After being open for 10 years, we decided to reach out to Lynsey Rowley, director of Volks Autos and Wife to David Rowley, owner of Auto Volks. With the industry having a history of being male-dominated, Lynsey hopes that her insight into running a garage as a female will give people an interesting perspective.<br /> <br /> Lynsey says that “Volks Autos is a welcoming, honest, hardworking garage and we strive for a top-class reputation both from a customer point of view and within the industry itself. We have a lot of expertise and experience when it comes to what we do. I am very proud of the true quality of the staff I employ”.

There are multiple reasons to recommend a garage in The Good Garage Guide, whether it’s specialist expertise or customer care. However with PMW in Chelmsford, there is a consistent message throughout most of the recommendations – professionalism, honesty and friendliness.<br /> PMW was established when Peter, the owner, became exhausted with garages that had a ‘dealer mentality’. He wanted a garage that would provide a quality service at a fraction of main dealer price.

Russell Automotive Centre and Garage Express are located in Kingsbury Trading Estate in London. These two garages are owned by Jane and Steve Russell and both are ranked in the top 10 garages in London on the Good Garage Guide. Russell Automotive Centre opened in 2007 as an Audi, VW, SEAT, and Skoda independent garage with Bentley being included a few years later. Steve, Jane’s husband is a VW and Audi Master Technician, so opening this business first made logical sense. The garage took off very quickly, earning an award for being the best independent Audi service provider within 10 months of trading.

Darren Jenkins opened The Little Car Clinic in 2010. His passion for cars started when he did work experience for Lotus Engineers which turned into a ten year career. Today, Darren and his team boast a wealth of knowledge and expertise that make The Little Car Clinic a hit with HonestJohn.co.uk readers. <br /> The Little Car Clinic initially started as an Audi and Volkswagen specialist, before diversifying into other makes of car. Darren and his team of three passionate, self-proclaimed petrol heads say no job is too big or too small. They are also willing to do anything and everything to save their customers time and money.

Thorobred cars has always been a family run garage, originally starting as a main dealer from 1975 and becoming independently run in 1998, taking with it the vast knowledge and expertise learned from being a main dealer. The garage at first looks like a small village dealership, however upon entering the premises there is an expansive work shop with state-of-the-art equipment extending into the back. Starting out as a main dealer, the garage won best customer care and service for Alfa Romeo main dealers four years running.

Started in 1937, Wallis and Son is celebrating 80 years in the business. The Cambridge garage is now being run by a third generation of the Wallis family, Elliot Wallis.

The garage specialises in 4x4 repair and according to Good Garage Guide users it’s one of the best garages in the area for help with 4x4s.

WBMSC covers all of a car’s needs under one roof, which makes it unusual, providing bodywork repair, service, restoration and MoT on the same site in Hitchin.

Rated the fifth in the Good Garage Guide overall an third in the London area, Volks is one of the most consistently well-reviewed garages in the country.

The fact that Empire Garages has the highest rating in the Good Garage Guide should speak for itself, but we decided to go along anyway and find out what makes it so popular.