Fixter launches UK’s first virtual mechanic diagnostic consultation for time-poor car owners

The pandemic has accelerated the use of virtual consultations across a number of sectors, including retail and medical. In fact, 99 percent of GP practices in the UK now offer them. Now in keeping with the times, Fixter, the country’s first end-to-end online car maintenance provider, has launched the first Virtual Diagnostic Consultation for cars.

This unique, innovative service allows timepoor car owners to book a free, 20-minute video consultation with one of their in-house mechanic experts, to assess any problems with their car without leaving the comfort and safety of their home.

Since its launch in 2017, Fixter’s ambition has been to profoundly transform the car maintenance industry by placing convenience at its core. Its research has found that a huge variety of car issues can be resolved by simply discussing and demonstrating the related symptoms with a professional. Common problems, such as a flat battery or low oil levels, can be easily diagnosed, and often resolved, with the virtual support of an expert, saving car owners the time and disruption associated with frequent garage visits, missing parts and return travel. Furthermore, with the average UK car diagnostic test costing £49, this industryleading approach also saves car owners money, by resolving most issues with a simple and free virtual consultation.

As lockdown restrictions ease, consumers are looking for convenient and modern ways to interact with experts, with the retail and medical sectors leading the way. Car owners deserve to benefit from the advent of modern technology too. Gone are the days when consumers were happy to criss-cross towns to complete tedious life admin during the weekend.

Further enhanced by over a year of lockdown restrictions, the modern consumer wants to spend time enjoying the things they value the most in life and with those they care about. Fixter has introduced this modern approach into the automotive servicing industry, making car maintenance as easy as ordering a takeaway and ownership more of a pleasure, than a chore.

Using the digital platform they are most comfortable with – from FaceTime to Google Meet, Skype to WhatsApp – customers can guide the in-house expert around their car during the free 20-minute call. They receive a convenient and transparent initial assessment, which in many cases will be enough to provide them with the required information to fix the car from home themselves, saving both valuable time and money. The service empowers car owners who might otherwise be hesitant to fix their car themselves. The mechanic can guide them through the process for many routine repairs, such as topping up engine oil levels or replacing a tyre, and this knowledge exchange will help customers be more confident in maintaining and servicing their car in the future.

For more complex issues, when it isn’t possible to be sure of the problem without physically inspecting a customer’s car, Fixter will provide insight into the likely causes as well as an initial cost estimate, ensuring there are no nasty surprises when their car is handed over to the garage for repair. Another key benefit to this disruptive approach is that, rather than assessing the car blindly when it first arrives at the garage, the required parts can be ordered in advance, meaning that even in the scenarios where a garage service is still required, the process will be considerably quicker and hasslefree.

Having diagnosed any problems with the customer’s car, Fixter’s mechanic can then arrange for a fully insured driver to collect the vehicle and take it to be repaired with a highquality local garage, before dropping it back on the same day. The door-to-door service includes convenient thirty-minute time slots for delivery and collection and live text updates, taking the hassle out even further.

Limvirak Chea, Co-founder and CEO, Fixter, said: “We are always looking for ways to enhance our innovative service and our new Virtual Diagnostic Consultation offers something completely new on these shores.”

Fixter’s tech-led approach enables customers to book high-quality car maintenance online, as well as get an instant quote, using a laptop or smartphone. They employs in-house technicians who liaise directly with its local independent garage network for service and repair quotes and approvals. Furthermore, customers can use Fixter’s convenient collection and drop-off service. Naturally, in these uncertain economic times, cost has become even more important. Fixter comes to the rescue by offering the potential to save up to 30 percent compared to typical franchised dealer costs. Their approach is clearly working, given the company’s very positive 4.6 out of five stars on Google Reviews and 4.4 out of five stars on Trustpilot.

As lockdown restrictions ease, consumers are looking for convenient and modern ways to interact with experts.