New Kiwi company offers WoF solution for essential workers

Wednesday, 1 April 2020

While mechanics have been put in the 'essential services' list - which means they can stay open during the coronavirus lockdown to perform work for essential service workers - there is still difficulty involved for other essential workers to get a repair job or WoF with the Level 4 lockdown rules.

But a local online business that started up just before the coronavirus pandemic has seen a massive boost in the use of its services by offering a completely contactless system for getting vehicles to and from a mechanic.

BookMyCar offers a contact-free approach that includes ringing to arrange a contact free way to collect and return the car key, carrying out the work in a safe, hygienic manner like wearing fresh gloves, cleaning the steering wheel and contact surfaces before work begins. Payment is all online using secure payment processes, with no need to touch a card machine.

A new Kiwi company has a solution for essential workers if one of these lights come on during the lockdown.

Users can book repairs, services, WoFs and diagnostics through the website ahead of time. Some jobs will need to wait until after the lockdown lifts but others, like repair work for essential workers, can be completed now.

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The BookMyCar process is completely contactless and contact areas in the car are thoroughly cleaned before return.

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Stuff spoke to Ross Hill, founder of BookMyCar, said he had been frantically busy helping hundreds of essential workers keep their vehicles running. He spoke of a young doctor moving between several clinics in Auckland, whose engine warning light had come on. BookMyCar organised to have his car picked up from a hospital, fixed up and dropped back before his shift ended.

The company's network has been reduced by the coronavirus shutdown, but it is still adding mechanics.

'It's pretty crazy how many people are turning to us for info now,' Hill said.

'The phone's going every couple minutes. So many essential workers who have been working 6 or 7 day weeks who want to do the right thing but are confused about what's expected of them in terms of WoF's and repairs.

'We're following the government guidance very closely and checking in with our mechanics to make sure they're being safe.

'I've spent a lot of time responding to customer queries on social media and on the phone, confirming that they're essential workers, helping them understand the current rules and restrictions, asking them to hold until lockdown ends (if they aren't essential) and just generally trying to streamline things so the mechanics can spend more time on the tools helping people.'

At the moment, the service is only available in Auckland but Hill said the team is working hard to expand to other parts of the country, although that process is being hampered by the coronavirus lockdown.

'The matching process isn't any harder as it's automated and we only take bookings online, but our network size is down because about half of our verified mechanic partners have closed or reduced hours during lockdown,' said Hill.

'But we have a pretty big network already of 28 verified mechanic partners who have been through a thorough vetting process before they can join the platform. We actually turn down about 7 out of10 mechanics who apply because they don't meet our criteria.'

Hill said that businesses could apply to become a part of the BookMyCar network on the company's website.

Hill said that all work carried out through BookMyCar comes with a warranty for 12 months or 10,000km (whichever comes first) and that only new parts and oils that meet or exceed the approved standards set by each manufacturer are used.