work that would be carried out if I paid extra. Is this just another way to get more money out of the customer?”

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Posted 6 years ago

“I would like to report a very nasty behavior of the staff at the branch in Cambridge, 249 Barnwell Rd, Cambridge CB5 8SL. Problem with a suspension, they inspected the car last week and to keep the price down I was told to buy the part myself (suspension top mount) and go back to fit it for £40/50. Bought the part online for £10, went back and told the fitting would be £58.33+ VAT = £70.00 which regrettably I agreed. They put the car on the ram, they took the suspension down and then they told me the part was not enough and that I needed to change also the shock absorber and the spring for about £300/400. Arguably a good professional mechanic would have been able to tell since the beginning that more parts like spring and shock absorber were needed. Actually, I don’t think the suspension top mount was actually broken. Refused to give me the car back, started saying they could charge for the time the car was left on the ram, threaten to scrap the car. After a few exchanges of screaming and shouting, they gave me 1 hour to buy only the spring for £ 35.00 which would have been enough to fix the car and take it away. I went on foot to by the spring for £ 35.00. They fitted the top mount and the spring and without telling me they carried out also the wheel alignment which cost extra £35.95 + VAT. My total expenditure was: Labour £58.33 + wheel alignment £35.95 = £98.28 + VAT 16.66 = £117.94 + Spring £35.00 + Top mount £ 10.00 = £162.94.”

Helpful Report

(056 Cambridge 1) - Posted 6 years ago

Dear Saverio, We are sorry to hear about your experience at our Cambridge - Histon Road depot. Please, can you email our customer careline on careline@f1autocentres.com so we can take more details regarding your experience? Kind Regards, Formula One Autocentres

Posted 6 years ago

“Took my car in for an MOT and air-con regas, had to ring several hours later to find my car needed repairs but they did not know what needed repairing. Returned to the garage to discuss the repairs, after asking for their professional advice they only told me ‘it’s your choice’. I explained I am asking their professional advice but they refused. I was then showed what was wrong with my brakes and was spoken to by an incredibly rude and patronising mechanic that proceeded to state I was calling him a liar about my car. I explained that my car had been serviced every year which he disputed despite offering to show him the service book. 7 hours later after being mocked and insulted, 2 new tyres and brake shoes and £300+ down later we finally left. The centre is vastly understaffed, repairs take forever, and the staff are incredibly rude towards customers. Will not be using this centre again as after the repairs I have just had more problems with brakes!”

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(090 Rotherham) - Posted 6 years ago

Dear Mr Tupper, We are sorry to hear about your experience at our Rotherham deport. Please, can you email our customer careline on careline@f1autocentres.com so we can take more details regarding your experience? Kind Regards, Formula One Autocentres

Posted 6 years ago

“Car booked in online, day before service got a call to confirm vehicle model. On the day they had no oil! A garage with NO OIL??? Currently waiting for oil to turn up so they can do the service. We dropped by to see how the work was going to be informed that the discs that i had replaced with new a year ago were worn out! When i informed the mechanic that the discs were virtually new he "rechecked" them and then informed us they were warped! No sign of disc warpage, no judder at the pedal, nothing! Definitely getting the feeling that they are trying to rack up the costs to maximize the invoice. Trust gone, will not reuse this garage again”

Helpful Report

(052 Hemel Hempstead) - Posted 6 years ago

Dear Phil We are sorry to hear about your experience at our Hemel Hempstead depot. Please, can you email our customer careline on careline@f1autocentres.com so we can take more details regarding your experience? Kind Regards, Formula One Autocentres

Posted 6 years ago

“Formular One Autocenters damaged my car. I have been using this Formula one for some time, with 3 cars in the family I have used them for MOT's and repairs over a long period. However the measure of any company is how well they deal with a problem, and my experience has shown this organisation to be shocking in every way. I booked my car for an mot test at the Hemel Hempstead branch, I washed and checked my car prior to dropping of my car, when I arrived it was manic, no where to park and cars and lorries coming in at one end and fast lane of cars at the other end going to a car wash. I was so uncomfortable leaving my car in this situation I stayed with it until the mot tester arrived, and then went for a walk. When I came back I saw my car being taken off the premises for a test drive (never seen this before on previous mot's done else where) I waited for him to return, and met him on the forecourt, I immediately noticed my car was damaged, and pointed this out to the tester and then called the Manager. It was evident it was fresh damage, and I know it was not there when I handed the car over to them. The manager took photos and said he would get back to me that day, in fact it was the next day. As I am sure you have guessed they washed their hands of any responsibility, leaving me with the bill for the damage they caused. Be warned when you take your car into their premises, if you have a nice car in good condition as it may not come out as it went in. You may save a few pounds on and mot or service, but it could work out a lot more expensive, take your car to good reliable company the takes care of your pride and joy. My main dealer always comes out and checks the car with me pointing out any issues and does the same when you collect your car. I have learnt a lesson on this incident and will never let Formula one near any of my cars again, they are a shocking company and advise anyone to take extra care if you are leaving a valuable car in their hands.”

Helpful Report

(052 Hemel Hempstead) - Posted 6 years ago

Dear Customer We are sorry to hear about your experience at our Hemel Hempstead depot. Please, can you email our customer careline on careline@f1autocentres.com so we can take more details regarding your experience? Kind Regards, Formula One Autocentres

Posted 6 years ago

“Absolute con! Went for a service(pre paid online) then surprise surprise had a phone call with a long list of mis diagnosed problems. The mechanic , graig english told me i had oil leaking from a shock absorber(car is nearly new) so they replaced it. I had a bill for £660 and was shell shocked but paid(i couldnt really not pay) i had known of a small liquid leak before going to garage but the liquid was odourless and clear! I took it to a different garage that told me the shock absorber didnt need replacing because the oil graig english said was leaking was actually just air con water! I had never experienced any oil on my driveway but apparently it was so bad it needed replacing! Would never use again and cannot recommend, iv had my fingers burnt by formula one autocentres. Employ mechanics that dont mis diagnose problems, feel like ringing watchdog. This was at the farnborough branch”

Helpful Report

Posted 6 years ago

“I had 2 tyres fitted at the Norwich branch yesterday Sunday 31st March 2019 on my fiesta YB15 --- and was told before they were fitted that they check the alignment for free, the tyres were only £73 for 2 and I knew exactly what was going to happen when they supposedly checked the alignment and I was right, I was told it was 5% out and not being a mechanic didn't know if that was good or bad, so felt pressured to have it done, and that cost £39.95 more than the price of a tyre. seems if you buy cheap tyres they have got to make the money up somewhere by charging for alignment that doesn't necessarily needs doing, but should be included in the tyre fitting NOT HAPPY.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“Fitted tyre incorrectly causing shredding while driving trying to get the problem rectified was a nightmare unhelpful unprofessional took two months to get a refund I can honestly say it was the worst service I’ve ever had in any industry in my life and wouldn’t recommend this company (Derby branch) if they were the last company on earth they are a bunch of amateurs and don’t know how to run a business or fit tyres.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR IN THE HANDS OF FORMULA 1 AUTOS. I had an awful experience using their services. I booked my car in for a service and MOT. The first issue I had with them is that they carried out nearly £500 worth of work without my permission. The manager insisted that he had a conversation with me on the phone, which never happened!! Funnily enough they have never been able to find the recording of the conversation either. SECONDLY, the next day I used my car and soon discovered an issue when massive plumes of smoke were coming out the exhaust. The engine eventually cut out and RAC had to tow me back to the garage. After 2 days of no contact, they told me that ‘somehow’ I had 7 LITRES OF OIL in my vehicle when it should hold a maximum of 4l. When I asked F1 how this could have happened they accepted absolutely no responsibility and said they had absolutely no idea. One suggestion was that I could have put it in myself!! They rectified the issue, but as you can imagine I was concerned about the general state of my car, and was mostly worried about the next emissions test. When the regional manager finally got in touch with me, I explained that I wanted to get the car checked out elsewhere but he was adamant that he would take care of it himself at another F1 centre, which I explained to him wasn’t impartial. I had to fight with him to allow me to take it to a Vauxhall garage and he pay for the cost. Lastly, but not least, along with the cheque to reimburse me, they had the cheek to send me £50 in vouchers that can only be spent at any F1 Auto branch. THE AUDACITY! I can reassure you these will be going straight in the bin as I will never be using their services again, and encourage everyone to do the same.”

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Posted 6 years ago

“Used F1 for a number of years without any issues. Had a front tyre fitted in late 2018 and the car pulled to that side. Had wheel alignment checked at another garage i use and the steering was still pulling. Swapped the front tyres across the axle and the pull now on the other side, which would seem to indicate a problem with the tyre itself. Cut a long story short, I contacted their 'Careline' and got a call from the Regional Manager and quite frankly his attitude and unhelpfullness was quite shocking - you would think someone in that position would know how to talk to a customer ?? i'm now left with resolving the issue myself and will never use them agai,”

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Posted 6 years ago

“I had my cars mot done at the Andover branch. Needed work carrying out which they booked in for the next day. We had the parts so just needed fitting. 2 tyres and a spring. Dropped the car off then got a call shortly after that the locking wheel nut was rusted and may break. Told them to go ahead and they broke it. When getting a new one from mercedes they said it looked as though it was broken intentionally. After this I took my car elsewhere. They redid mot and said tyres were fine and didn't need changing. F1 wanted to charge over £200 to fit tyres and spring (just labour as already had parts) new place did mot and spring for just over £100. F1 was a rip off, unprofessional and trying to carry out unnecessary work.”

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Posted 7 years ago

“I had bought a master service plus MOT at F1 auto centres milton keynes branch. They failed the MOT with a dangerous fault and several major faults. Quoted me £600 for the work . I took my car to another mechanic for MOT who found just one major fault and the bill was just £45 for that work. I will never use this untrustable business again.”

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Posted 7 years ago

“I wouldn't go back there as long as i have a hole in my rear. Scam you with extras you don't need. Number one choice to scam you is a 'free wheel alignment check'. Always costs nearly £30!!”

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Posted 7 years ago

“Booked MOT online, thinking it's convenient and cheap. Did think they may try and make up faults! And it happened, I was failed with a 'dangerous' fault, that will cost me £250 to fix. Given every scare tactic like don't drive away.. you will be arrested etc etc.. then even asked how much can you afford if not £250. Went to a proper mechanic straight away, was advised that the break disc was indeed nearing end of service life but not dangerous. Adviced to try another reputable MOT place. And guess what! it passed!! Went back to the mechanic to book the work in, and it's been booked in 2 days time for £120!! Moral of the story.. stay away, the cheap MOT are just loss leaders to rope you in. Garage: Woodford Branch. MOT took 1 hour 20 minutes!!”

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Posted 7 years ago

“Everything went wrong. They had my car alday till 5.20pm for an MOT and service that was booked 6 weeks prior. They moved my wheels so that i would think i needed wheel alignment even though i had had them done 3 weeks prior. I took the car back to the garage that had done them before straight away and they said that they had been greased and moved so i had to get the my garage to correct what they had done. They snapped my engine cover and put it as an advisory to cover it up. My husband asked them the next day f they would put a snapped engine cover as an advisory and they said no. So it was done just to cover up the fact that they had done it as we know it was fine before it went into their hands. They tried to charge me for extra oil when i questioned it they said we wont charge you its not worth the hassle! I have contacted the area Manager who had said he would deal with it but he has dailed to deal with t as this happened on October 19th and im still waiting...”

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Posted 7 years ago

“Treated just like a number rather than an individual customer. The company has become too big and all they care about is getting the cash. Service is secondary, even when you give them evidence that they have done something wrong, you'll be met with excuse after excuse! I went to an independent garage and they even explained that F1 autocentres will not spend quality time on your vehicle but they will charge you the full amount! Trust the independent garages over companies such as F1 autocentres.”

Helpful Report

Posted 7 years ago

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

Formula One Autocentres Reviews

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