At Redgate lodge, we always strive to offer our customers excellent value for money in the products and services we provide. We work hard behind the scenes to ensure that if you have an issue with your car, or even need to be updated, that we have the robust systems in place to take care of everything.
We have listed some items covered within the Preparation and Support fee, so you have confidence knowing that it offers excellent value and we only charge it for the right reasons.
We are proud to be one of the largest independent dealers in the North East and have won numerous national awards for our Aftercare and Customer Service. We have over 1,700 five-star reviews for your reassurance. Read on to discover more about our intensive vehicle preparation, and for the journey ahead.
Our preparation goes way above all expectations
Daily Price Check
97% of our cars are already advertised in line with Auto Trader’s “GOOD PRICE OR GREAT PRICE” indicator, and we check our prices daily to ensure we are the most competitive in the market.
“Our prices are comparable and, in most cases, better than the car supermarkets and main dealers”
Warranty
All cars are supplied with a 90 days Silver Warranty, with Warranties 2000. Even though we do everything possible to prepare our vehicles to the highest of standards prior to a customer taking delivery – nobody can foresee the unexpected which can ruin even the best planned motoring budget. The Silver Warranty is designed to ensure that in the unlikely event of a breakdown, you will experience minimal inconvenience to yourself. Any repairs can be carried out in any VAT registered garage in the UK or at our own Redgate Lodge Service Centre.
Service and MOT
Every car leaves us with a service and a full 12 months MOT regardless of when the last one was completed. For example, if a vehicle has 10 months MOT remaining, we will still carry out a new test. This is because an MOT test is open to interpretation and we would rather our own experienced MOT testers inspect the vehicle to give their opinion.
“Many dealers will top up the oil and call it a service! Most will not service or MOT the car if either were completed within the last 6 months”
MOT Advisory Notes
At the end of the MOT, our tester could have identified a number of issues that may need fixing soon but are not serious enough to cause the vehicle to fail its MOT. There is no legal obligation to take any action based on the MOT advisory notes, but it would be unwise to ignore them. At Redgate Lodge, ALL of our cars are sold with no outstanding advisory work required. You will be given full documentation with your new car which will highlight all of the cars preparation with identifying what has been repaired or replaced.
“Many dealers (including some main dealers) sell cars with lists of MOT advisories”
Manufacturer Recalls
From time-to-time, car manufacturers recall their cars for safety reasons. The cars owner is notified by post and invited to book the car in at their nearest main dealer to get the work carried out. With every car at Redgate Lodge, we check to see if there are any outstanding recalls and arrange for the car to be booked in with the main dealer to ensure that any outstanding recalls are done prior to the cars sale.
“Many dealers don’t bother to check for recalls, they leave it with the cars new owner to arrange”
Bosch Road Test
As part of the preparation of our cars, our Bosch trained technicians take each and every car on a 6-mile test drive. They use the same route which takes the cars over roundabouts, speed humps and up to 70 mph on the A19 to ensure the car drives correctly with no knocks or rattles. This test drive is enough time to identify any faults before the service and MOT is carried out.
“Many dealers don’t road test their vehicles, because a road test doesn’t form part of an MOT”
Bosch Service Centre
We have our own on-site Bosch service centre and a team of experienced technicians that have all benefitted from in-depth training and development from Bosch. We have dealer level diagnostics from Delphi, Snap-On and Bosch. We are also linked electronically to BMW, VW Group and Mercedes Benz and are able to update their service system on your behalf.
“Many independent dealers do not have their own workshop and use independent garages for preparation. This leaves you with no choice but to find your own garage if your car develops a problem. When you do find a garage, they have no obligation to deal with your warranty company, or even support you as they did not supply the car”
Quality Parts
We use only the best quality parts on your car during preparation. Bosch are a major supplier to car manufacturers, and as an authorised Bosch service centre, we have extensive access to quality parts. We are approved by and use Petronas Oils (Mercedes Original Oil), and when we need to re-new brake parts, we use Padgid or Brembo, supplied to Porsche, Mercedes and used on many high-performance cars. We fit the same quality of parts regardless of the car and its price. From a Fiesta to a Range Rover, all parts are equal quality. We use only the best quality parts for our cars, so you can be assured of their longevity. In extreme cases when there is an issue, all parts we fit are guaranteed for a minimum of 12 months.
“Many dealers will fit the cheapest components available with little or no regard to their longevity after the car is purchased and after the warranty runs out, leaving you with potential bills for replacements”
Redgate Lodge Assured Check
In addition to the standard Bosch Service Health Check, we complete a Redgate Lodge Assured Check on all our vehicles for that extra peace of mind. Our Assured Check aims to delve deeper into the condition of the vehicle and its fine workings including but not limited to the turbo and related pipework, the DPF system, the transmission and gearbox system, fuelling system and injectors. Each major component is meticulously checked to an exacting standard ensuring all our vehicles are suitable and ready to drive away for many happy miles of motoring.
“Many dealers carry out a small service and MOT and are not really interested in any underlying faults a car could have, just as long as it passes an MOT”
New Number Plates
All our cars come fitted with brand new plates, the reason for this is that number plates can fade and tarnish. Subconsciously, one of the first areas your friends and family will look at when they first see your new car is the number plate. We feel the number plates should be as sparkling as the car. If you have a private number plate, our sales executive will complete the online transfer for you. We will also provide “free of charge” new private number plates to be printed and fitted to your car.
“Many dealers don’t replace number plates; this is to keep the cars preparation cost to a minimum”
Stay The Night On Us
For customers who live over 100 miles radius from Redgate Lodge, you can “stay the night on us” at the Village Hotel completely free of charge. You will also have full use of the gym, spa and leisure facilities. The hotel is situated directly opposite our dealership in Shiremoor and is only five minutes from Whitley Bay and ten minutes from Newcastle city centre.
Airport & Train Luxury Transfers
If you choose to travel to us via Newcastle Airport or Newcastle Central Station, you will be able to take advantage of our free private chauffer service. Simply let us know what time you arrive and the time you would like to be collected and we will send one of our drivers in our luxury Mercedes Benz Traveliner to collect you. Feel free to bring your family and don’t worry about space, our Mercedes has seven seats.
Platinum Valet
Our own Car Spa valet centre methodically and meticulously prepares each car to the cleanest condition possible using the finest cleaning chemicals. We use Auto Glym products extensively during preparation to present your new car in the best possible condition and ensure the longevity of its finish in the future.
“Because of our in-house Car Spa and our excellent relationship with Auto Glym, we do not outsource any of our valet or bodywork to others”
Preparation Documents & Report
Finally, once the preparation is complete, you will receive a fully documented Bosch health check for your car including details of everything that has been checked and the condition it is in. We also provide you with extensive paperwork listing everything that has been changed, replaced or renewed during preparation.
“How many other dealers give as extensive pre-sale preparation as us, and document it? If you are looking at a car elsewhere, be sure to ask what their preparation entails”
Our Price Promise Guarantee
Some dealers charge admin fees with little or no benefits. Some dealers promote the fact they don’t charge admin fees, yet their cars are overpriced! In these cases, fees are built into the price of the car with minimal pre-sale preparation and minimal support for the journey ahead.
We are so confident in our Preparation + Service Support package that if you can find a like for like car at another garage with the same level of preparation and service support, we will refund/waive the £199 fee and give you £500 cash back!
For The Journey Ahead
Free Recovery
We have our own recovery truck and include FREE recovery on all cars which are within 50 miles radius of our garage during business hours. This would normally be charged at a rate of £1.50 per mile. In addition to this, subject to availability, we will also leave you with a courtesy car for you to use whilst your car is in with us being repaired. Our driver is also a fully qualified mechanic. In most cases, cars can be diagnosed before we take them away so that you can be made aware of the fault and when you would expect the car to be ready. We control the full repair and any warranty claims in our Bosch service department.
Courtesy Car
We know that it can be a pain if your car is off the road due to mechanical issues, or even just booked in for a service or MOT. Our sister company Bosch Car Service have six courtesy cars available, meaning you are not inconvenienced in any way. The courtesy cars are charged to customers at a cost of £20 + VAT per day, but is FREE of charge to anyone who has purchased a car from us, as we pick up the bill from Bosch on your behalf. Please state upon making any bookings if you would need the use of our courtesy cars. Also, please bear in mind the insurance cover is subject to age, driving experience, and also takes into consideration any convictions on your license. Remember when possible to book in advance as all courtesy cars are in very high demand.
Processing Warranty Claims
We have an internal warranty team in place to process any claims efficiently, meaning you get your car back at the earliest available opportunity. There is no waiting around for independent assessors to check your car over and validate claims, as we have auto authorisation on claims up to £500. In addition to this, we also process all the paperwork, meaning a quick and simple process for customers with no money to hand over and no need to chase warranty companies for payment.
Warranty Excess Charge
Like car insurance, warranty companies charge an excess whenever a customer makes a claim. Our warranty company charge £30 excess meaning customers are usually responsible for the first £30 of any claim. As part of our Preparation / Service Support fee we will pay the warranty excess, regardless of where you are located in the UK or whichever garage you choose to complete the repairs.
Vehicle Electrical & Mechanical Diagnostic
Knocks, rattles and warning lights provide a clear sign to drivers that something is amiss with their vehicle. If you see a warning light appear on your dashboard, it may be simply due to a small insignificant and easy to repair fault, or it may be a sign that there is a serious underlying problem with the car. Even if you aren’t experiencing any performance issues, it’s essential to get the cause of the fault checked and rectified ASAP. Our Bosch Service Centre has all of the latest and up-to-date diagnostic equipment including Bosch KTS, Snap-On MODIS and Maxisys System. Therefore, if a fault appears on your car, from a simple rattle to a warning light, our team have the right equipment to diagnose the issue. Most faults can usually be diagnosed within 15 minutes. As part of our Preparation / Service Support fee, if you bring your car to our Bosch Car Service Centre, you will not be charged for any investigation work during these first 15 minutes. Any additional work required outside the 15 minutes will be discussed with you by your technician. This is valid for the length of time you own the vehicle.
Repair Payment Assist
What happens if a dreaded warning light pops on when your warranty has expired? What about an unexpected repair charge following an MOT? Our Service Support customers are able to exclusively benefit from our partnership with Payment-Assist and take the fear out of motoring. You can spread the cost of repairs over 4 manageable payments (or 4 months) subject to a 25% payment upfront. It’s all arranged quickly and easily by Bosch Service and there are NO credit checks for work under £1000.
MOT Discount
Our Service Support customers enjoy their first MOT at trade price!! That’s a £15 saving on the usual (rrp) £40.
One of the most daunting aspects of car ownership is MOT time! Will it pass? Will it fail? Will I be recommended to replace unnecessary parts? Fortunately, our on-site Bosch Service Centre is here to take away the uncertainty. Our state-of-the-art Tech-Man system gives our technicians accurate and up-to-date information for every car. We take photos and even a video straight from the system and send you details of failures and advisories via text and email with detailed commentary from your technician, so you can see the issue for yourself (if any)! Furthermore, we never complete any work that will cost you money without your prior authorisation.
Choose to have your car serviced by us at the same time and benefit from a prestigious Bosch service stamp in the book, with all online manufacturer records updated too. Something that’s particularly relevant and essential to modern prestige German cars (BMW / AUDI / MERCEDES).
Bodyshop Support
Service Support customers are able to exclusively benefit from 10% discount on Bodyshop repairs and our paintless dent removal service. We also offer 10% discount on alloy wheel repairs. But what if you have picked up a scratch or stone chip not worthy of the full Bodyshop experience? We have you covered…. You can enjoy completely FREE minor touch-ins to chips, scratches and even minor kerbing damage.
Car Spa Discount
Want to recreate the feeling of collecting your new car? Our Service Support customers can now get an exclusive 10% off any treatment at our on-site Car Spa. Use the discount as many times as you like to have your car looking as good as the day you bought it!
Winter Tyre Swap
Many of our customers like to swap over to Winter tyres to cope with the wintery conditions on our roads, especially those driving powerful or rear wheel drive cars. Our Service Support customers will have the wheels or tyres swapped over to their own winter tyres, and back to all season again as many times as they like!
Free Puncture Repair
Free puncture repairs for life are included in our Service Support, not only saving time and inconvenience but saving a great deal of money too!
FREE Summer / Winter Inspection
In our experience, the best way to avoid big repair bills is to spot potential problems before they can become real problems! It’s for that reason we give all customers that have purchased a car from us a FREE fully documented Winter and Summer check. The 30-point Bosch inspection checks all areas of concern such as brakes, suspension, tyres and all fluid levels. The Service Centre prepares a detailed report with any remedial work recommended as necessary including pictures, videos and advice directly from the Bosch technicians. The usual price of this comprehensive check is £20 + VAT. As part of our Preparation / Service Support fee, we pay for this inspection.
FREE Winter Essential Pack
When you book your car in with our Bosch Service Centre for a Winter health check, you will receive a FREE Car Plan Winter Essential Pack. This includes a large can of De-icer, Screen wash and a handy Ice Scraper for those frosty mornings. (rrp £9.99)
£150 Friends & Family Referral Vouchers
Not only do we want to supply you with a new car, but also your friends, family, neighbours and in fact anyone you associate with. We are both proud and very fortunate to receive many referrals by our delighted customers. To recognise and reward this, customers are supplied with 3 referral vouchers on handover worth £150. If you are lucky enough to use all 3, we will of course supply you with as many as you need for future referrals.
Redgate Lodge Accident Support
Customers taking advantage of our Service Support now have exclusive access to our dedicated Accident Support team, who work in conjunction with our on-site Bodyshop. Following any accident, big or small, you will be provided with a hire car to use immediately while our team make all the necessary arrangements to have your car back on the road and looking better than ever. Our dedicated call centre staff are available from 8am until 8pm weekdays, 9-5 Saturday and 10 until 4 on a Sunday. Our team of legal experts are also on hand to deal with any expenses as a result of your claim.
Bosch Service & MOT Centre
We have a service admin team in place who send you reminders when your car is due for a service, MOT and also confirmation of bookings you may make to the Bosch Service Centre via text straight to your mobile, and also via email, meaning you never have to worry about missing your MOT due date or going overdue on your service (which can lead to warranties becoming void). Due to demand, we recommend you book in early.
Handover Gold Valet
Your new car has already benefitted from a full Auto Glym Platinum Valet for display on our forecourt. In addition to this, our Car Spa team will carry out a Gold Valet ready for collection (rrp) £50 + VAT. This includes a wash and polish to the exterior paintwork and glass, tyre shine, and a full interior hoover with hard surfaces dusted.
Fuel For Your First Journey
Prior to collection we will always add some fuel, so the first journey in your new car isn’t worrying if you will make it to the petrol station or not. Please consider that all cars we purchase tend to have little to no fuel left in them by the previous owner. We like to ensure there is at least enough fuel to turn any warning lights off, typically a range of 30-60 miles.
Registration Documents / Change Of Ownership
V5 registration documents are completed by us and sent to the DVLA “recorded delivery” at an extra cost, so we can track your document if ever there is an issue, again taking out the hassle for you of registering your new car in your name. We also help you with your new car by administering your tax for your new vehicle on-site on the day of collection, meaning when you leave your car is road legal.
Williams Ceramic Coat Administration
If you choose to have your paintwork protected by our market leading Williams Ceramic Coat, we also administer the lifetime warranty that covers the product. We also take care of any warranty claims on the product for the full duration of your ownership.
Sit Back & Relax
For customers who have taken advantage of our fixed price servicing package and have purchased our 2-year Bosch Car Service and MOT plan, with each service you will receive a complimentary day pass for the Village Hotel leisure club, which is situated directly opposite our dealership in Shiremoor. Simply book your car in with us, then enjoy some quality pampering time, and maybe a nice lunch.
Some Retail Therapy
When you book your car in at our Bosch Service Centre, you will be able to take advantage of our free private chauffer service. Just let your service advisor know that you would like to use our Silverlink Shopping Park shuttle service. You will be driven in our Mercedes Benz Traveliner, just a two-minute short journey, you will arrive in style where you can peruse around the shops, maybe catch a movie at the Odeon or enjoy a cheeky Nando’s for lunch. As soon as you are ready to be collected, simply speak with your service advisor and they will send our driver to collect you.
Motorcheck HPI Check
We take care of the HPI on your new car as a matter of course and we also HPI check your part exchange (if you have one) at our expense, typically in the region of £10-15. You do not need to HPI a car you are purchasing from us. Please consider that when we purchase cars, we think the same as our customers and we are very picky about our stock. We look at service history, owners, condition and more importantly mileage checks and HPI (which we also must pay for). If you would like a copy, please ask and we will be happy to provide you with one.
Finance
We do a great deal of work behind the scenes with our partner finance providers. From negotiating excellent rates with our current partners, to bringing additional finance companies on board if we feel they have a great product for our customers.
We process all your finance needs in-house, setting up your new package including all relevant identification checks and completing all paperwork on your new agreement from initial set-up to completion phase. We fully settle any existing finance on your part exchange, meaning you don’t have to do anything. All part exchanges are settled usually within three working days depending on the finance company.
A £399 fee applies to customers using a finance broker outside our official panel of lenders paying funds direct to Car Planet*
Automotive Compliance
With help of our partners at Automotive Compliance, we work hard to ensure we have robust compliance policies and procedures for our finance products – this makes sure we stay up-to-date with the FCA’s regulations.
We complete SAF training and certification via Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) for all sales staff. This gives all our sales staff the knowledge to help our customers choose the right finance product for them.
Lawgistics
We have worked with Motor Trade legal experts Lawgistics for over 5 years, giving us an unrivalled understanding of the legal issues and compliance regulations.
Our legal team are on hand to advise and inform ourselves and our customers on current and upcoming changes to consumer law, ensuring we can offer the best advice.
*If you would like to opt out of our Preparation / Service Support you can do so, please speak to a member of the sales team before you reserve the car.