If you need to bring your car in for service but are unsure of who you can rely on to repair your beloved vehicle, use this advice to choose a car mechanic you can trust as a guide.
Check Online Ratings
When choosing a car mechanic, the first thing to do is to check their online ratings on customer review sites. This method will be the fastest way to narrow down your list to local shops with a history of providing quality service.
Angie’s List will even verify customer reviews, so you can typically rely upon them for honest feedback. You should also check the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) website to see if there have been any claims of malpractice made against the garage.
Look for Mechanic Certifications
The individual mechanic who works on your vehicle should have certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) to work on your car.
To receive this certification, a mechanic must have passed, along with twos year of relevant experience, and then they must retake the test every five years for recertification. So you can trust anyone with an ASE certificate to at least be a knowledgeable mechanic.
Car manufacturers will also give out their own certifications to mechanics that have received specific training or passed a test to prove their ability to make repairs on the brand’s vehicles.
Then, while there isn’t a certification for shops, if they are members of the AAA Approved Auto Repair (AAR) network, then that means that they’ve agreed to provide reliable, high-quality service performed by technicians with manufacturer or ASE certifications.
Get a Written Estimate
When choosing a car mechanic, there are certain questions you should ask. For example, you should request to receive a written estimate that lists the problems with the car, the cost of replacement parts, and the labor expenses.
Don’t trust any mechanic unwilling to turn over this information. Not to mention, a shop will be less likely to add in additional fees when they’ve already provided an estimate for the work.
Research Prices
Once you have your written estimate, you should take the time to research the issue yourself.
Look online to see what experts say your repairs should cost or call other local repair shops for comparable quotes. You may be able to find a garage that’ll do it for less, and your preferred mechanic may match their estimate.
Test Them Out
If you still don’t know about committing to your mechanic for a costly repair, test them out by having them perform a minor service, such as an oil change. Then, if you are satisfied with their work and customer service, you might feel better about trusting them with major repairs.
With this advice to help you choose a car mechanic you can trust, you’ll hopefully find a reliable mechanic who can service your vehicle for years to come.
Thank you for explaining that you should ask for a written estimate which should include a list of problems with the car, replacement parts, and labor expenses. My friend has been wondering what she should do when she takes her car to the mechanic for the first time by herself. I think that I’ll mention this to her so that she knows what she’s paying for and has an accurate breakdown of the costs.