As the holiday season approaches, many workshops, including ours, experience a surge in bookings and may close for a few days. To avoid disappointment, it's essential to book your service early. At V&T Motors in Lonsdale, we're ready to help ensure your car is in top shape for the festive period.

As the Christmas holidays approach, there's nothing more exciting than planning road trips to visit family and friends or head off on a well-deserved vacation.

However, ensuring your car is in prime condition is crucial for a safe and stress-free journey. Regular car servicing plays a pivotal role in maintaining vehicle performance and safety, especially when preparing for holiday travels. Here at V&T Motors in Lonsdale, we are dedicated to keeping your car road-ready and reliable.

Regular servicing is more than just an essential upkeep task; it’s a proactive approach to vehicle maintenance that ensures all systems are functioning optimally. Let's delve into the key areas addressed during a routine service and how they contribute to a worry-free holiday season:

1. Brake Maintenance
Your car's brakes are crucial for safety, especially during long trips. During a service, our qualified technicians inspect the brake pads, discs, and fluid levels to ensure everything is functioning correctly. Well-maintained brakes provide better stopping power, preventing accidents and ensuring a safer drive for you and your loved ones.

2. Air Conditioning System
A fully operational air conditioning system isn't just a luxury—it's vital for comfort and safety, particularly for window demisting in humid conditions. Our service checks include inspecting the refrigerant levels and overall system health, ensuring you stay cool and comfortable on those hot summer days.

3. Suspension and Steering
The suspension and steering components significantly affect your car's handling and stability. Our technicians examine the shock absorbers, struts, and steering system for any wear and tear. Proper maintenance of these parts ensures a smoother ride and better control of your vehicle, which is essential for the varied road conditions encountered during holiday travels.

4. Checking and Changing Engine Oil
Regular oil changes are vital for maintaining engine health. Our service includes checking the oil level and replacing it with high-quality oil to ensure your engine runs smoothly. Clean oil reduces friction, prevents overheating, and extends the lifespan of your engine—key factors when embarking on long journeys.

5. Battery Inspection
Nothing dampens the holiday spirit like a car that won't start. Our comprehensive service includes checking the battery's condition and terminals for corrosion. We ensure your battery is fully charged and functioning well to avoid any unwelcome surprises.

6. Tyre Maintenance
Proper tyre maintenance is critical for safety and efficiency. During a service, we check the tyre pressure, tread depth, and overall condition. Well-maintained tyres provide better traction and improved fuel efficiency, making your holiday trips both safer and more economical.

7. Electrical System
From your headlights to the car’s internal electronics, the electrical system needs to be in top shape. Our expert technicians inspect the wiring, lights, and fuses to ensure everything is working correctly. A fully functional electrical system is vital for safe and comfortable driving.

8. Fluid and Filter Replacement
Various fluids, such as brake fluid, coolant, and transmission fluid, are crucial for your car's operation. Our service includes checking and replacing these fluids as necessary, along with filters like the air and fuel filters. Fresh fluids and clean filters improve overall vehicle performance and longevity.

9. Vehicle Efficiency
Regular servicing helps keep your car running efficiently, reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Ensuring your car is in optimal condition not only saves you money on fuel but also contributes to a cleaner environment—something we can all appreciate during the festive season.

10. Peace of Mind
One of the most significant benefits of getting your car serviced at V&T Motors is the peace of mind it brings. Knowing that your vehicle has been inspected and serviced by professional mechanics, backed by a nationwide warranty, allows you to travel with confidence. Enjoy your holiday trips without worrying about potential car troubles.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and safe travels from all of us at V&T Motors in Lonsdale!

Don't wait until the last minute—schedule your car service today and enjoy a safe, reliable, and enjoyable holiday journey...

Prepare for a safe and enjoyable holiday season! Discover essential car servicing tips to keep your vehicle in top condition. Book your car service at V&T Motors in Lonsdale today…

Get ready for Christmas with regular car servicing

Ensure Your Car is Ready for the Holidays

V&T Motors at Lonsdale is celebrating more than 50 years of quality car service to southern motorists.

We've lasted that long by providing good old fashioned, trustworthy customer service that you'd expect from an independently owned local business - because that's what we are!

As a Repco Authorised Service centre, we have a commitment to high quality workmanship, ensuring the very best in automotive care, access to the best parts and training in the country and offer a Nationwide Warranty honoured at over 500 workshops across Australia. Our Business is a member of the Repco Auto Tech training program, ensuring each mechanic is kept fully up to date with modern vehicle repair methods. 

V&T Motors Mechanics provide all mechanical repairs and general car servicing, including New Car Log Book servicing without voiding your new car warranty and others:

Car Air Conditioner Service and Repairs (AU08952)

We are a General Mechanical Repairer, servicing all makes and models, including Volkswagen. All of our services can be booked online and you can call us for a free car service quote!

V&T Motors has a machine shop and all car services are carried out in house with our vast range of machinery. Loan Cars are available by arrangement. For further information on all services and a free auto repair quote phone one of our friendly staff at the Lonsdale workshop.

V&T Motors care about the environment and have Arctick Authorisation to reliably and responsibly conduct automotive air conditioning service (AU08952). ARC Approved Car Air Conditioning Servicing reduces Fuel Costs and protects your health. The ARC Tick of approval helps ensure technicians have the skills and knowledge to correctly undertake service and repairs of refrigerated air conditioning to minimise environmental impact. 

While your car is being serviced, you can use our comfy waiting lounge with tea, coffee and cold drinks available, TV, phone and bathroom facilities. It is also possible to monitor the repairs from a designated vehicle repair viewing area. We are located close to public transport, and free parking is available in front of workshop with a key drop off box for your convenience.

You can book our loan car to use as emergency transportation and our mechanics can pick up your car for service and deliver it back to you when the repairs are complete. Call our car service now or book a repair online! We service all makes and models of cars, including diesels, AWDs, 4WDs, caravans, campervans, trailers, light trucks, horse floats, motorhomes, off-roads, hybrids, utes, vans and your car!

For friendly local car service from a trusted independent mechanic in Lonsdale, you can rely on the team at V&T Motors

You won't find a better level of customer service than from the friendly team at V&T Motors...

Automotive Servicing and Repairs in Lonsdale

2024 brings with it a shed load of milestones for the owners of V&T Motors in Lonsdale, Brendan and Karl...

This year, Karl and Brendan are celebrating over 50 years in business and 45 years with V&T Motors as an RAA approved repairer.

You may not realise it but the well known Lonsdale car service workshop has been servicing and repairing the vehicles of local residents of Lonsdale since 1974. Karl has been working at V&T Motors since that date, right after finishing his apprenticeship and can count the number of sick days he has taken since then on one hand. That's 50 years - Talk about automotive passion.

Brendan began working at V&T Motors's workshop back in 1994, so 2024 sees Brendan clocking up his own personal milestone of 30 years in the same business.

In 2015 Karl and Brendan joined forces to purchase the Lonsdale workshop from the original owners and they have never looked back, continuing on with the tradition of solid, dependable car service and repairs they both had decades of experience in providing.

Last but not least, V&T Motors in Lonsdale are pleased to have also been an RAA Approved repairer for over 45 years, another big milestone for the boys to be proud of.

So if you are in need of honest, reliable and efficient car service or repairs in Lonsdale, take your vehicle to the team who have been providing it for 50 years and still doing it strong - V&T Motors...

You may not realise it but the well known Lonsdale car service workshop has been servicing and repairing the vehicles of local residents of Lonsdale since 1974...

50+ Years and going strong

When winter approaches in Lonsdale, South Australia, it brings with it cooler temperatures and increased rainfall, making road conditions more challenging. To ensure your car is prepared for these conditions, regular servicing is crucial. Let's delve into why you should always keep your vehicle in top shape and how it helps make sure your car is winter-ready.

How Regular Service Helps Get Your Car Ready for Winter Driving in Lonsdale, SA

Regular servicing isn't just about keeping your car running smoothly; it's a preventive measure to catch potential issues before they become serious problems. In winter, this becomes even more important due to the additional stress cold weather and wet roads can place on your vehicle.

The condition of your tyres is paramount for safe winter driving. Regular servicing ensures that your tyres have the appropriate tread depth to handle wet and slippery conditions. Proper tyre pressure, checked during a service, is essential for optimal traction and braking performance. Tyres that are up to the task can significantly reduce your chances of skidding on wet roads, providing better control and safety.

Your brakes are arguably the most critical component of your car when it comes to safety. Regular servicing ensures that your brake pads, discs, and fluids are in good condition. With the wet and often slippery roads in winter, having fully functional brakes is non-negotiable. Regular checks can prevent brake failure and ensure that your stopping distances remain as short as possible, even in less than ideal conditions.

Winter mornings in Lonsdale can be quite brisk, and a healthy battery is crucial for reliable starts. Cold weather can reduce a battery’s efficiency, and the last thing you want is a dead battery on a frosty morning. Regular servicing includes battery checks, ensuring that it has enough charge and is in good condition to get you going every time.

With shorter daylight hours in winter, ensuring that all your lights are working is vital for both seeing and being seen. During a regular service, mechanics will check your headlights, brake lights, indicators, and fog lights. Functioning lights are essential for visibility in adverse weather conditions, and they help other drivers see you on the road, reducing the risk of accidents.

A well-functioning Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is more than just a comfort feature in winter. It helps to quickly defrost windows and maintain a clear view of the road. Regular servicing will check the HVAC system, ensuring it is working correctly to keep you warm and your windows clear, enhancing both comfort and safety.

Ensuring all fluid levels are adequate is a crucial part of regular servicing. This includes engine oil, brake fluid, coolant, and even windshield washer fluid. Adequate fluid levels ensure that your car operates smoothly and that components are adequately lubricated and cooled, preventing breakdowns and maintaining performance even in cold conditions.

Clear vision is non-negotiable when driving in winter, and functional windshield wipers are essential. Regular servicing will check the condition of your wipers, ensuring they can effectively clear rain, sleet, or frost from your windshield. Good wipers contribute to better visibility and safer driving conditions, particularly in heavy rain or during early morning frosts.

At V&T Motors, we understand the unique challenges that winter driving in Lonsdale presents. Our experienced mechanics provide thorough inspections and servicing to ensure your car is in peak condition. We check all the critical components and systems, from tyres and brakes to batteries and lights, ensuring your vehicle is ready to handle winter conditions safely and reliably.

Why Choose V&T Motors for Your Winter Car Servicing?

As a family-owned business operating in Lonsdale since 1974, V&T Motors have more than 50 years of experience. We pride ourselves on understanding the needs of our customers and our services are backed by Repco Authorised Service's Nationwide Warranty, providing you with peace of mind no matter where you are in Australia.

Regular car servicing is essential to ensure your vehicle is ready for winter driving in Lonsdale. From checking tyres and brakes to ensuring your battery and lights are in good condition, every aspect of your car needs to be winter-ready.

Discover why regular car servicing is crucial for winter driving in Lonsdale, SA. Learn about essential checks including tyres, brakes, battery, lights, HVAC, fluid levels, and windshield wipers to keep your vehicle safe and reliable...

Ensure Your Car is Winter Ready: The Importance of Regular Servicing in Lonsdale, SA

Maintaining your vehicle through regular servicing is crucial to ensuring your road trips are safe, enjoyable, hassle-free and ready to roll at the drop of a hat....

If you aim to make sure that your car is road trip ready, it is useful to have undertaken regular service checks as a first step to ensuring that your vehicle is both efficient and secure for a long journey. In this article, we will examine the various mechanical tasks carried out during regular car servicing. Additionally, we will emphasize the significance of vehicle maintenance, highlighting the benefits of comfort and safety when getting your car prepared for a road trip.

Keeping your vehicle roadworthy is crucial before embarking on any journey, more so for roadtrip trips. Regular car service not only maintains the condition of your vehicle but also ensures that your travel plans run smoothly by keeping you aware of any elements of your vehicle that might present a problem when you are on the road. Here are ten ways that regular servicing﻿ can help to make sure your car is road trip ready...

Regular Car Service - Your Ticket to Road Trip Readiness﻿

On hot Australian days, nothing's worse than a non-functional air conditioning system. A regular service will ensure that it runs efficiently, enhancing your comfort and contributing to safety through its window demisting function as well as ensuring the cabin environment is comfortable and free of irritants.﻿

1. Keeping Cool with a Fully-Operational Air Conditioning System

One of the most vital components to check during a car service is the battery. A battery inspection can avoid inconvenient breakdowns, guaranteeing a hassle-free start to your roadtrip journey.﻿ If you have any concerns at all about your battery bring your vehicle into V&T Motors in Lonsdale for a battery inspection.

2. Battery Inspection - Ensuring a Positive Start﻿

Brakes are your vehicle's primary safety component. Regular servicing provides early detection of worn-out brake parts such as brake pads, rotors and the brake hoses and connections, ensuring optimal functionality for safe and efficient roadtrip travels.﻿

3. Brake Maintenance - The Backbone of Road Safety

Regularly checking and changing your engine oil is a simple, yet significant maintenance task undertaken as a part of regular car servicing. This procedure keeps the engine's components well-lubricated, ensuring smooth operation during long drives.﻿ V&T Motors only use quality parts and fluids as part of their car service regime.

4. The Lifeline of your Vehicle - Engine Oil﻿

Today's cars rely heavily on electrical systems for different functionalities. Regular servicing by a reputable mechanic such as V&T Motors in Lonsdale includes check-ups which help spot electrical issues early, preventing further complications during your journey.﻿

5. A Functioning Electrical System - The Heart of Modern Cars﻿

To maintain your vehicle's optimum performance, routine fluid and filter replacement is critical. It removes contaminants that can damage your engine and lead to unexpected problems.﻿ As these tasks are generally allowed for under regular car service with V&T Motors you shouldn't have to worry about them before embarking on your road trip (provided of course that you are keeping up with your scheduled services).

6. Fluid and Filter Replacement - The Cleanliness Keeper

Steering and suspension are responsible for a comfortable ride and responsive handling as well as ensuring the safety of your vehicle and the passengers and cargo it carries. Regular servicing with V&T Motors in Lonsdale maintains your car’s balance, ensuring a steady and comfortable ride throughout your roadtrip.﻿

7. Steering and Suspension Check - For a Smooth Ride﻿

The condition of your tyres is essential for safe driving. Regular tyre maintenance - from rotation, alignment to inflation - provides optimum traction, making your trip safer, especially in unpredictable weather.﻿ V&T Motors in Lonsdale perform a 65 point vehicle inspection which includes checking the condition of the tyres.

8. Tyre Maintenance - The Keeper of Traction﻿

Regular servicing optimises your car's performance, resulting in higher fuel efficiency, in fact your vehicle's efficiency overall. With efficient running cars, you can enjoy more mileage out of your fuel tank - leaving more money for any roadtrip treats you might happen upon along your journey.﻿


9. Maintaining Vehicle Efficiency - Saving you Money

A regularly serviced car is a dependable companion for your roadtrip adventures. Bringing your car into V&T Motors in Lonsdale for regular servicing according to it's service schedule means knowing your vehicle is in peak condition and offers you unparalleled peace of mind at all times and particularly during any journeys you undertake.

Remember, preparation is the key to an enjoyable roadtrip. While ensuring that your bags are packed with essentials, ensure your vehicle gets the attention it needs too. Embrace the regular servicing culture and make your vehicle roadtrip-ready for unforgettable memories. Enjoy your ride and Happy Roadtrips!

V&T Motors in Lonsdale hope you enjoy your ride and wish you Happy Roadtrips!

Understand the importance of regular car servicing to ensure a safe, enjoyable holiday drive. Dive into the mechanical aspects covered during a car check-up and learn how each one contributes to your vehicle's overall condition...

Is Your Vehicle Road Trip Ready - Regular servicing can help make it so

Brake fluid transfers the pressure you put on the brake pedal through to the actual brakes.
Without the brake fluid your brakes quite simply would not work. As everyone knows - not having brakes is a huge problem! In fact even slightly affected brakes are very dangerous.


Brake fluid absorbs moisture very easily. Brake fluids are also subject to very high temperatures and so they are designed to have a high boiling point to stop them from boiling and evaporating- when brake fluid has accumulated too much moisture- this lowers its boiling point and it can boil off more easily causing low levels. Low levels of brake fluid affect your braking performance and could mean your car will fail to stop.
Brake Fluid that has absorbed too much moisture will also shorten the life of your braking system including damaging the callipers, wheel cylinders and anti-lock braking systems.

Why is brake fluid replacement necessary?

Your manufacturer's log book will advise how regularly your brake fluid should be changed or flushed, we recommend a drain and replacement every two years however it is wise to have it regularly checked by an expert at every service to make sure the levels are not reducing too fast (a sign of a leak) or that the moisture levels have not reached a point that could be damaging your system.

How often should I replace my brake fluid?

At V&T Motors we offer a full 65 Point Vehicle Inspection report, upon request, with every full car service which includes a written review of your brake fluid, master cylinder, front and back discs and pads, callipers and cylinders and more. This inspection helps to identify any issues in your vehicle which should be addressed and our mechanics will certainly advise you if they feel your vehicle might need a brake fluid replacement, or an out of schedule brake system service or repairs.

Do you check the brake fluids during a car service?

Without the brake fluid your brakes quite simply would not work.

Brake fluid - what is it and why do I need it? 

We should point out that we aren't having a go at your musical preferences, but rather your shock absorbers. If you have worn shock absorbers on your car, not only will you be rocking and rolling around corners, but possibly reducing your stopping distance by as much as 2.6 metres which can be incredibly dangerous for everyone on the road.

Most people don't know that the primary role of shockers is to keep your tyres in constant contact with the road surface. The less road contact, the slower you stop, and in an emergency that can be deadly. That is why we are part of the Monroe Safety Specialist program, to help educate and keep motorists safe.

View our Shock Absorber Auto Facts Video to learn more

As a Monroe Safety Specialist we can offer customers the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your independent mechanical workshop is partnering with one of the biggest names in the business. Over the next few months as we move into wetter weather we will be focusing on safe driving and supporting our friends Monroe.

Our fully trained technicians can test all of your steering and suspension systems and advise you on the right shockers for your driving conditions and needs.

So call us today and make sure the only rock and roll in your car is coming from the sound system!

Don't Rock and Roll! See the team at V&T Motors to have your shock absorbers checked!

Shock absorber service in Lonsdale

When it comes to brakes, you should never wait until brake repairs are necessary.  

Proper testing and routine checkups, such as our 65 Point Vehicle Inspection which we provide with all full car services, are important to ensure your vehicle's brake system is in top condition. Our expert team of technicians will be happy to advise you when they suspect that service or repair of your brake system is indicated to stop it becoming a bigger issue.

Brake services we perform at V&T Motors include:

Brake Disc/Rotor and Drum Resurfacing or Machining

If you recognise any symptoms that your car's braking system could possibly need service or repairs simply book online with us and have the brakes of your vehicle assessed through our Lonsdale workshop today.

When it comes to brakes, you should'nt wait until brake repairs are necessary, get tested regularly.  

Brake and Clutch Service in Lonsdale

Brake and Clutch

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We advise that our workshop will be closed for the Christmas period from the close of business on Friday the 20th of December and reopening on Monday the 6th of January

V&T Motors is your local car service mechanic in Lonsdale. As a family owned and operated business, we take great pride in offering our customers the very best in automotive care and we are committed to providing personalised and friendly service at all times. As a Repco Authorised Service centre, we participate in the Repco Auto Tech training program, ensuring our technicians are kept fully up to date with modern vehicle repair methods. We have a wealth of experience in servicing all makes and models, including commercial fleet vehicles. For reliable car maintenance, service & repairs in Lonsdale and the surrounding areas, please use our online booking form or give us a call.

V&T Motors

Brake and clutch

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