On-road vehicle service handling method

A computerized, on-road, vehicle service handling method comprising:

• I) while a user is driving a vehicle traveling between a first location and a second location, receiving a fault condition signal from an on-board diagnostic system, at a processor within the vehicle, indicating that service is urgently required for a part of the vehicle;
• II) while the vehicle is continuing to travel, automatically transmitting information to computer systems of multiple vehicle service locations in a direction ahead of the vehicle, taking into account location, speed and direction of travel towards the second location, the information including vehicle and fault information and an individual estimated time of arrival at the respective multiple vehicle service locations based upon current location and speed;
• III) receiving at the processor, from the computer systems of at least a few of the vehicle service locations, individual service responses including at least a cost estimate for parts and labor, and at least one appointment time within a specified time after the estimated time of arrival during which servicing can be performed;
• IV) using the processor, causing at least the vehicle service location, the cost estimate and at least one appointment time, from each of the received individual service responses to be provided to the user for potential selection;
• V) receiving, at the processor, a selection by the user of at least two of the provided vehicle service locations and an order of preference thereof;
• VI) replying to a first of the vehicle service locations in the order of preference, as a first service request, by sending payment information, retrieved from non-transient storage in the vehicle, to the computer system of the first of the vehicle service locations;
• VII) receiving a communication from the first of the vehicle service locations either accepting or rejecting the first service request, and
• VIII) if the communication is that first service request was accepted, automatically directing the user, using a GPS navigation system, from the current location to the first of the vehicle service locations, but if the communication is that the first service request was rejected, sending the payment information to a next preferred vehicle service location as a next service request.