Halfords Autocentres Reviews 

Halfords staff could not get the door panels off of the car after trying. Rang me at end of day and said best bet is to go to the dealer. Garage parking was full so mechanics got me to park on customer side of Halfords. Got issued a parking fine. £70. Halfords are refusing to reply. Total Parking Solutions are threatening to pass to debt collections whilst I’ve been attempting to get a reply from Halfords. You have been warned.

I am writing to notify everyone and complaint regarding the work carried out on my 2016 Vauxhall Astra diesel by your garage in Chester (Saughall road) and the serious issues that have arisen following your repairs.

On 7 July 2026, I entrusted my vehicle to Halfords for the replacement of the master cylinder and others (see attachment). The total cost of the repair was £1,349.95. The repair appeared to have been completed successfully, and I collected the vehicle believing everything was in good working order.

However, shortly afterwards, I discovered that the front windscreen wipers had completely stopped working, despite functioning perfectly before the repair. As this fault developed immediately after the work carried out by your technicians, I returned to the garage to report the issue. I explained that I believed the fault had arisen during or as a result of the repair. Although my concern was acknowledged, I was later informed that there was nothing Halfords could do.

On Saturday, 1 August 2026, I returned to your garage for an interim service, including an engine oil and filter change, at a cost of £203.74. I again raised the issue of the non-functioning windscreen wipers and was assured that the technicians would investigate the problem while servicing the vehicle.

Later that day, I received a call informing me that the fault could not be repaired and that I should take the vehicle to an auto electrician. I find this response unacceptable. The wipers were fully operational before your garage carried out the master cylinder replacement, and I should not be expected to pay for the diagnosis or repair of a fault that only arose after work undertaken by Halfords.

To make matters considerably worse, after collecting my vehicle on 1 August, I discovered that it had developed a diesel fuel leak. The vehicle was losing fuel while being driven, creating a serious safety risk. The leak was significant enough that I genuinely feared the vehicle could have caught fire. This fault was not present before your recent work on my vehicle.

I am also disappointed because I am a Halfords Premium Motoring Club member. I entrusted my vehicle to Halfords because I expected a high standard of workmanship, professionalism, and customer care. Unfortunately, my experience has fallen far below those expectations. As usual I got a call from the auto centre with issues not witnessed in the car before. Twice I serviced in this centre, I have got regrets going there. The latest is they cannot fix the car "common pipe" and forcing me to come and carry the car that I brought very okay. Please avoid this auto centre like leprosy. Indeed the experience is mentally draining.

I posted a review on 1st July relating to poor service received from Halfords autocentre. Halfords posted a response to say 'contact us on this link to discuss'. When I tried this morning, it was a generic link to their contact us page. They care so little about customer experience and could learn a lot from responding more positively and appropriately to concerns when they're raised.

Just been to the Angorra, Colchester garage. Terry was absolutely fantastic, he went the extra mile to resolve our problem and explained everything clearly. An asset to the company

I checked into Bolton Manchester Rd for a free tyre check (and only because it's free) The key was taken and the service was supposed to be an hour, I waited nearly 4 hours in the town before phoning and the phone was put down twice before I went to ask nearer closing time. The appointment had been cancelled but I received the message only at 5 closing time. the car was untouched. Previous to this I had a Vauxhall where the a headlight bulb blew, and the replacement was a cheap non match and the seal wasn't sealed properly and condensation gathered in the headlight. Replacement cost was £920 at the Dealership. wouldn't recommend.

Took My Bike in to be repaired this morning. I genuinley thought i was going to have to buy a new bike. However the excellent staff fixed thgere and then infront of me in about 10 minutes. and it only cost me £36. Thank you very Much to Amie and Tom the 2 staff menbers.

My first visit was a brake check - I needed disks and pads so the bloke booked me in for 3 weeks time to get it done.
I arrived at 0830 on the morning, and was told it should be done by lunchtime. At 1100, they called to say they ordered the wrong brake disks and that the new ones would be there by lunchtime.
I was then called at around 1400, to be told that the brake disks wouldn't be there by lunch.

It was rebooked, I took an afternoon off work, and i went and got the brake disks done. The Manager there was very apologetic, and got everything done well. I thought that everything was going to be fine for my MOT on Saturday.

Turning up at 0820 on Saturday, the timing that the text requested me to be there, the shop wasn't open and the guy who was opening up was late. After waiting for the other customers inside to finish, I went in to give them my keys for my MOT. The guy working there went away, and came back to let me know that they didn't have any MOT testers working. I booked this a month ago. If there isn't going to be an MOT tester working that day, either don't let it be booked online or accommodate for that and make sure someone is working who can do the MOT.

A frustrating experience, and I can confidently say that I won't be booking with them again.

Collected my car with oily marks on the carpets, oily marks on the steering wheel, on the front of the car and the engine bay was a mess.
It’s not too much to expect to get your car back the way you left it.
Won’t be using again.

If I could give them 0 stars I would.

“Lost” my locking wheel nut key in March but only discovered this when car taken back to same garage for 2 new tyres yesterday. Shockingly disrespectful, dismissive and brusque attitude from worker with (ridiculous) hair who didn’t even have the decency to look at me when he spoke.

Absolute jokers.

Great service from the team at Halfords Olton! Big thanks to Manager Junaid, the reception staff and the technicians. Everyone was friendly, helpful and very efficient.
They made everything quick and easy, kept me updated and provided excellent customer service. Really appreciate all their help. Highly recommend!

Fantastic service from Jack at the Durham based mobile fitting service, friendly, efficient and took care of my wheels, highly recommended. Stuart - Audi rs3

Halfords Autocentre Iverson Farnham Common - absolute rubbish.

The worst garage I have used in my 20 years of driving. They have messed my car up and I am going through complaints with central Halfords to try and resolve.

My car was driving fine prior to taking it to them. It needed some work done on MOT, after completion the car now swerves when driving and is unsafe, and has mechanical sounds for something being out of place. I have taken it back to the garage multiple times and they are not helpful.

Waste of significant amount of money and time already, and could end up costing me £k's. As a consumer for this shoddy garages it sucks how much they can abuse their power.

I will pursue damages to the extent possible.

DO NOT TAKE THE HALFORDS MEMBERSHIP. it auto renews and you feel obliged to go. then they mess you up.

Go elsewhere - this garage is NOT it.

I will never use Halfords Autocentres again. I have a Premium Motoring Club membership which includes a "free" yearly MOT. However, because they made no money on the test fee, the reception team used aggressive, high-pressure sales tactics to trap me into an extortionate repair bill. They called me urgently, demanding I authorize immediate work totaling £435.79 to replace two rear shock absorbers (£266.95) and a rear fog light (£168.84).I refused to be panicked, took my car away, and went to a local independent garage minutes away. The local garage completed the exact same like-for-like repairs and ran a brand-new MOT test for a total of just £259.56. Halfords attempted to rip me off by over £176—largely by quoting nearly £169 for a simple fog light issue. The "free" MOT is just a trap to scare customers into paying massive corporate markups. Avoid this place and support your local honest mechanics instead

1 star it's my rating about car service. Its says it all no more words needed.

Dreadful, shocking, unprofessional and incompetent.. (Halfords Autocentre Darlington - 1-5 Woodland Rd, Darlington DL3 7BJ)

If you don't want to read further, BEWARE of this garage if you:
1. Value your time and transparency on a job you're paying for.
2. Don't want your car DAMAGED more than when you brought it in.

I've now officially wasted the good portion of a week just trying to replace 2 tires on my car with absolutely nothing to show for in the end other than anger, frustration, a damaged car on my end and ZERO accountability from this garage.

Day 1 (28/07/2026), took the car in (with a prebooked slot) to get the tires looked at as I had lower tire pressures than expected.. Took over 2 hours to get a call back for the inspection.. Diagnosis was nail on the tire, with the corrective action to replace them.. Fair enough, my tires are run-flats and the nail was on the outer edge of the thread quadrant.. The garage did not show me this, I later verified it on my own.. I agreed to get the tires (axle-set) ordered, which by the way were super expensive at >£274 per tire (even though they had a discount put on)..

Day 2 (29/07/2026), I can only assume the tires were in "transit" at this point as I have had no update on tracking or from the website as to the status of the parts/repair.. Waiting..

I also now think back to the remarks that the associate booking me in made alluding to "your tires are going to take a long time, they're hard to fit because they are big run-flats".. OK, at this point, I already had a bad feeling! If you are not capable of handing a job, please just deny it then and there!!

Day 3 (30/07/2026), I get an unexpected call at 3:36 PM saying that I tires are in and I have an appointment today.. Mind you I had already gone out and made plans as there was no formal agreement that I'd have an appointment by the garage to get my tires fitted on this day.. The associate said "Oh, it is too late now to bring it in..", not surprising! I rejected anyway and said tomorrow works better anyway! (still no appointment tracking or confirmation at this point other than word of mouth!)

Day 4 (31/07/2026), I take my car per the "word of mouth" slot. Car is in at 9:45 AM, I then get a call for "bad news" at 11:25 AM.. They are unable to fit the tires without "damaging the wheels", come get your car back and take it to another garage...

At this point I am pissed as I've been strung along for days expecting that they'd be able to at least complete the job and I can move on with my life. They could not even do that, as a matter of fact. They wasted my time, and DAMAGED my wheel in their struggle! I brought this up to them while I was there and got the side eye and the "oh, I don't know if that was there before" dismissal. I asked for a receipt to trace my service and sat stood there in awkward silence for a good 10-15 minutes before just leaving!

This is completely UNACCEPTABLE for ANY business. Needless to say, I will never return to a Halfords garage.. As I said before, if you are DOUBTING getting a job done properly before the part is ever in BE HONEST AND TELL THE CUSTOMER TO GO ELSEWHERE TO A GARAGE THAT IS ACTUALLY COMPETENT TO COME THROUGH WITH THE JOB.

Proceed with utmost caution if you do decide to bring your car in..

I’m going to get right to the point!!!!!.
I ordered a very expensive tire to be fitted the next day due to the tyre on my car having a bulge , only to be emailed by Halfords stating the oppointment date had an error on their part ?. They have received the money as it is no longer in my account and they sent confirmation of payment via email in that same email i was told to call Halfords to sort out the appointment which i did only to be told they can’t find the booking nor the payment transaction ??? .Then i was told I’ll have to wait 48hrs !!!!!! In the mean time as mention by the Halfords team they can book another tyre but i will need to pay for??? So in our words they want me to pay again ?? That would be nearly £700 for one tire ??? . This has massively is inconvenient while they fluff around trying to find the tyre i bought it means i have to still drive around with a tire that needs changing or stay put . I will not be buying from them again !!!.

Halfords fitted my Dash Cam and had to refit 3 times from being installed incorrectly. When getting a new car Halfords wanted £170 for take out (5min job) and refit in new car..........Absolutely disgraceful

Now for the bad stuff!!

I went to a local specialist (£120 for out and in), Immediately he asked who had fitted because it was extremely poor, unsafe and illegal, I asked if I could film it and he was ok as I am contacting trading standards with the footage.

Camera was wired into wrong electrical feed,
Cable ran across both airbags meaning if the air bags were deployed the cable would have whipped your face causing significant injury, Cable was not installed in the dedicated conduits in boot and just tucked into the carpet trip, Spare cable was coiled and rammed into a small space causing damage to trims.

I can go on and it was all filmed with commentary from the very professional installer.

STEER CLEAR OF HALFORDS

To whom it may concern at Halfords, Newport Road, Cardiff.
A ridiculous experience at this store on 30 July at 7pm.
What should have been a simple visit turned into a farce.
I visited to purchase a bicycle inner tube and tyre Arron was busy dealing with a complicated issue with another customer but stopped to help me.
He then asked me to pay downstairs.
At the till, I saw two colleagues walking away. I said hello to them to get their attention and Alison turned and shouted at me, but i couldn't make out what she was saying. The pair proceeded to the back of the store giggling away and doing nothing of note.
Alison then came back. Arron told her from upstairs to 'get on the till' and when she started to serve me I said 'you don't leave a customer waiting'.
She told me: 'I have work to do' to which i replied that i was only sorry to be a customer who pays he wages.
She then asked me to wait again as she walked again to the back of the store.
Finally, on her return she was wearing a small camera.
I asked to pay as i was saddened to be treated so disrespectfully.
When i'd paid i said that i hoped her camera had captured my best side and said that i hoped she had lovely evening.
What is the world coming to - to make a simple purchase.
I'm a tolerant, measured person but i was saddened to be treated in this way.

I had a problem with my 2007 MX-5 rear/brake light.
got as far as removing the bulb holder but the bulb itself had fallen off and was inside the light cluster housing.
Couldn't get it out so went to Halfords Autocentre, Eastern Avenue, Gloucester, where I spoke to Danny. He sourced the correct bulb, fitted it and checked it worked.
All looking great but the old bulb was still in the housing. Danny returned with a flexible thing with a magnet on the end. He managed to connect with the metal connectors and fish out the old bulb.
He was brilliant, helpful, courteous and obviously nothing was to much trouble for him.
We done Danny, and thank you for helping me out in such an efficient manner.

Halford's Bridgend Autocenter employee "Kyron" deserves a special mention - he has not only shown himself to be extreemly helpful, he proved to be knowledgible and efficient. Needed his help with affixing a wheelarch trim on a Nissan Quashqai, he was tremendous! Please give him my thanks