Halfords Autocentres Reviews 

Halfords customer service and contact information is so ridiculous that you can’t find an email to write your grievance!!! Bubble there like AI generated answers which is totally useless. Contact phone number is difficult to get through. You are in a situation where you just can’t win!!!! Yes they send me a link which takes you to same things which is frustrating.

If I could have given no stars I would have done.

The worst customer service experience I have ever had. No contest.

This was at the Wyvern, Derby branch.

Tried to follow up with a complaint. I was fobbed off.

Shocking.

Following the reply from Halfords, I can confirm that I had already contacted them and been fobbed off as per my original review. This is clearly a generic response. Halfords told me in no uncertain terms that they would not look into my complaint further and closed it down.

Astonishing.

@ Beckenham garage, I've not forgotten what a terrible service i received, I'm awaiting all police evidence of the false allegations you made to have me removed from your garage on the 16th July, because lying to the police to cover up your incompetence, ive also made complaints to head office, if this is not satisfactory ill be going to the The Motor Ombudsman. false allegations is an offence,

If a member of staff at a Halfords Auto Centre filmed you specifically to support a false allegation to the police, this escalates the situation into a serious legal matter involving both criminal law and data compliance.

i will seek the harshest punishments possible.

a copied and pasted automatic reply, from Halfords as usual, they don't care AVOID Beckenham at least, Sydenham not too great also.

Where do I start.
Not through choice, but I HAD to book my car in To Halfords Auto Centre. They are the recommended repairer for SPECTRUM mechanical warranty company linked to MOTORPOINT.
I had a broken switch on the car and went through the warranty company recommended repairer.
It did raise eyebrows when told Halfords was a recommended repairer for a warranty company. But I went with it.
I popped down in person, then had to make an appointment. I did query this because you could see the switch was visibly broken. But they insisted.
An appointment made for the following week. I still found this strange, so called the centre over the phone to check that a diagnostics machine was not required and there would be no charge.
They assured me that there was no charge and there would be no requirement for a diagnostics tool.
I went to the appointment, they looked at the car for 2 minutes and said yes the switch is broken, it needs a new switch.
They then needed a few more minutes to note the mileage.
They said they would try and order the switch and arrange the repair through the warranty company.
I then went to collect the key from reception and the guy behind the counter says, that’s £55 quid, (can’t remember exact cost).
I challenged this referring to my previous conversation after booking. Reception guy says let me check, (with guy sat behind door) which took about 5 seconds.
Mysterious guy said NO!
Too embarrassed to challenge further in a packed reception, paid the money and left.
(Side note: felt sorry for the young couple in reception who had squeaky brakes but the issue had since rectified, who had booked a brake check, knowing whilst it was probably a bit of brake dust worked loose, it was going to cost them new disks and pads!)
She I got home I checked the diagnostics sheet (£55) and it was blank, I also knew no diagnostics machine had been used.
If I had known I was going to be charged £55 I would have insisted on the diagnostics tool being used to check for outstanding (in system) faults.
There I complained.
1 email to customer complaints has NEVER been answered.
I phoned direct, explained and 2 days later I had a call back apologising for the charge and advised that a refund would be forthcoming in the next 5 days. That was over 2 weeks ago. It is also nearly 3 weeks since I took the car there.
I followed this up 2 days ago to the contact that authorised the refund, but they were on holiday. A colleague confirmed the refund was shown authorised but waiting head office to refund. I then spoke to the centre who said the same, refund authorised, waits head office to pay. The guy followed up with an email to head office.
Still no refund, again followed up with the centre in Bridgend who said nothing they could not refund, but they would follow up with another email, in their words, ‘getting head office to pull their fingers out of their bum’.
I followed up with another email to complaints email address, still no reply.
To rub salt in wounds, unsurprisingly, Halfords told the warranty company, SPECTRUM, they could not change the switch at their auto centre, something I suspected and would have been worried if they had done the work. But thank you Halfords for telling me!!!
I normally go to Halfords for bicycle puncture repair kits, long may that continue!!!
Still waiting the refund!!!!!!!

Customer service - 0
Service - 0

Update1
In response to Halfords response. I have already emailed over all those details. I am not emailing again. Speak with Auto Crntre. You do the chasing!!
Spent enough time waiting refund……..Still waiting!

Update 2 (14/08/26)
Still waiting refund despite contacting Halfords Bridgend Auto Centre again.
Same response, ‘We will send another email telling Customer Services to pull their finger out!’

Have my car booked in for 11:30 walked around for two hours contact the garage see the car was ready for collection and I haven’t even been seen or moved from where I left it, not gonna lie I was annoyed if you book your vehicle in somewhere for a certain time you expect it to be booked in for that time to walk around for hours on end!

I took my car into the Halfords auto centre in Openshaw Manchester today. I have nothing but praise for the staff there, what a lovely bunch of lads. They were ready for me when I arrived, started my MOT promptly, contacted me as soon as it was ready. Left the car neat and tidy, ready to drive away. Above and beyond as the saying goes. Well done lads. I definitely recommend you ✔️

Have used Halfords in the past and booked in with them for an MOT. They asked via text if I wanted to add a service and I said yes - the virtual assistant was terrible, despite me asking them to call me several times they insisted on messaging. Tried to ring direct, couldn’t get through. Then they called me to rearrange MOT for later in the week as one of their machines was broken. Turned up for the MOT and service, but machine was broken again, still couldn’t do MOT. Went ahead with the service. Service report said right side indicator bulb needed replacing. My MOT was due so booked with a different company, I asked them to order in the right side bulb, they called me today to say that it is the left side bulb that needs replacing, so can’t be done today.
On top of all that got a parking fine from the day was at Halfords, gave them a call and they said there’s been a camera fault and they will get it cancelled (OK, not their fault, but was the icing on the cake!)
Very disappointed.

Given 2 stars as the service was done, and the staff were polite.

Shockingly bad. Took my car as the engine temp warning light was coming on. Told them what happened, they said the EGR valve was recommended to be replaced because of the milage of the car but it was a sensor the car is ok to drive. 6 days later the car is now completely dead. Called on Wednesday this week, got told I would get a call back. None one actually called so I called today, and had an engineer lie to me on the phone and say it was only recommended to do short journeys, which was never mentioned. Got told on Wednesday I would get the cost of the diagnosis refunded, that didn't happen.

So because of there crap service my partners car broke down on the M11 on the way to work and had to be towed home, where the car is now scrap.

Avoid Halfords autocentres at all costs.

Marcus at Havant Halfords was professional, friendly and very helpful. He checked my car waters, battery and tyres and reassured me on all concerns before a 3 hour drive.
I will definitely return.

Awful experience
- from a high street brand and should have read reviews first. Booked for four new tyres to be fitted at Torquay branch and selected their offered fitting date and time on 08 July 2026 at 1.00 pm. Paid just shy of £1K and got text to confirm booking and replied CONFIRM as required. I live in South Devon and whilst Torquay as the nearest fitting centre is only about 15 miles away, it is a circa 50 minute journey each way on country roads. Arrived at arranged time to be told “sorry mate your tyres aren’t here” and “it should never have been booked as being premium tyres they would never have been delivered in time and also the on line booking system had doubled booked you in the same slot as another customer”. I expressed my ‘disappointment’ to the chap behind the counter who was frankly pretty uninterested about how appalling their organisation’s communication was and that in effect I had wasted 2 hours out of my working day driving there unnecessarily when someone could have simply contacted me prior thereto. Is it that difficult?. Seemingly this was not an uncommon problem with the online booking system judging by their reaction. I requested that they process a full refund which he advised he would do and that (whilst the payment to them is taken instantaneously) this would take up to five working days to process. Really.
Later that day I called Halfords customer services department to further register my dissatisfaction and raise a formal complaint advising them that I wanted compensation for the wasted time out of my working day and fuel. The lady said this would be logged and I would hear back but now over 4 weeks later, guess what, I have heard nothing.
Then curiously, later that day I received a text saying “we’re sorry your booking …. has been cancelled. To rebook…”. Really and ‘cancelled’ - NO not honoured / fulfilled by Halfords to be correct.
Anyway I head off on my road trip in another vehicle as my car which I had intended to take still had tyres in need of replacement and thought nothing of it until nearing a week later I had still not had received a refund, albeit I had missed a few calls from a rather persistent fellow named Kiano in the customer support team still wanting to rebook my fitting. Eventually I took a call from him only to learn that Halfords had not processed my refund as requested in branch and subsequent call with customer services. Essentially I advised that I would not be rebooking under any circumstances and Kiano confirmed a refund would now be processed. Frankly, there had been a totally unacceptable delay by Halfords to refund me but it did eventually get repaid.
The sting in the tail - my credit card statement was issued on 13 July 2026 with the balance due figure including the amount of nearly £1k paid to Halfords as their delaying tactics to giving me a refund meant that the refund occurred after the statement issue date. Therefore, my 06 August payment to my
credit card company to clear the statement “balance” and avoid paying interest has had to include the near £1k amount paid to Halfords as it was refunded too late and does not count towards a monthly balance payment in this event.
So thanks Halfords, my credit card now owes me money and my car is parked on the drive longing for a new set of tyres. Should have stuck with my local garage who might be a couple of hundred quid more but who do what they say they will do, when they say they will do it.
Halfords, by my own experience over more than 4 decades, used to be a great brand with whom I have spent not insignificant sums of money; how much, I would not even want to hazard a guess.
But the organisation that they have become is not one that I wish or now intend to deal with ever again.

Don’t go near the auto club, real trickery when you try to cancel, I am still trying to exercise my statutory rights to cancel and it looks like I’ll need to write a letter and mail it to their head office!!! Chat bots and nonsense - find another supplier guys, you have been warned!!!

I bought a gas cylinder online for click & collect.
Arriving at the click and collect counter I found no-one and no way of calling some-one i.e a bell. Ok so lets go and ask at the main check-out, on my way there I saw a Halfords employee and asked if he could help, this was his response ''Oh you need to collect something do you, well I suppose I shall have to do that for you then'' arriving at the click & collect counter there was another gentleman who said ''there is no-one here, you should maybe have a bell to call for assistance'' this was the Halfords employee's response ''Go through that door and ask to speak to the manager or anyone else who actually cares''
Wow, what a response.

Absolute horrendous service from Halfords Auto Centre East Road Northallerton in North Yorkshire. Took my Evoque in for two new rear tyres and 4 wheel alignment. Because the nuts were a little tight (who’d have thought!) they failed to do the alignment and when fitting the tyres scratched and chipped the rear near side rim. Visited centre and complained. Fobbed off with ‘oxidisation’. Refused to accept liability or pay for the repairs. The male who caused the damage was extremely rude and offensive and threatened us with the police before ordering us off site. THIS COMPANY IS AN ABSOLUTE JOKE. THE SAME PRO-FORMA RESPONSE TO ANY COMPLAINT look for yourselves! You have been warned

The standard pro-forma response from Halfords. It’s how their staff treat customers at Northallerton that needs addressing. Yet another lost customer. Good riddance

Last year you cancelled mot booking .you promised to refund payment asap, you did not
This year thought would try again , lo and behold you cancelled again ! Still waiting for this refund as well !
Do not trust Halfords to get anything right
Would not trust them to get a puncture repair kit , let alone a mot !!!

I ordered 4 new premium tyres. Halfords fitted a tyre which is a year older than the other 3. I expected 4 tyres which were manufactured at minimum in the same year so this is quite unacceptable. It's like they picked each tyre from a completely different supplier - even the other three are not from the same month.

There were also some minor issues that provide a low quality aiming-low feel to the service (which you can also observe from the Trust Pilot reviews). Leaving a dirty wheel nut key on my seat. The tech found it in it's holding slot so they should have put it back there. Finally, to top off the low standards, the staff offered to call me when the job was done and didn't.

I contacted customer service and was told:
"In line with our policy, we are permitted to supply and fit tyres that are up to five years old."

Day light robbery. Got a battery for my ford focus got charge 50 quid for them to fit it total joke took him about 5 minutes and then a little tinker with cars computer to tell it that it had new battery. If I could have gone elsewhere I would have mind halfords are famous for ripping people off when it comes to fitting things bought some windscreen wipers and I know how to fit them easy 30sec job halfords wanted more to fit them then it was to buy them all total robbery. Just got bog standard big company reply even bigger joke now

I would strongly advise people to think twice before using Halfords for a full service and 240-point check.

I got my Mercedes full service last month from Halfords auto centre High Wycombe.
After the service, I experienced serious problems with the car, including an engine warning light and the engine running/shaking badly. I contacted Halfords to raise my concerns and explained that if there was an issue with the engine, surely this should have been identified or at least highlighted during a comprehensive 240-point inspection.

During a phone conversation, I was told that Halfords would refund me some of the money. However, after waiting around two weeks, I received an email saying that they could not provide a refund because the engine is not part of the full service.

This leaves me seriously questioning what exactly was checked during the “240-point check”. If a major issue can occur immediately after paying for a full service and a comprehensive vehicle inspection, what is the purpose of advertising such an extensive check?

What is even more frustrating is that I was initially given the impression that some compensation/refund would be provided, only to be told two weeks later that they would not refund anything.

I paid for a professional service and inspection, and I expected clear communication about anything potentially wrong with my vehicle. Instead, I have been left extremely disappointed and out of pocket.

Be very careful when relying on Halfords’ inspection reports. My experience has made me seriously question the value of their “240-point check”.

I would not use this branch again and, based on my experience, I would not recommend Halfords for a full service or vehicle inspection.

Wasted 3 hours of my life with this less than reliable/professional supplier . Two visits to two different garages, arranged by customer services emailed directions and confirmation of services I wanted and had ordered , show up at the arranged time and 1. The garage doesn’t know why you’re there and 2 they can’t help you? I think Halfords is good for buying bicycle pumps in my positive experiences. I’d go to a professional local tyre branch , as I have done …phew another lesson learned.

Cancelling the Motoring Membership annual renewal is a nightmare. Completed the online form which was a 'request' only. Received an email that my request would be reviewed within 48 hours. Turns out the person assigned is on holiday, The Agent on the phone completed the cancellation. Given that the subscription was by credit card it is pretty much impossible to block at my end. If I want to cancel I should be able to cancel. Obviously set up to trap people with Halfords FOREVER.

This garage is disgustingly. We were treated like fools with no respect. From the beginning we could see they did not want to do the work on our car. We had a diagnostic check on our car that showed we needed to renew our diesel particulate filter. They then said they would order the part. They said it would take 48 hours and take our car to the garage a couple of days later, which we did. The car was there all day and then we rang to see how things were getting on. He said they had a problem and that the part they got had a missing piece. We were told to pick up our car while they ordered another one. That did not arrive. All the excuses and all the messing around took two weeks to realise they were not going to repair our car. We then were recommended by a friend to have our filter cleaned and a diagnostic check done at the same time. This chap did this and the test was positive and the filter as good as new. Before this which I forgot to mention Halfords did not put the engine cover on or the heat resistant cover for the engine. After the chap went we went back to Halfords and ask them to replace what they had taken off the attitude of the 2 men in the works shop was disgusting and treated us with not really caring. They told us this would take half and hour. When we came back they could not replace the heat resistant cover and tried to fool us that we had been driving around in our car with a broken cover. They had actually broken it themselves so it was useless. He mumbled that is was always broken but we could see that some idiot had prized it off and made the washer too small for the hole. The two idiot in the work shop are rude and totally useless. Arrogant and basically thick. I would advise if you don’t want to be messed around and caused stress don’t go to Halfords. Cowboys is their name.