Every week a Guardian Money reader submits a question, and it's up to you to help him or her out – a selection of the best answers will appear in next Saturday's paper.

This week's question

I'm a lone female driver and fear the yearly MoT/service. Garages always seem to see me coming and I'm sure I overpay, or end up paying for work, that isn't required. Are there any tricks to beating this, or do I just have to get a male friend to do it on my behalf?

What are your thoughts?