How to Find a Good Auto Repair Shop

From 3arf

When your car breaks down or you are in need of a routine maintenance procedure, you are going to find yourself in need of a good auto repair shop to take it to. If you don't have one that you regularly use, this can be a frightening prospect. You don't want to get taken and you don't want someone to do less than adequate work on your vehicle, either. The following are some steps that you can take to find a good auto repair shop and/or mechanic for your vehicle.

  • Ask friends and family if they know of someone that is reputable. Many times, this is the best and the easiest way to find a good shop. These are people that you trust and who have had personal experience with mechanics.
  • Look up consumer reports online. The internet is a great source of information, where you can find opinions of people who have had either good or bad experiences with various auto repair shops.
  • Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any reports filed from past consumers of a shop that you are considering. Simply go to www.betterbusinessbureau.com and you can look up this information for no charge.
  • Compare several rates before selecting a repair shop to use. There can be an amazing amount of price differential between one shop and another, both regarding parts and labor.
  • Ask about training and credentials when you speak with a mechanic. Some are mechanics who have had professional training, while others just picked up the knowledge that they have from hands-on experience throughout their lives. While this is not always a major determining factor of someone's skill base, it is important to some customers and it may be to you.
  • Ask for references from prior customers. Most reputable shops will have a client or two that are willing to offer you some of their personal experience with the shop and it's mechanics. Take care, though, that you don't just assume that these people are the end all, be all to your decision. Remember that the shop itself is selecting them for you and take their opinions into account with a grain of salt.
  • Ask about the auto repair shop's experience with your particular vehicle. Not every car is just a car and there are some shops that specialize in working on certain models of cars. You may be able to find one that has done extensive amounts of work on your particular vehicle type and brand and this is usually quite ideal for you.
  • Ask about the condition of parts they will be using. Some auto repair shops use new parts, but others will place used and refurbished parts in your vehicle. You may be able to save quite a bit by having used parts, but you may not want them. It is up to the consumer, and it is also up to you to become informed about what parts are going to be used.

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