FAQ
Questions we get asked
Everything about fees, warranty and the small print, in the order people usually ask about it.
Booking
Booking and getting to you
How do I book?
Call or text 343-429-8991, or send the estimate form on this site. We reply to confirm the details and find a time that works. We normally answer the same day and can usually be out within a few days.
What areas do you cover?
Kanata, Stittsville, Barrhaven, Ottawa and the surrounding area, and further out than that by request. We'll come to your home, your workplace, or the roadside.
Do you come to my house or my work?
Either. We're a mobile shop, so we go wherever the car is, as long as there's enough space to work safely. Plenty of our jobs are done in a work parking lot while the customer is at their desk.
Do you work evenings and weekends?
Yes. We work weeknights from 5pm and all day on weekends, which is most of the reason people call us in the first place. You shouldn't have to book a day off work to get your brakes done.
How soon can you come out?
It depends on the day and where you are, but we usually reply the same day and can book you in within a few days. Emergencies can be sooner, with a $50 emergency fee for urgent or after-hours calls.
Do you do emergency repairs?
Limited ones, yes, for an added fee. Whether we can depends on where you are and what's wrong with it.
Can I cancel or move my appointment?
Give us 24 hours' notice and it's no problem. Less than that may carry a fee, and repeated short-notice cancellations may limit future booking.
Can you do a fleet, or several vehicles at once?
Yes. We can do small fleets or several vehicles at one address, and for businesses we can work through the evening while the vehicles are parked, so nothing is off the road during the day. Ask about volume pricing.
On the day
On the day
What should I do to get ready?
Park somewhere safe, level and easy to get at, leave enough room to work around the car, and be reachable to unlock it or talk about the repair.
Do I need to be there?
Not usually. As long as we can get at the car and it's somewhere safe, you can leave the keys in an agreed spot and get on with your day. We'll call before we start and again when it's done.
What if the weather is bad?
Heavy rain, snow or extreme cold can make a job unsafe or make the repair worse, so we may move it. We'll get in touch beforehand and rebook, instead of turning up and doing a bad job of it.
How do I reach you on the day?
Text or call 343-429-8991, which is the quickest way to get hold of us. We'll confirm before we set off, and tell you if anything is running late.
What if I don't know what's wrong with it?
Most people don't, and that's fine. We diagnose it on site, tell you what we found and what it will cost, and you decide before anything gets touched.
What if you find something else while you're in there?
We stop and call you. You get told what we found, what it means, and whether it needs doing now. We never carry on into extra work without your say-so.
What if it turns out you can't fix it there?
Some jobs need a hoist or shop equipment. If yours is one, we'll explain what's wrong, give you the diagnosis, and point you at a shop we trust, or rebook it if that's the better answer.
Money
Fees, payment and warranty
Do you charge a call-out fee?
Not in the local service area. Outside it there's a flat travel fee set by the first three characters of your postal code, and it goes on the estimate alongside the labour and the parts. You can look yours up on the service-area page. A fuel surcharge covering the drive is in the same estimate.
How do I pay?
e-Transfer, cash, or card. Card payments are subject to a processing fee.
What's the warranty?
Two years on most of the parts we supply, and six months on our labour, where the fault is a defect in the part or in the workmanship.
Are there discounts for repeat work or referrals?
We look after regulars and the people who send us work, and several vehicles at one address on one day is cheaper than several separate visits. Ask when you book, or watch our social media.
Parts & limits
Parts, and what we don't do
Can I supply my own parts?
Yes, but the labour rate is higher and there's no warranty on the job. If the part is wrong or it fails, the second visit is chargeable. We'd rather supply them and stand behind the work.
Do you bring everything you need?
We carry the tools and equipment for most common repairs. If a job needs a particular part we'll usually source it locally the same day, or come back once it's in.
Do you do oil changes, alignments, A/C or safety inspections?
No, none of those four. Alignments need a rack, A/C needs specialized equipment, and a provincial safety inspection has to be done at a licensed station. We do offer pre-purchase inspections, including getting a car ready for a safety.
Can you work in an underground or enclosed parking lot?
No. Height restrictions and ventilation rule it out, and we can't work on a highway shoulder either. Tell us where the car is when you book and we'll say right away whether it works.
Do you work on modified or performance cars?
Often, but it depends on the modification. Tell us what's been done when you book and we'll say whether it can be done safely at the curb.
Book us in
Get a price for the job
Tell us what the car is and what it's doing, and we'll come back to you with a price. Texting is the quickest way to get hold of us.