Vogel Motor Services is an MTA-assured motor mechanic business based in Alicetown, Lower Hutt, providing WOFs (warrant of fitness), vehicle servicing and repairs to Alicetown, Lower Hutt, Petone and Wellington. The business is owned and operated by Steve and Sonia Parker, with Steve bringing a long career from REPCO into the workshop since taking over in 2017.
Vogel Motors covers a full range of mechanical services, including 2WD and 4WD/AWD standard and premium servicing, auto electrical work, brakes, steering, shock absorbers and suspension systems, air conditioning servicing, oil changes, and general mechanical repairs — backed by same-day WOF service and a lifetime workmanship warranty on repair work.
The business has been involved with the MTA (Motor Trade Association) for over 35 years, meaning it operates as part of a network of 4,000 industry professionals, is accountable to the MTA code of ethics, and offers customers an easy-to-understand MTA warranty plus a free mediation service if a customer isn't satisfied. Vogel Motors is also part of the Auto Super Shoppes network — a group of roughly 94 independently owned and operated service centres offering consistent expert advice and repair at a fair price under a 'no surprises' policy, where customers are contacted for approval before any further repairs are carried out.
Vogel Motor Services has been fixing cars around Lower Hutt for well over four decades, though the workshop you'd find today at 62 Victoria Street in Alicetown has moved locations, owners and even names a few times along the way. Currently run by Steve and Sonia Parker, the business provides a full range of mechanical services — WOFs, vehicle servicing, repairs, auto electrical, brakes, steering, shock absorbers and suspension — to customers across Alicetown, Lower Hutt, Petone and Wellington.
Vogel Motors opened in 1982 on Vogel Street in Naenae, which is where the name comes from, running out of a workshop behind a Caltex service station. In 1988 the business purchased what is now Mascar Motors in Upper Hutt, running both the service station and workshop until 1992 — the Naenae workshop itself had been sold in 1990. From there, Vogel Motors relocated to 27 Rutherford Street in the heart of Lower Hutt, growing and refining the business over the next 11 years before moving into larger premises in 2003.
2005 brought a significant change: founder Martin Crooks departed, and the business was purchased by Benn Milne and his wife Julie. In July 2007, Vogel Motors Petone opened, and was shortly after amalgamated into Vogel Motors Hutt City — the operation now based in Alicetown, Lower Hutt. In 2017, the business was sold again, this time to Steve and Sonia Parker. Steve came from a long, established career at REPCO, where he'd previously provided customer service to Benn, the outgoing owner — giving him a head start running the workshop with a team of skilled technicians.
Vogel Motors covers 2 Wheel Drive and 4WD/AWD servicing at both standard and premium levels. A standard service covers brake and parking brake tests, wiper and lighting checks, an oil and filter change, battery health testing, coolant and brake fluid checks, fluid top-ups, tyre and steering/suspension inspection, and clearing service codes. The premium service builds on all of that with a full diagnostic scan, fuel injector cleaner, and a vehicle vacuum to finish.
Beyond routine servicing, the workshop handles mechanical repairs with a same-day WOF option and a lifetime workmanship warranty, air conditioning servicing (including filter drier replacement rather than a quick re-gas that doesn't fix an underlying leak), oil changes, and suspension work — shock fitment, adjustment and repair, a range of shock seals, absorbers, coil and spring options, plus suspension and wheel alignment.
Vogel Motors has been an MTA (Motor Trade Association) member for more than 35 years, which brings customers a set of guarantees: the business is part of a credible network of 4,000 industry professionals, accountable to the MTA code of ethics, backed by an easy-to-understand MTA warranty, and covered by a free mediation service if something isn't resolved to a customer's satisfaction.
The workshop is also part of the Auto Super Shoppes network — around 94 independently owned and operated service centres, all MTA affiliated, offering consistent expert advice and fair-priced repair. The network runs a 'no surprises' policy, meaning if further repairs are found to be necessary beyond the original job, customers are contacted for approval before any extra work goes ahead.
Vogel Motors is located at 62 Victoria Street, Alicetown, Lower Hutt, and can be reached by phone or email, or through an online enquiry form for anyone with a car problem who wants a technician to arrange a time to take a look. The workshop accepts Mastercard and Visa.