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CARtime
Verified Business
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AI Review Summary
Based on recent customer reviews, CARtime delivers a sharply divided customer experience across its branches. Customers consistently praise locations such as Kempton Park, Fourways, Westgate, Blackheath and Chatsworth for friendly staff, transparent communication, fair pricing and quality workmanship, with several reviewers highlighting being kept informed throughout the service and receiving cars back clean and running well. However, a recurring theme of dissatisfaction emerges around certain branches, where customers describe incomplete repairs, disputed diagnostics, unresolved faults after servicing, poor follow-up from head office and frustration over refunds and accountability.
Performance(last 12 months):
TrustIndex
7
Ranking
#61
in Automotive
NPS Score
-23
Recommended: Unlikely
Review Distribution
3.4|42 Reviews
Jul '25 - Jun '26
Recent reviews (42)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
13 May 2026, 11:30
Very Unprofessional & Poor Diagnostic Service at Car Time, Clairwood, Durban
We are extremely disappointed with the service received from Car Time in Clairwood, Durban. On 12 May 2026, my dad took his Daihatsu Sirion 2009 vehicle to them due to ongoing overheating issues. He was advised that the vehicle required a "Diagnostic Scan & Inspection" to identify the fault, at a cost of R695, which he accepted. After leaving the vehicle with them for inspection, he was informed that they would contact him later that day with feedback. However, no one contacted him, & he eventually had to follow up himself. When he finally received feedback, he was told there were several possible causes of the issue, including the radiator, water pump, or thermostat. However, they were unable to determine the actual fault. Instead, he was advised that the components would need to be replaced one at a time to see whether the issue was resolved. This is not a proper diagnosis. We were then quoted approximately R6,560 to replace the radiator, water pump, & thermostat, as they were unable to confirm which component was actually faulty or required replacement. We did not accept this quote. When my dad went to collect the vehicle, he paid the R695 diagnostic fee & requested the diagnostic report he had paid for, only to be informed that no diagnostic report was available. We paid for a diagnostic service & report that we did not receive. The entire experience felt extremely unprofessional & dis-organized. Charging customers for a diagnostic service while being unable to identify the fault, & then providing no diagnostic report or clear findings, is completely unacceptable. It creates the impression of a "replace parts & hope for the best" approach, while the customer continues paying unnecessarily. The communication, professionalism, & overall quality of service were extremely poor. We feel completely ********** & would not recommend this business to others.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
13 May 2026, 11:30
Very Unprofessional & Poor Diagnostic Service at Car Time, Clairwood, Durban
We are extremely disappointed with the service received from Car Time in Clairwood, Durban. On 12 May 2026, my dad took his Daihatsu Sirion 2009 vehicle to them due to ongoing overheating issues. He was advised that the vehicle required a "Diagnostic Scan & Inspection" to identify the fault, at a cost of R695, which he accepted. After leaving the vehicle with them for inspection, he was informed that they would contact him later that day with feedback. However, no one contacted him, & he eventually had to follow up himself. When he finally received feedback, he was told there were several possible causes of the issue, including the radiator, water pump, or thermostat. However, they were unable to determine the actual fault. Instead, he was advised that the components would need to be replaced one at a time to see whether the issue was resolved. This is not a proper diagnosis. We were then quoted approximately R6,560 to replace the radiator, water pump, & thermostat, as they were unable to confirm which component was actually faulty or required replacement. We did not accept this quote. When my dad went to collect the vehicle, he paid the R695 diagnostic fee & requested the diagnostic report he had paid for, only to be informed that no diagnostic report was available. We paid for a diagnostic service & report that we did not receive. The entire experience felt extremely unprofessional & dis-organized. Charging customers for a diagnostic service while being unable to identify the fault, & then providing no diagnostic report or clear findings, is completely unacceptable. It creates the impression of a "replace parts & hope for the best" approach, while the customer continues paying unnecessarily. The communication, professionalism, & overall quality of service were extremely poor. We feel completely ********** & would not recommend this business to others.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
10 May 2026, 09:18
Shocking workmanship
I have been trying to understand why my car is running so badly after the service type of work done by CarTime Tokai. They ran a diagnostic and it didn't pick up anything according to them. Yesterday Bosch service centre in Tokai ran a diagnostic. The air intake sensor and the cambelt sensor came up. They found the air intake sensor UNPLUGGED and a plastic bit on the cambelt sensor broken which contributed. They also did not correctly fit a stabiliser link and the first time I collected the vehicle it wasn't running on all cylinders. The mechanic's response was that it felt better to him than when I brought it in
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
10 May 2026, 09:18
Shocking workmanship
I have been trying to understand why my car is running so badly after the service type of work done by CarTime Tokai. They ran a diagnostic and it didn't pick up anything according to them. Yesterday Bosch service centre in Tokai ran a diagnostic. The air intake sensor and the cambelt sensor came up. They found the air intake sensor UNPLUGGED and a plastic bit on the cambelt sensor broken which contributed. They also did not correctly fit a stabiliser link and the first time I collected the vehicle it wasn't running on all cylinders. The mechanic's response was that it felt better to him than when I brought it in
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
6 May 2026, 06:52
Excellent service
I had a major service done on my car at Cartime Foyrways yesterday. The process was seamless and was very reasonable. I was kept informed on the progress all the time with no "unnecessary" things added. I would especially like to thank Hakim for his professionalism and excellent service throughout. My car was returned sparkling clean. Thank you to all staff concerned. I can highly recommend Cartime Fourways.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
6 May 2026, 06:52
Excellent service
I had a major service done on my car at Cartime Foyrways yesterday. The process was seamless and was very reasonable. I was kept informed on the progress all the time with no "unnecessary" things added. I would especially like to thank Hakim for his professionalism and excellent service throughout. My car was returned sparkling clean. Thank you to all staff concerned. I can highly recommend Cartime Fourways.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
22 Apr 2026, 11:41
STAY AWAY: Technical Incompetence and Predatory Pricing at CARtime Hillcrest
If you value your vehicle—or your safety—stay as far away from CARtime Hillcrest as possible. I have spent nearly R9,000 at this branch since December for a Major Service and a cooling system overhaul. You would expect that level of loyalty to buy you at least a modicum of professional respect. Instead, I was met with gross technical negligence and a management team that hides behind silence when caught out. After their "overhaul," my engine light came on. It turns out their technicians failed to perform the most basic task: properly seating a coolant sensor connector. On a 1.0 EcoBoost engine, a cooling fault isn't just a minor "glitch"—it’s a recipe for a catastrophic engine meltdown. When I flagged this, CARtime Hillcrest’s response was predatory. Instead of a courtesy check to verify their own work, they tried to squeeze another R695 out of me for a diagnostic. When I took it elsewhere and proved the fault was their own workmanship oversight, they didn't apologise. Instead, they interrogated me over the phone, made me feel attacked, and have now ghosted me for over a week. It is pathetic that a franchise would choose to lose a high-value, repeat customer and risk their professional reputation over a R700 credit. Their silence speaks volumes: they are happy to take your money, but they lack the integrity to stand by their work. I will never set foot in this establishment again. To the Hillcrest community: there are mechanics in this area who actually take pride in their craft, CARtime Hillcrest is clearly not one of them.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
22 Apr 2026, 11:41
STAY AWAY: Technical Incompetence and Predatory Pricing at CARtime Hillcrest
If you value your vehicle—or your safety—stay as far away from CARtime Hillcrest as possible. I have spent nearly R9,000 at this branch since December for a Major Service and a cooling system overhaul. You would expect that level of loyalty to buy you at least a modicum of professional respect. Instead, I was met with gross technical negligence and a management team that hides behind silence when caught out. After their "overhaul," my engine light came on. It turns out their technicians failed to perform the most basic task: properly seating a coolant sensor connector. On a 1.0 EcoBoost engine, a cooling fault isn't just a minor "glitch"—it’s a recipe for a catastrophic engine meltdown. When I flagged this, CARtime Hillcrest’s response was predatory. Instead of a courtesy check to verify their own work, they tried to squeeze another R695 out of me for a diagnostic. When I took it elsewhere and proved the fault was their own workmanship oversight, they didn't apologise. Instead, they interrogated me over the phone, made me feel attacked, and have now ghosted me for over a week. It is pathetic that a franchise would choose to lose a high-value, repeat customer and risk their professional reputation over a R700 credit. Their silence speaks volumes: they are happy to take your money, but they lack the integrity to stand by their work. I will never set foot in this establishment again. To the Hillcrest community: there are mechanics in this area who actually take pride in their craft, CARtime Hillcrest is clearly not one of them.
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