Halfords Autocentres Reviews

Name: Halfords Autocentres
Rating: 1.86

1.9 Rating 834 Reviews

21 %

of reviewers recommend Halfords Autocentres

Company Reviews

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Metrics

1.9

Based on 834 reviews

Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Methods	Own Driver, Courier
Average Delivery Time	Next Day
On-time Delivery	Greater than 9%
Accurate And Undamaged Orders	Greater than 64%
Customer Service
Communication Channels	Telephone, Email, Live Chat
Queries Resolved In	Under An Hour
Customer Service	2.1 out of 5
Returns & Refunds
Refunds Process	Difficult

Phone:

0800 037 0800

Location:

Halfords Autocentres Ltd. 7/9 Richmond Road, Olton Wharf Olton,
Solihull

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Halfords Autocentres 1 star review on 23rd April 2025

Ardrie Kleyn

Halfords Autocentres 1 star review on 26th July 2024

Andrew

Halfords Autocentres 1 star review on 29th June 2024

Mrs Helen Dehkordy

Anonymous

Anonymous // 01/01/2019

Filter: Rated 1 None 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Stars Helpful

“Very disappointed with the way they managed the whole thing. They were too busy to explain the quote. Then charged more than quoted for. Didn’t explain the reason. After saying MOT passed and said going to do service. After servicing said car has failed MOT. Why can’t they be honest!!!! Pls don’t take their spread the cost. It is a scam!!”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“Terrible customer service skills. Booked in a MOT, over the phone a few weeks back and I stated they will need to call up the third party company I was with so they can authorize my free MOT check as I have a service plan with them (The gentleman said this was fine and will get this arranged). However, on the day after the MOT completion I was charged. They explained this was not on there system and I should have mentioned it on arrival. He was straight away on the defensive side and implied it was my fault for not mentioning this (even though I already stated this over the phone). I could have accepted this as a genuine mistake for not having it on there system and explained the follow up process. I would have easily just made the payment and claimed it back from the third party company if needed. But instead he was rude and decided to play the blame game. Very unprofessional. I was also charged £69.02 to replace windscreen wipers. Later I found out their website was only charging roughly £25 for the wipers and fitting. The receipt does not state the brand they fitted in either... But this feels overly priced.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“A serious joke of a company. Not only did they screw me over the other day claiming my car was not booked in when it was. Yesterday when doing the required work to get the car through the not they miraculously found something else wrong that previously hadn't been found. Strangely enough this is going to cost £264 pound to replace. First off shows how incompetent they are for "missing" this issue in the first place, secondly I think it's a lie. To be blunt they are a bunch of scamming bastards.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“I had a ‘full service’ and MOT done on 23/09/2020 at Halfords in Whitfield, Dover. The car failed on emissions and a windscreen wiper blade, and this was dealt with. When I took my car to the garage, the engine management light was on. It was still on when I collected it. I took it back twice on the day l collected it. The second time I was told it needed an update from the dealership and that it was safe and legal to drive. The dealership reported that the car needed a break hose, which was why the EML was on. Halfords branch manager said the light was off when the MOT was done, and he was supported by the regional manager, who was only interested in protecting his staff. No thought about safety or customer satisfaction. My car should not have passed the MOT with the light on and it has cost me to get this looked at again and for work to be carried out, due to the incompetence of the mechanics Halfords employ.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“Halfords Clydebank. Dishonest operators. My pensioner father booked his car in for an MOT and service. When home they called him to try and up-sell engine cleaner and recommended his wheels should be balanced. On a car with 15K miles? and the owner not having complained of wheel vibration! I know Halfords don't test drive cars before service so how did they come to this conclusion? When I took my father back to collect his car I went to check the mysterious wheel balance had actually been done, as I was pretty dubious. On checking the wheels, no sign of any any new weights attached and no sign on the alloy of brake dust and muck having been touched/disturbed where the mechanic would have removed the wheel. The manager and mechanic were absolutely adamant that the work had been done. The manager even stated she had seen the wheels off and could personally guarantee the work had been done. Long story short, I insisted the mechanic take the wheels off and show us the new balancing weights. Surprise, surprise same old manky original weights still in situ. Manager STILL adamant the work had been done. Even though the mechanic now claimed he had forgotten. Basically embarrassed them into a partial refund. I actually doubt that the other items in the service have been done. Avoid if you don't want ripped off.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“I had booked my car in at the Basildon branch of halfords autocare centre through blackcircles. I found it strange that there was a morning and afternoon 4 hour slot available so took it that it would be on a first come first service basis? I chose the afternoon 1 til 5 slot arriving at 12.50 only to be told I had to leave my keys and come back at 5! I explained that I had to pick up my kids from school and this wasn't an option just be told that blackcircles work pretty much paid peanuts and that they fit their jobs in between the better paying service and walk in jobs. I dealt with a man called Scott Mathieson and he was so unhelpful and told me they couldn't guarantee my car would be ready so I'd have to come back at 4 o'clock for which I was still made to wait over an hour! Shocking customer service and the bad news is I had already booked my wifes car in for the following monday which I tried changing to another fitting centre (through blackcircles who I had booked the job through)but this couldn't be changed by this time! So my dissatisfaction of the basildon autocare centre continues. I told Scott who I was dealing with, that I had booked another car in for monday morning and if I arrived abit before the 9 o'clock morning slot and would it be possible to do the one tyre change(20 minute job max)as I was going away on holiday and leaving lunchtime but no could not guarantee this and would have to be left with them for 4 hours again?? So I decided Monday I would do the last bits of running around and get my car a little later in the slot (got there at around 11)to be told you should have brought your car here at 9 and couldn't do my car until the afternoon now come back at 4!! So I decided we would have to be inconvenienced even more now and travel that evening. I returned to halfords autocare centre at 4 as was told still to be made to wait another hour and a half to replace 1 rear tyre? I was really angry as me and my 10 year old daughter was made to wait in the car being victimized for our little job that was worth peanuts to halfords and watch a stream of people coming in and out, staff running around for them because the jobs must have been worth more. I called halfords customer service to complain and was told I would get a call back from the area manager but am still waiting. Disappointed disgusted with the overall service and will never use a halfords autocare centre again!”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“I am thinking of protesting outside Halford Autocentre in Whitley. They have damaged my car and they are terrible at everything they seem to do.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“wanted to give no stars, avoid at all costs, student daughter took car to Nottingham Halfords for service ( £100 approx ) later informed me they had charged her £600+ for ' NESSECARY ' work. car had not long had mot and she only wanted oils and filters done. contacted halfords to complain and was told to contact the branch that did the work, told the branch I was coming up from Wales to inspect the parts they had replaced, have never heard from them and was unable to travel up. Garage that did the MOT were furious and wanted to come up with me to speak to them. I consider this as criminal, she is only a student and they took advantage. Have stopped loads of people using them for work and will continue to do so even to the point of telling people outside Halfords Autocentres”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“Used their DPF cleaning service. If you're thinking of spending £85 on this - DON'T. I think they literally bung in some cleaner and then leave it running. It doesn't work and their service is rude and complaints procedure useless. Stay away - go to a specialist.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“Booked full service and MOT online which required payment upfront. Took my car in only to find that they have taken over another garage but nothing on the website to say that. The guy thought it was amusing that so many customers are making the same mistake and turning up at the wrong place. Got to their other garage but had no way if contacting my son who was at work and who was going to the first garage to pick me up when he finished. There was nowhere to wait so had to start walking in the pouring rain. Half way home the garage phoned to say the engine is making a rattling noise so they couldn't do the service or MOT. He said they can't do repairs so I'll have to take it somewhere else? They advertise that they do repairs so don't understand this. Now I have to wait 7-10 days to get my £220 back. I wl take it to another garage but they'll be doing the service and MOT as well as I won't use Halfords again!”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“Farnborough Staff extremely rude and un cooperative. Was less than 5 minutes late and turned away rudely and told refund will not be processed for 7-10 days. Do not use this place they have no consideration for anyone.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“Booked my car in for rear brake shoes at Torquay autocentre sent car out with handbrake not working took it back to be told they would adjust it in 2 days they did it that day when I complained. Then booked car in for MOT then rang me to say they could not do it for a week because machine has broken down finally went in failed on windscreen wipers and bulbs, went in on the Monday not finished tell them to keep the car till Tuesday still not finished then complained and went in they told me it would be finished today which is the Wednesday but still not finished. 3 days to put a few small parts on the car.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“I booked an appointment time at the Preston docks garage for 10:10am. Arrived and was ignored for 5 mins before being seen to. I asked the manager called Dave how long my car would be as I would walk around the docks whilst waiting. I was told to allow an hour and half. On returning at 11:50 I found my car hadn’t moved. There was no apology I was simply told they were busy and to go for another walk! When I said that wasn’t acceptable, I had an appointment time and they knew I was waiting he gave me my keys and told me to go elsewhere!”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“My traction control warning light came on at speed and Swinton Autocentre advised that the reason for this was that my clutch was worn. I was asked to pay £460 to get it fixed but they said that should solve the issue. It was also suggested that my traction control would be likely to fail me if it was ever needed. I said that I thought it a bit steep and found myself another garage to get the work done cheaper. This other garage checked everything out and told me that my clutch was only part-worn and not in need of changing, suggesting that the issue was separate, saving me hundreds of pounds in the process. I would have happily paid them the money and got the work done but thanks to their honesty it wasn't necessary to do so. A sharp contrast from the dishonesty displayed by Halfords.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“ONLY USE IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY OR VERY, VERY DESPERATE dropped car off for alternator fault rang 1740 in the evening so no chance to collect and take some where else new alternator required at a quoted price £350 pounds said that's a bit steep but needed the vehicle like most people who are working so reluctantly agreed to have fitted .On collection found the mech had changed a belt that had only been changed 3months earlier and didn't need changing he said well we didn't charge you for that anyway however the price had gone £383 perhaps its time for an appearance on tv on the rouge traders watchdog program !!!! so my recommendation is AVOID”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“Zero stars I wish I had done some homework before taking my car to a Halfords auto center but you live and learn. I had booked a apt for a MOT for my daughters fiat 500, I was called by a member of staff that same day informing me that I needed my oil sump replacing due to the amount of oil Comming out,as I hadn't noticed any on my drive at all it did take me by surprise. It was not made clear to me at this point as to whether the car had been through the MOT process. So I reluctantly went ahead and agreed for the job to be done at the cost of £477 naively thinking that I would be picking the car up the next day all done and passed. I was then called the next day by one of your employees (after the sump had been done!) expecting them to say the car was good and ready but how wrong I was..... They proceeded to tell me a long list of jobs that needed to be done in order for the car to pass the MOT. I was told that basically the car was corroding from the underneath and that it was deemed unsafe until the jobs were completed with the total cost being around £1100-£1200 but could possibly be more. As you can imagine I was completely shocked as I would have thought that this level of work would have been more than noticeable whilst the sump was being looked at. I was advised that I would be able to spread the cost interest free over a 12 month period so it would be much more affordable,as you can imagine at this point I felt that very pressured to make a decision regarding the additional repairs that Halfords advised were needed on the vehicle and felt like the driving force behind the call was for me to pay out even more money!! So I decided to pick the car up without the work being done. The point I am trying to make is that if was aware from the start of the list of jobs I may have not botherd having any of the repairs carried out on the car but instead i drove away £477 down plus the cost of the MOT for an unusable car,this is not acceptable. I have since had the work done on the car that needed doing in order to pass the MOT i.e tyres and brakes at an additional cost of £400 the car passed and there was a shocking difference between the two MOT certificates. I so hope this dose not happen to someone else. This is a hard time for everyone and you should not be taking advantage of people. SHAME ON YOU HALFORDS!!!.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“Went for a bike repair to fix Hydraulic brakes on my bike and have a small adjustment on my chain, they initially offered a bronze service for £80 then said because of a special deal they will do it for £50. I agreed and they said it would be done in 2 hours. About one hour later they called me and said they needed to fit a seal on the breaks as it had gone, I asked how much and they said it would be £60 in total, I said yes. When the bike was ready he said the breaks would squeal as they were new however I think the disc could be contaminated, he then told me about all this free stuff he done then said it was £115. I said no way as this wasn't the agreed price, he then quickly said no its £80, I still refused and he then said okay it will be £60. We got home the brakes still squealing after a single ride (this possible might go away benefit of the doubt) however the front derailleur will not shift up and the back gears will skip 2nd gear and now 8th, absolute shoddy job and will take it to a local bike shop to get it fixed. Please never go here for a bike repair as they will try and charge as much as possible and its clear they don't really know their stuff, save the hassle and use somewhere else if you want to fix your bike/bikes.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“Zero stars!!! gloucester riga wharf Halfords gloucester Riga wharf. Awful awful experience. Rude rude staff! They failed the MOT on bits that I had fixed elsewhere and then the retest they found more! I then for a third time returned and they hadn’t booked me in. The guy was SO SO rude to me. I will never ever go near these garages again!”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“NO STARS. Ridiculously rude staff. I’d been coming here for years and the recent change in personnel are near on incompetent. Brake pads and discs were changed by Halfords a year ago and starting getting vibrations with the car shuddering recently. Booked the car in on Wednesday for a Friday check as apparently there is a lifetime guarantee on the brakes. Turned up shortly after 9am and was told to leave and turn up another day as they had overbooked. Was then told some lie about head office who make the bookings hadn’t consulted with them. Total B/S as I recognise the voice of the manager at a Romford who made the booking. Totally incompetent and very rude. Totally bodged my brakes when they ripped me off a year ago with the disc and pad changed. Also had a horrible experience in March. Was told to come in the morning for an MOT. Turned up and was told I’d missed my 10 minute testing window and that the DVLA would not accept the test??? If the dvla ran to such a strict timetable then i am superman. Utterly poor service.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

“Lower suspension arms failed the MOT on my car. Got a phone call from the garage explaining and quoted £485 for the replacement. I told them to stand by until i got some quotes from other local garages. They all quoted around £220 for the work. I went into the garage with my quote and asked them to price match. the manager got agitated with me and made me feel uncomfortable asking for the work for a reasonable price. The quote included the parts and prices. They had chosen the most expensive parts for my car, and added ball joints in without consulting me first. I looked up the part number, and I was being charged £115 each for the parts that cost £19.45 on Euro car parts. The vehicles ball joints were fine and did not need replacing. The garage has now agreed to do the work that was originally specified.”

Helpful Report

Posted 5 years ago

Halfords Autocentres is rated 1.9 based on 834 reviews