Lunchtime is the peak time for motorists booking online servicing, according to RAC Garage Compare figures; the recently launched service and MoT online price comparison website.

The busiest single hour is between noon and 1pm, although levels remain relatively high through to 4pm.

Chief executive of The Motorist’s Organisation (RAC’s partner for RAC Garage Compare), Douglas Rotberg, said: “We advise garages to keep their status updated on our web site so that they can use it to actively maximise capacity in their workshops. These figures show the times of day when it is best for them to go online and make changes to encourage traffic to generate extra business.

“It is plausible to suggest – though we have no direct evidence to support this – that drivers start to think about sorting out their servicing or MoT arrangements and go online while they are perhaps eating a sandwich at their desk or kitchen table around about noon.

“Most of the evidence in this area suggests that people view searching for a new or used car as a leisure activity and sit on their sofa during the evening with a laptop, tablet or phone, browsing to see what is available from around 6-9pm.

“By contrast, booking a service is obviously a more practical purchase and most people seem to want to sort out their arrangements during the day – although levels on our web site remain at around two-thirds of peak level until as late as 8pm.”

More than 4,000 independent and franchised garages have signed up as suppliers to RAC Garage Compare since the project was announced in early December.