Car Service City is one of the most popular auto service shops in South Africa. They’re a well-established business with over 80 workshops nationwide.

The business was established 18 years ago as a company under the Car City Holdings umbrella. Over the years, Car Service City was able to collect multiple awards from several organisations, including the Franchise Association of South Africa.

One thing we like about this shop is despite being run by franchisees, their staff and technicians are uniformly trained to provide consistent and high-quality service. Previous customers commend their staff for their professionalism and friendliness.

Car Service City offers a wide range of services designed to maintain, repair, and replace parts of your car. It’s a plus for us that they give out a six-month guarantee for all their work, which reflects their confidence in the quality they deliver.

The company also claims to strive to provide the most affordable services. In line with this, they offer occasional discounts and flexible payment terms.

They’re also quite known for their “fix now, pay later” feature, which we like. You can also conveniently request a quick quote via their website.

Nonetheless, some of their previous customers still find their pricing to be quite expensive compared to other car servicing shops.

We also have issues with Car Service City’s inconsistent workmanship. Past customers who asked for an oil change as part of their major services complain that their oil light came on just four days after the change.

There are also reports from other customers who aren’t satisfied with the repairs Car Service City did on their cars, which is concerning.

Next on our list is Henri’s Tune Up Centre, another popular choice when it comes to oil change and other car maintenance services. We like that the company has a strong reputation, having been in the business for over 30 years already.

Another feature we like about this shop is its strong network. They’re part of the Professional Auto Service, an organisation of independent automotive service centres. 

Henri’s Tune Up Centre is also accredited by the RMI (Retail Motor Industry) and MIWA (Motor Industry Workshop Association), which is impressive.

We also love that they’re a one-stop shop for car owners looking to maintain or repair their units. Customers appreciate how convenient it is to have their oil changed and avail of other tune-up services too.

Moreover, Henri’s Tune Up Centre’s technicians are highly-commended for their efficiency. Previous customers tell us the shop’s staff are quick on their feet, even when administering complete car checkups or major repairs.

On top of that, customers appreciate how the technicians are knowledgeable and very quick to respond. We love how they build good relationships with their customers, growing their pool of regulars.

There is a one-off complaint about the poor attitude of one of their staff, but management was prompt to apologise and deal with the concern, which we commend.

Take it into consideration, though, that their workshop is pretty busy and they’re closed on weekends too.

WINGATE Brake and Steering is one of the leading car centres in Johannesburg. They’re also one of the top- and most-rated shops in the business.

They’re a well-established business, and are actually one of the first car maintenance and repair service shops, as they were established in 1960. 

Aside from their strong credibility, WINGATE Brake and Steering is highly preferred for their strong relationship with their customers. We like that most of their clientele are regulars as this reflects the quality of their services.

WINGATE Brake and Steering offers all-around servicing in their workshop, and oil change is one of the most common services they provide. The shop is well-staffed and customers appreciate how fast they work.

They’re also known for being a great source of various car parts, which we think is a great perk.

Nonetheless, a number of previous customers feel like their pricing for their services is too expensive, especially when compared to other car service shops that provide oil change services.

Also, there are a handful of complaints regarding the quality of service WINGATE Brake and Steering renders. Thankfully, it doesn’t involve oil changes, but some customers told us they’re not satisfied with the repairs the shop did on their car, which is a dismay.

LM Service Centre is a small but high-performing auto service centre based in the suburbs of Kew. They’re known for their reliability and for delivering excellent quality of work.

We think one of their strongest assets is their people. Although LM Service Centre has a smaller team compared to their competitors, all their technicians are knowledgeable and highly-trained.

In fact, many of their previous customers commend the shop’s staff for their expertise, efficient solutions, and friendliness. Also, one of the features we love about this shop is how prompt they are to respond to service calls.

LM Service Centre is an all-around car service shop that provides a long list of minor car services, including oil change and a 62-point check, as well as major services like full diagnostic scan and installation of new filters, and more.

Past customers are highly satisfied with the quality of their work, also noting that oil change services are quick and hassle-free.

Another reason why we included LM Service Centre on our list is their competitive pricing. We love that they’re committed to charging fair prices and delivering customers’ value for money.

If there’s anything LM Service Centre can improve, it’s their communication with potential customers. We’re told it can be difficult to get hold of the shop’s representatives sometimes, which isn’t ideal.

Bosch Car Service Johannesburg (Selby Auto-Skills) is another go-to for all car repairs and maintenance services. One of the things we like about this shop is their solid background and strong credibility.

They’re well-staffed with skilled and qualified technicians, and their workshops are equipped with complete tools and equipment. Past customers commend the shop’s staff for professionalism and passion for their work.

Bosch Car Service is also accredited by multiple major insurance companies, such as the Standard Bank, Bidvest, and Wesbank. Following their namesake, they’re also approved by Bosch.

We love that the shop conveniently offers all services concerning car repairs, maintenance, and performance checks. Customers also prefer Bosch Car Service for this convenient perk.

Another thing we love about this shop is their user-friendly appointment booking, which can easily be done online through their website. They also have a feature called “mobile mechanic”, where they offer call out services anywhere in South Africa.

Although they’re based in Johannesburg, Bosch Car Service’s technicians travel to wherever the job request is, which we think is impressive.

There are, however, some grumbles about how it can be difficult to reach out to their staff, which is disappointing.

On top of that, there are also a few complaints about the quality of Bosch Car Service’s work. We’re told some customers experienced having to bring their car back for more repairs just after it was serviced by the shop. 

Fortunately, none of the complaints involved oil change services and are mostly focused on repairs. Nonetheless, we hope management can address this issue and improve their services.