The car dealership service department is the No. 1 factor in customer satisfaction and dealership loyalty, according to the JD Power 2016 UK Customer Service Index (CSI) Study.

Among highly satisfied customers (overall satisfaction scores of 900 or higher on a 1,000-point scale), 92% say they “definitely will” return to the same service facility for future warranty service (work they do not have to pay for), and 83% say they “definitely will” return for future paid service (work they do have to pay for).

When satisfaction slips just slightly (800-899), intended loyalty drops to 74% for warranty service and 58% for paid service.

“When auto dealerships manage to get the service department’s customer service equation right, they earn incredibly loyal customers,” said Axel Sprenger, senior director of European automotive operations at JD Power.

“The service event is also instrumental in driving sales, as it is likely the most recent experience the customer has had at the dealer prior to shopping for a new vehicle.”

According to the study, 78% of customers who are highly satisfied with their service experience say they “definitely will” purchase or lease their next new vehicle from the servicing dealership. When service satisfaction drops to 800-899, intended purchase loyalty dips to 44% and tumbles to 23% when satisfaction is between 600 and 799.

Mercedes-Benz ranks highest among premium brands, with a score of 774, an 18-point improvement from 2015 when it ranked fourth. Mercedes-Benz is followed by Land Rover (773) and Audi (761).

Toyota ranks highest among volume brands, with a score of 776, a 17-point improvement from 2015.  Honda ranks second (775), followed by Kia (765), MINI (757) and Suzuki (753).

The study, now in its second year, measures UK customer satisfaction with their service experience at a franchised dealer facility for maintenance and repair work. The study explores customer satisfaction with their service dealer by examining five measures (listed in order of importance): service quality (26%); service initiation (23%); service advisor (19%); vehicle pick-up (17%); and service facility (16%).

The 2016 UK Customer Service Index Study is based 8,478 respondents who registered their new vehicle between February 2013 and April 2015. The study was fielded from February through April 2016.

Other key findings

Dealership welcome

When the service advisor greets customers immediately upon their arrival, it can improve service satisfaction by as much as 48 points; yet, 61% of customers indicate they had to wait for a greeting. When the service advisor knows the customer’s vehicle history and the customer says the service advisor is completely focused on their needs, service satisfaction can increase by as much as 46 and 56 points, respectively. Additionally, while only 34% of customers indicate their service advisor used a tablet during their service visit, overall satisfaction can increase by as much as 31 points when the advisor uses this device.

Collection after service

Service customers in the UK spend an average of 9 minutes to finish the paperwork and pick up their vehicle after maintenance or repairs. Overall satisfaction is highest (778) among the 53% of service customers who indicate the pick-up process took 5 or fewer minutes. Satisfaction drops to 750 among the 28% of customers who say the process took 6 to 10 minutes and dips to 714 among the 9% who say it took 11 to 15 minutes.

Cost transparency

Overall satisfaction averages 742 among the 81% of customers who received an explanation of the charges after service was completed, compared with 653 among those who did not receive an explanation. Similarly, overall satisfaction is 741 among the 84% of customers who received an explanation of the work performed on their vehicle, compared with 637 among those who did not receive an explanation.