FAQ
Questions about the Shirley workshop
Where we are, how booking works, MOT, servicing, repairs, towns we serve, and used cars. Answers match what we do at 2-4 Beatrice Road.
Workshop
The Shirley workshop
The Shirley workshop
Bays
On the ramp
FAQ
The workshop
Where is Ace Automotive Southern?
Ace Automotive Southern Ltd is at 2-4 Beatrice Road, Shirley, Southampton, Hampshire, SO15 3GU. Call 023 8078 6105. Open Monday to Friday 08:00 to 18:00 and Saturday 08:00 to 13:00. Sunday closed.
What does the garage do?
Class 4 MOT testing, full and interim servicing, and repairs including brakes, tyres, exhausts, engines, batteries, accident repair enquiries and general mechanical work. We work on every make and model, plus light commercial vehicles. We also sell used cars and vans.
Is Ace Automotive a family-run garage?
Yes. Ace Automotive Southern Ltd is a family-run workshop on Beatrice Road in Shirley. The team shares 20 years of experience. Work is done in-house at this site, not sent to a second garage.
Do you work on every make of car?
Yes. Ace Automotive Southern works on every make and model, plus light commercial vehicles. That work is done in-house at 2-4 Beatrice Road, Shirley.
Is the work done in-house?
Yes. MOT testing, servicing and mechanical repairs are carried out at 2-4 Beatrice Road. If a job needs a specialist elsewhere, we say so rather than guess.
What are your opening hours?
Monday to Friday 08:00 to 18:00. Saturday 08:00 to 13:00. Sunday closed. Hours are Europe/London.
What is the phone number?
Call 023 8078 6105. International format +44 2380 786105. There is no public email on this site until the garage confirms a business inbox.
Do you publish an email address?
No. Book online or call 023 8078 6105. A public inbox is not listed until the garage confirms one.
Is this the Shirley workshop in the photos?
The site uses photographs of workshop bays, cars on ramps and used cars. Some shots are from this garage and some are stand-in workshop photos. The address is always 2-4 Beatrice Road, Shirley, SO15 3GU.
Are the reviews on this site from Google?
Recent comments are copied from Google with the wording unchanged. Older notes come from the previous BookMyGarage website. Each one shows its source. This site does not publish a star rating of its own.
How do I leave a Google review?
Search Ace Automotive Southern Ltd on Google and use the review listing, or follow the Google reviews link on the reviews page. Do not treat the comments reprinted here as a live rating.
Booking
How do I book an MOT or service in Shirley?
Book online on this website, or call 023 8078 6105. We give a detailed quote and explain the work before we start any repairs.
Will I get a quote before you start?
Yes. We assess the work, give a detailed quote and talk it through. We do not start repairs until you are happy to go ahead.
Can I book without the registration?
Yes. Add the registration if you have it. If you do not, book the date and tell us the car details when you drop off, or call 023 8078 6105.
What if I need to change the booking?
Call 023 8078 6105 and we will move the slot if we can. Monday to Friday 08:00 to 18:00, Saturday 08:00 to 13:00.
MOT
How much is an MOT in Southampton?
Call 023 8078 6105 for this week's MOT price, or book online and we will confirm it. Class 4 MOT fees cannot go above the DVSA maximum, which is published on GOV.UK.
Do you MOT vans as well as cars?
Yes. Class 4 covers cars and light commercial vehicles. If you are unsure whether your van is Class 4, book and tell us the registration.
What happens if the car fails the MOT?
We tell you what failed. If you want us to repair it, you get a detailed quote first. We do not start repairs until you say yes.
Can I wait while you MOT the car?
Ask when you book, or call 023 8078 6105. Waiting depends on the day's list. The workshop is at 2-4 Beatrice Road, Shirley, SO15 3GU.
Can I book an MOT and a service on the same day?
Often yes, if we have the time. Say so when you book, or call 023 8078 6105. The MOT is a legal test. The service is separate work.
When should I book my MOT in Shirley?
You can have an MOT up to a month before it is due and keep the same renewal date. Book at 2-4 Beatrice Road, or call 023 8078 6105. Bring the car on the day you booked.
Servicing
Do you do full and interim services?
Yes. Book online and tell us which you need, or tell us the mileage and we will advise which service fits.
Will you service any make of car?
Yes. Every make and model, plus light commercial vehicles. Work stays at 2-4 Beatrice Road.
Do I have to agree extra work found during a service?
Yes. If the service shows up extra repairs, we quote and explain. Nothing starts until you approve it.
How long does a service take?
It depends on the car and whether you booked a full or interim service. Book a slot so we can plan the day. If extra work appears, we quote before we add it.
How often should I service the car?
Follow the handbook or the mileage, whichever comes first. If you are unsure, tell us the registration and mileage when you book and we will say whether a full or interim service fits.
Is a service the same as an MOT?
No. An MOT is a legal minimum test. A service is maintenance: oil, filters and a workshop inspection. You can book both at Ace Automotive Southern Ltd in Shirley if we have the slots.
Repairs and parts
What repairs do you take on?
Mechanical work including brakes, tyres, exhausts, engines, batteries and general faults. Accident and breakdown jobs need a call first so we can say what we can take.
Do you start repair work without asking?
No. We assess the job, quote, and explain. Repairs wait until you say yes.
I do not know what is wrong. Can I still book?
Yes. Book a repair and describe the noise, light, leak or feel. We diagnose it at 2-4 Beatrice Road, then quote before we repair.
How long will a repair take?
It depends on the fault and whether parts have to come in. We will not guess a finish time until we have seen the car. Call 023 8078 6105 if you need the car the same day and we will say if that is realistic.
Do parts come with a warranty?
Yes. Parts carry manufacturer warranties. The garage is fully insured. Ask us to show the warranty on the parts used for your job.
Can you look at a brake warning light?
Yes. Book a slot and tell us the registration and what the light is doing. We check, quote, and wait for you before we repair.
Do you fit brake pads and discs in Shirley?
Yes. Pads, discs and related brake faults are fitted in-house at 2-4 Beatrice Road once you approve the quote.
Do you repair punctures?
If the damage can be repaired we will say so and quote. If it cannot, we quote for a replacement. We do not guess from a photo on this site.
Can you replace tyres at Beatrice Road?
Yes. Tyre repairs and replacements are done at Ace Automotive Southern Ltd, 2-4 Beatrice Road, Shirley. Tell us the size if you know it.
Can you fix an exhaust that failed the MOT?
If you want us to repair it after a test, we quote first. Book the repair, or book MOT and tell us you want a quote if it fails.
Do you replace exhausts in-house?
Yes. Exhaust leaks, mounts and replacements are checked and fitted at the Shirley workshop. We quote before we cut or weld.
Do you read fault codes?
Yes, as part of diagnosing the fault. A code on its own is not the repair. We tell you what we found and quote before we start.
Can you diagnose a misfire or engine warning light?
Yes. Book diagnostics at 2-4 Beatrice Road and note when the light comes on. We explain the fault in plain words, then quote if a repair is needed.
Can you test the battery without replacing it?
Yes. We test first at the Shirley workshop. Replacement only goes ahead if you approve the quote.
Do you fit car batteries in Shirley?
Yes. Testing and fitting are done in-house at Ace Automotive Southern Ltd, 2-4 Beatrice Road. Manufacturer warranties apply to parts.
Do you do insurance bodywork?
Call 023 8078 6105 or book an inspection. We will look at the car and tell you what we can do here, including whether any of the job needs to go out.
Should I call before bringing a damaged car?
Yes if it cannot be driven, or if you are unsure the job belongs here. If it can reach Beatrice Road, book an inspection and we will quote before any work starts.
Do you recover the car?
Call 023 8078 6105. If recovery is possible for that job, we will say so. Do not assume an out-of-hours callout. The workshop hours are Monday to Friday 08:00 to 18:00 and Saturday 08:00 to 13:00.
What if the car will not start?
If you can get it to 2-4 Beatrice Road, Shirley, book a slot and we will diagnose the fault. If it cannot move, call 023 8078 6105 and we will tell you what we can arrange.
Areas and travel
Do you have other branches?
No. There is one workshop: Ace Automotive Southern Ltd, 2-4 Beatrice Road, Shirley, Southampton, SO15 3GU. Drivers from Totton, Eastleigh, Fareham, Winchester and the rest of Southampton use this site.
Is the garage in Shirley or the city centre?
The workshop is in Shirley, west of Southampton city centre, at 2-4 Beatrice Road, SO15 3GU. Use the map link on the contact page for directions.
Where do I drop the car in Shirley?
Drop off at 2-4 Beatrice Road, Shirley, Southampton, SO15 3GU during opening hours. Book a slot first so the car is not waiting on the forecourt.
Do you do MOT and servicing in Shirley?
Yes. Class 4 MOT testing, full and interim servicing, and mechanical repairs are done at Ace Automotive Southern Ltd, 2-4 Beatrice Road, Shirley, SO15 3GU. Book online or call 023 8078 6105.
Which parts of Southampton use the Shirley garage?
The workshop is in Shirley. We also see cars from Freemantle, Millbrook, Lordswood, Upper Shirley and the rest of Southampton, plus Totton, Eastleigh, Fareham and Winchester.
Is there an Ace Automotive garage in Totton?
No. Totton drivers use the Shirley workshop at 2-4 Beatrice Road, SO15 3GU. Book MOT, servicing or repairs there, or call 023 8078 6105.
How do I get from Totton to the garage?
The usual route is through Millbrook or via the A35 into Shirley. The workshop is 2-4 Beatrice Road, SO15 3GU. Monday to Friday 08:00 to 18:00, Saturday 08:00 to 13:00.
Can I get an MOT near Totton at Ace Automotive?
Yes, at the Shirley workshop, not a Totton site. Class 4 MOT, servicing and repairs for Totton, Testwood, Calmore, Hounsdown, Eling and Marchwood. Book online or call 023 8078 6105.
Is there an Ace Automotive garage in Eastleigh?
No. Eastleigh drivers book at Ace Automotive Southern Ltd in Shirley, 2-4 Beatrice Road, Southampton, SO15 3GU.
How do I get from Eastleigh to Beatrice Road?
From Eastleigh the M27 and the A335 are the usual roads into Southampton, then west to Shirley. Check live traffic before you drop off.
Do you MOT cars from Chandler's Ford and Eastleigh?
Yes. There is no Eastleigh branch. Chandler's Ford, Bishopstoke, Fair Oak and Horton Heath drivers book Class 4 MOT, servicing and repairs at 2-4 Beatrice Road, Shirley, SO15 3GU.
Is there an Ace Automotive garage in Fareham?
No. Fareham drivers use the Shirley workshop. Book MOT, servicing or repairs at 2-4 Beatrice Road, Southampton, SO15 3GU, or call 023 8078 6105.
How long is Fareham to Shirley?
It is a motorway run on the M27 west towards Southampton, then off towards Shirley. Saturday closing is 13:00, so a morning slot suits a longer drive.
Can Whiteley or Portchester drivers book an MOT here?
Yes. There is no Fareham branch. Whiteley, Portchester, Locks Heath, Titchfield and Stubbington drivers use Ace Automotive Southern Ltd in Shirley. Book online or call 023 8078 6105.
Is there an Ace Automotive garage in Winchester?
No. Winchester drivers use the same family-run workshop at 2-4 Beatrice Road, Shirley, Southampton, SO15 3GU.
How do I get from Winchester to the garage?
The M3 then M27, or the A31 depending on where you start, will get you to Shirley. Book a slot so the car is not waiting on the forecourt.
Do you take MOT bookings from Winchester and Otterbourne?
Yes. There is no Winchester branch. Winchester, Otterbourne, Compton, Twyford, Shawford and Oliver's Battery drivers book at 2-4 Beatrice Road, Shirley, SO15 3GU. Call 023 8078 6105.
Used cars
Do you sell used cars?
Yes. Prices start at £1,500. Cars come with a valid MOT, a professional service before sale, part exchange and a 3-month warranty as standard. An extended warranty is available. Call 023 8078 6105 to ask what is in stock.
Is there a live used car list on this site?
No. Stock changes week to week. Call 023 8078 6105 and we will tell you what is on the forecourt at 2-4 Beatrice Road, Shirley.
What warranty comes with a used car?
A 3-month warranty is standard. An extended warranty is available. Each car has a valid MOT and a service before sale. Part exchange is welcome.