Garage categories and services

In this week’s article, l would want to enlighten motorists about different types of garages categories and services in the Motor Industry in Zimbabwe. This is extremely important as this goes a long way in informing you on how to select the correct garage, should your vehicle need attention. An uninformed motorist is bound to leave his or her vehicle in wrong hands, and nine times out of ten, most garages these days will not say no, because they are chasing for each and every dollar in order to keep afloat.

Equipment levels, qualifications of personnel and areas of specialisations are some of the factors which are factored in when segmenting garages into these categories. The following are the main and common categories currently available in the Motor Industry
KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS
i. G Garages, Workshop & Engineers
ii. P Panelbeaters & Spraypainters
iii. M General
iv. S Service & Filling Stations
v. F Franchise Holders
vi. U Used Car Dealers
vii. R Ret readers & Vulcanisers
viii. F/O Fleet Owners
i. G SYMBOL
Garages, Workshop & Engineers including

Auto-Electric specialists

Diesel fuel injection specialists

Engine Reconditioners/motor mechanics

Radiator repairs

Motor cycle dealers & repairs

Marine/Boat workshops

It is not advisable to send a vehicle needing panelbeating and spraypainting to such a garage as they would not have the facilities to undertake such type of repairs.
ii. P SYMBOL (panelbeaters & spraypainters)
Represents panelbeaters and spraypainters. These types of garages specialise mainly in repairing vehicle body repairs in panelbeating and spraypainting. It is a gross mistake to send a vehicle needing mechanical and auto-electrical attention to these entities. Sub-contraction is the name of the game should a motorist engage them unknowingly.
They do not have diagnostic equipment to undertake in depth mechanical and auto-electrical work. They can only handle basic mechanics and basic auto-electrics.
iii. M — REPRESENTS (general)
This category in a way offers supporting service to Motor Industry namely garages or shops offering sales to motor vehicle parts, windscreen, batteries, tyres, carburetor specialists, number plates, alarms, various vehicle improvement accessories & towing.
iv. S-SYMBOL (service and filling stations)It stands for Service & Filling Stations. This is straight forward. Basically, this caters for lubrications and other minor vehicle requirements, with sale of fuel being the main business. Minor vehicle repairs namely in motor mechanics and auto-electrics do apply.
v. F SYMBOL
Franchise holders /New vehicle dealers
These are garages which deal with specific vehicles e.g. Amtec (Mazda), AMC (Mitsubishi), Quest (Peugeot), Puzey & Payne (Peugeot), Nissan Clover (Nissan), Dulys (Nissan), Bulawayo Toyota (Toyota) and Tristar Motors (Mercedes). They are classified with symbol F. It is ideal if funds permit to have a vehicle be repaired by known specialists, who are exposed to regular skills upgrade programmes regarding those vehicles. Specialisation areas include motor mechanics, auto-electrics, general motor engineering and sale of brand motor vehicles. It would be a mistake to task such entities to carry out panelbeating and spraypainting repairs. Obviously, they would not refuse but sublet behind the customer’s back and put mark-ups of between 30 percent to 50 percent and this will constitute to expensive type of repairs. It is advisable to approach direct, the type of garage which is classified to do that unless if they also are classified with P.
vi. U — REPRESENTS USED CAR DEALERS
Generally, in this category, is to trade-in and sell used cars only. No mechanic, auto-electrics, panelbeating and spraypainting work can be seconded to garages in this category whatsoever. They are not equipped at all to carry any such kind of work.
vii. R- RETREADERS & VULCANISERS
This category deals with retreading and sale of Motor vehicle tyres and related accessories.
viii. F/O (FLEET OWNERS) SYMBOL
Basically in this category, you would find big transport haulage trucks fleet companies. Local examples include Colbro, Western Transport, RMS, Pioneer, Wheels of Africa and Swift.
GUIDELINES
i. Any vehicle needing mechanical and auto-electrical work for professional reasons should go to a garage in category with symbol G or F unless that garage is listed under both F/G.
ii. Any vehicle needing panelbeating and spraypainting work should be given to a garage under category with symbol P. It will be a gross mistake to take it to any other category unless the garage is listed under F/G/P.
Basically, what l am trying to educate the motoring public is that before you leave your vehicle to be repaired, using the key to Abbreviations table, verify whether the repairs to be carried out match the category in which a garage is classified under.
UNREGISTERED & UNCLASSIFIED GARAGES (OPEN AIR)
Motorists should also be advised that the above category of garages normally referred as to Open Air garages are on the increase. Characteristics of these garages range from
i. Exposing or parking of customers vehicle outdoors and in the sun
ii. Employees working on vehicles exposed to the outside atmospheric conditions. It is also an offence in terms of NSSA by-laws to expose employees to direct sun while working exposing them to rain and extreme hot and cold temperatures.
iii. Low skills levels and most vehicles are not worked and delivered to the customer on time. Their planning, production and control skills and knowledge is non existent
iv. Generally, there is no order at all.
v. They evade Zimra and other lawful obligatory requirements eg NSSA, NEC, Zimdef, Industry and Commerce, Union and Pension Funds entities.
DO NOT USE UNREGISTERED GARAGES
After reading, this article, I hope and trust that from now onwards most of you motorists will stand guided on how to select a garage to professionally repair your vehicle to exceed your expectations and give it a longer life it deserves.
Have a blessed day!