Frequently Asked Questions

VDR Auto is at 42 Frederick Street, Dundee, DD3 8RR. Use the Get Directions button to open Google Maps with directions to the garage.

We carry out servicing, diagnostics and mechanical repairs including brakes, exhausts, suspension and steering, tyres, batteries and welding, plus general maintenance.

Yes. Leave your vehicle with us and we'll arrange the MOT test with our partner MOT testing station. We can also help with preparation and any repairs needed.

Car servicing at VDR Auto starts from £150. The final price depends on your vehicle, the service it needs and the parts required. Send us your registration for a more accurate price.

Vehicle diagnostics starts from £60. Any repairs found are quoted separately and agreed with you before work starts.

Yes. Tyres are supplied and fitted, and we also carry out tyre checks and puncture repairs. Tyre services start from £30.

Yes. We carry out brake inspections, pads, discs and brake repairs, and repair suspension and steering components such as springs, shock absorbers, links and bushes.

Yes. We carry out welding for exhausts, brackets, corrosion and MOT related repairs. Welding starts from £70.

Yes. Send us your registration and a short description of what you need. For many jobs that is enough for us to give you a price.

Yes. We work on a wide range of makes and models. Send us your registration if you want to check.

We're open Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm. We're closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Car servicing at VDR Auto starts from £150. The final price depends on your vehicle, service requirements and parts required. Send us your registration and we can give you a more accurate price.

A service normally includes an oil and filter change, fluid top-ups and checks of the brakes, tyres, steering, suspension, lights, battery and exhaust. Other filters and items are replaced when your vehicle's schedule says they are due.

Most cars need a service every 12 months or at the mileage set by the manufacturer, whichever comes first. Cars covering high mileage may also benefit from an interim service in between. Your handbook or service schedule gives the exact interval.

An interim service is a lighter check with an oil and filter change, usually around every six months or 6,000 miles for higher-mileage drivers. A full service is more thorough, includes more filters and checks, and is usually due every 12 months.

We service a wide range of makes and models. Send us your registration and we'll confirm we can service your vehicle and what it will cost.

Most services are completed within the day. The time depends on the vehicle and the type of service. If you need your car back by a certain time, let us know when you book.

Yes. Send us your registration, the approximate mileage and whether you want an interim or full service, and we can give you a price for your specific vehicle.

Often, yes. During a service we look over the brakes, tyres, suspension and other key parts. If we find anything that needs attention, we'll tell you and give you a price before any extra work is done.

Yes. Contact us to book, leave your vehicle with us and we'll arrange the MOT test with our partner MOT testing station.

The statutory MOT test is carried out by our partner MOT testing station, not at our garage at 42 Frederick Street. We arrange it for you, so you drop the car off and collect it from VDR Auto.

Yes. You leave your car with us at 42 Frederick Street and we take care of arranging the test.

In many cases, yes. We carry out common MOT related repairs such as brakes, tyres, suspension, exhausts, lighting faults and welding. We'll explain what's needed and give you a price before any work is done.

Yes. We can look over your vehicle before the test and let you know about anything likely to need attention. This can help avoid a failure, although no garage can guarantee a pass.

Booking your MOT through VDR Auto costs from £60, which includes us arranging the test at our partner testing station. Any repairs are priced separately and agreed with you first.

You'll receive a list of the defects found. We'll talk you through them and give you a price for the repairs. If a defect is listed as dangerous, the vehicle must not be driven until it has been repaired.

You can have an MOT up to one month (minus a day) before your current MOT runs out and keep the same renewal date for next year.

The test itself usually takes around an hour. As we arrange it through our partner testing station, please allow for your car to be with us for longer. We'll give you an idea of timing when you book.

No. MOT records are held digitally, so you don't need to bring your old certificate.

Vehicle diagnostics at VDR Auto starts from £60. The final cost depends on the vehicle and how much investigation the fault needs. Any repairs are quoted separately and agreed with you before work starts.

The engine management light comes on when the engine's control unit detects a fault or a reading outside normal limits. Causes range from a sensor or ignition fault to emissions or fuel system problems. A diagnostic check is the way to find out which.

Yes. We can read ABS fault codes and investigate common causes such as wheel speed sensors, wiring and related components.

Yes. We can read airbag system fault codes and investigate the cause. An airbag light means the system may not work correctly in a collision, so it should be checked promptly.

Yes. We investigate electrical faults such as warning lights, battery drain, charging problems and components that have stopped working.

An initial check often takes around an hour. Intermittent or complex faults can take longer to trace. We'll keep you informed and won't go beyond what you've agreed without asking.

Not always. A fault code tells us which system or condition needs investigating, not necessarily which part has failed. We test and check before recommending any replacement parts.

If the light is flashing, or the car is losing power, overheating or running badly, stop when safe and get advice before driving further. A steady amber light is less urgent, but have it checked soon to avoid further damage.

For warning lights and faults, usually yes. Diagnosing the cause first means we can quote for the right repair rather than guessing at parts.

We carry out mechanical repairs including brakes, suspension, steering, exhausts, cooling system faults, electrical faults, batteries and welding, along with general maintenance.

For many jobs, yes. Your registration tells us the exact vehicle so we can price parts. Some faults need to be inspected or diagnosed first before we can give an accurate price.

Yes. We inspect the vehicle to find the cause of the noise first, then explain what we recommend and what it will cost.

We work on a wide range of makes and models. Send us your registration and we'll confirm whether we can help with your vehicle.

It depends on the job and parts availability. Many repairs are completed the same day. We'll give you an idea of timing when we quote.

Yes. For warning lights and faults we can carry out diagnostics, which start from £60, before quoting for the repair.

Yes. We always contact you and agree the price before carrying out any additional work.

Yes. Every job is inspected before we give a firm price, so we can be sure exactly what is needed. Send us your registration and a short description of the problem to get started.

Brake pad prices depend on the vehicle, the pads required and whether the front or rear brakes need doing. Send us your registration and we'll give you a price for your car.

The price for pads and discs varies considerably between vehicles. Send us your registration and tell us whether it is the front or rear brakes, and we can quote for your vehicle.

Not always. Discs only need replacing when they are below the manufacturer's minimum thickness, scored, warped or badly corroded. We measure and inspect them and tell you what is needed.

Squeaking can be caused by worn pads reaching their wear indicator, glazed pads, surface rust on the discs, or dirt and debris. A grinding noise often means the pads are worn through and should be checked straight away.

Vibration under braking is often caused by uneven disc wear or disc thickness variation. It can also be related to suspension or wheel issues. An inspection will find the cause.

A shaking steering wheel when braking usually points to the front discs, but worn suspension or steering parts can also be involved. We can inspect the car and tell you what is causing it.

Signs include squealing or grinding, longer stopping distances, a pad wear warning light on some cars, or a brake pedal that feels different. Pads can also be checked during a service.

A soft or spongy pedal can be caused by air in the system, a fluid leak or old brake fluid. A hard pedal can point to a servo problem. If the pedal sinks or feels very soft, don't drive the car and contact us.

Yes. We inspect the brakes first and only recommend the parts that actually need replacing, with a price agreed before work starts.

A sudden increase in noise usually means a leak: a hole from corrosion, a failed joint or gasket, or a section that has broken or come apart. It should be inspected soon.

Often, yes. Depending on the location and the condition of the metal, a blow can sometimes be welded or fixed by replacing a joint or single section rather than the whole system.

Yes, where the surrounding pipe is solid enough. If the metal is too thin or corroded, replacing the section is the better option. We'll tell you which applies after inspecting it.

It depends on the vehicle and whether the exhaust can be welded or needs new parts. Welding repairs start from £70. Send us your registration and a description and we can advise you. We inspect the exhaust before confirming the price.

Not usually. Most exhausts are made in sections, and we can often replace or repair just the part that has failed.

Yes. Where parts are available for your vehicle, we can replace individual sections such as the rear silencer or a centre section.

Rattles are often caused by a broken mount or hanger, a loose heat shield, or internal baffles breaking up inside a silencer.

Yes. We can put the car on the ramp, find where the leak is coming from and give you a price for the repair.

Knocking over bumps is commonly caused by worn drop links, anti-roll bar bushes, suspension arm bushes, ball joints, a broken coil spring or worn shock absorbers. An inspection will pinpoint which.

Signs include a clunk over bumps or when turning, one corner of the car sitting lower than the others, or a visible break in the spring. Springs often break at the bottom coil where it is hard to see without lifting the car.

The most common cause is a broken or weakened coil spring. A failed suspension component or mount can also cause it. Have it checked, as it affects handling and tyre wear.

Worn shock absorbers can make the car bounce or float after bumps, nose-dive under braking, lean more in corners, or cause uneven tyre wear. Oil leaking from a shock absorber is another sign.

Yes. Worn suspension or steering parts, or incorrect alignment, can wear tyres unevenly and shorten their life.

Instability can come from worn suspension or steering components, tyre problems or alignment issues. If the steering feels loose or the car wanders, have it inspected before driving far.

It depends on which parts need replacing and the vehicle. We inspect the car first and then give you a price. Send us your registration and a description of the symptoms to get started.

Yes. We find the cause first so you only pay for the parts that actually need replacing.

Yes. We supply and fit replacement tyres. Send us your registration or tyre size and we'll check availability and prices.

Tyre services start from £30. The total price for new tyres depends on the size, brand and type your car needs. Send us your tyre size or registration for a quote.

Often, if the puncture is small and in the central area of the tread. Damage in the sidewall or shoulder, or a tyre that has been driven on while flat, usually can't be repaired safely.

Contact us with your vehicle details and we'll confirm the price. We inspect the tyre first to make sure a repair is safe.

The size is printed on the sidewall of your current tyres, for example 205/55 R16 91V. You can also send us your registration and we can check.

Slow pressure loss can be caused by a small puncture, a damaged or corroded wheel rim, a faulty valve, or damage to the tyre. We can inspect the tyre and wheel to find the cause.

Replace tyres when the tread is getting close to the legal limit, or if you see cuts, bulges, cracking or uneven wear. Tread wear indicators in the grooves show when the tread is at 1.6mm.

For cars in the UK, the legal minimum is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread and around the entire circumference of the tyre.

Yes. Send us your registration and we can check the correct tyre size and give you a price.

Welding at VDR Auto starts from £70. The final price depends on the location and size of the repair and how much corrosion there is. We inspect it first and agree the price with you.

Yes. We carry out MOT related welding repairs. Send us the MOT failure details and we can advise you.

Often, yes, as long as there is enough sound metal around the corroded area to weld new metal to. In some cases the corrosion is too extensive to repair economically, and we'll tell you honestly if that's the case.

Yes, where the exhaust pipe is sound enough to weld. If it is too thin or corroded, replacing the section is usually better.

Sometimes. A welded repair can be cheaper for an exhaust or bracket, but not always. We'll explain both options where they apply.

No. Corrosion often turns out to be more extensive once it is cleaned back, so we inspect the vehicle before giving a price.

It depends on the size and location of the repair. Small repairs can often be done the same day; larger ones take longer. We'll give you an idea when we inspect the car.

Usually, yes. Corrosion can spread further than it appears, so we inspect it before confirming the price.

The most common cause is a weak or failing battery. Other causes include a charging problem, a faulty starter motor or poor connections. A battery and charging test will show which.

Signs include slow cranking, a clicking noise when starting, dim lights, warning lights on the dashboard, or the car needing a jump start. Batteries also weaken with age.

Yes. We supply and fit replacement batteries for a wide range of vehicles.

Prices vary by vehicle and battery type. Start-stop vehicles often need a more expensive EFB or AGM battery. Send us your registration and we'll give you a price.

Yes. We test the battery and charging system first so you only replace the battery if it needs replacing.

Repeated flat batteries can be caused by an ageing battery, a charging fault, a component drawing power when the car is off, or lots of short journeys. We can test to find the cause.

Usually, yes. Start-stop vehicles are designed for EFB or AGM batteries, and fitting a standard battery can cause problems. Some also need the battery registering after fitting.

Yes. Send us your registration and we can check the correct battery for your vehicle and give you a price.

Yes. We offer vinyl wrapping, from roof and bonnet wraps through to full colour changes.

Each wrap is quoted individually after we've seen the vehicle. The price depends on the vehicle, the area covered and the film chosen.

Yes. Partial wraps such as roofs, bonnets and mirrors are a popular way to change the look of a car without a full wrap.

Yes. Vinyl follows the surface underneath, so chips, peeling lacquer or rust can show through. We check the paintwork before quoting.

If the wrap changes the main colour of the vehicle, you should update the colour on your V5C log book with the DVLA. You should also let your insurer know.