Parker’s is offering consumers an online service booking facility allowing them to compare labour rates for more than 10,000 service centres.

Garages do not have to pay anything up front to be listed but they do pay a booking fee of £9 every time an appointment is made.

Since launching three weeks ago, more than 3,500 people have visited the site, which is unique in offering a multi-franchised platform for customers.

“We anticipate a slow uptake of this until it gets going,” says Joe Austin, commercial director for Parker’s. “This is because people traditionally visit the Parker’s website either for reviews, prices or when they are buying a vehicle, they don’t associate it with servicing yet.”

Upon visiting the website, people are prompted to enter the make and model of their car as well as their postcode. They will also be asked to choose between servicing, MoT and tyre service.

Austin says: “A list of the closest 10 dealers then comes up, in the order of the price they charge per hour, together with the earliest available date for an appointment.”

Within an hour of making the booking, the customer receives a confirmation email or text. Then 24 hours before the service they will be sent a reminder.

Parker’s has also negotiated a 10% discount on parts with a number of service centres.