Maintaining MOT and Service Dates on Vehicle Records

A vehicle record on the Navigator database has a Next Service and Next MOT date attached to it.   

These are used for Service and MOT reminders.

Navigator provides several facilities for ensuring that these are kept up to date, so that you have the best opportunity to gain the repeat business of a Service or MOT - EVEN if you haven't ever done a service or MOT on the vehicle.

The Vehicle Record - Viewing and updating the dates

Looking at the Marketing Record on the Vehicle record attached to the customer, you can see the next dates on the Service Follow Up tab :- 

The Service Date needs to be manually entered but the MOT date can be updated automatically by clicking the Update button next to the date.  This checks the VOSA database for the expiry date of the current MOT. 

On Workshop Booking

When booking a vehicle into the workshop, once the customer/vehicle is selected the following screen is displayed :- 

Again, the Service and MOT dates are displayed and there is the same Update button for the MOT date.

When you invoice a workshop job

When you raise an invoice for a workshop job, the Create Invoice screen is displayed as below :- 

The Next Service and MOT dates will be displayed. 

The Next Service Date will always be populated, even if you haven't carried out a service.   This is calculated as follows :- 

If a Service has been carried out:     This will be generally 12 months on from the current date.

If there is a next service date on the record but no service has been carried out :- the next service date will be the next future anniversary of the date on the record already.

Otherwise, the next anniversary of the registration date will be suggested. 

The MOT date will either display the date on the record of if an MOT has been carried out then 12 months from the current date. 

These dates can both be edited before invoicing.

Releasing a job

When releasing the job, the dates are displayed again as above, with the additional option of the update button on the MOT date :- 

It's essential to check the MOT and service dates when releasing jobs to ensure customers are contacted promptly for their upcoming Service and MOT appointments. This proactive approach increases the likelihood that customers will book their service or MOT at your garage or dealership.

This is equally important even if an MOT or Service isn't carried out. 

Automatically updating the MOT Dates on all records

It is possible (and recommended) that all MOT dates on all records are updated regularly - once or twice a year - to ensure that all records have the correct MOT expiry date (even if you haven't done an MOT or had any contact with the customer).

This is carried out in Marketing > Marketing Data Management.

Select "Customer Data Cleansing" from the menu :- 

Click on "New MOT Cleanse" .  This will add a line for MOT Cleanse with a status of Created.    This takes a few minutes to process.  You don't need to remain on screen whilst this runs. 

Then completed, the status changes to "Audited awaiting confirmation" and displays a price (around 1.2p per record - though this may vary) for applying the cleanse.  

To apply the cleanse, click on the line :-

Click on Approve, and the update will occur, updating all records in the database with the correct next MOT date.