What to Keep In Mind When Looking for a Mechanic
If you drive a car, you’ve probably needed to take it to a mechanic. Even if you’re comfortable turning a wrench yourself, there are some jobs that are easier (or safer) to bring to a professional. The question then becomes who do you take your car to when it needs repairs? Just about everyone has a mechanic horror story, and no one wants to become another auto industry statistic.
Fortunately, there are ways to avoid being taken advantage of at the service center that will not only save you money, but may help you find a lifelong mechanic in the process.
First, if you’re in the market for a new mechanic, ask your friends and family for reviews of whoever they take their cars to. Do they like their regular mechanics? What makes them worth coming back to? Look up reviews from the Better Business Bureau, AAA, and Google reviews as well.
Don’t always feel like you have to use the dealership service center for your vehicle, either, especially if your vehicle doesn’t have a warranty. Dealerships train their mechanics to sell service, even if you don’t necessarily need it right this moment. If you want to avoid the dealership, focus on finding a good independent mechanic in your area, preferably one who’s willing to let you know what to keep an eye on down the road as well as the work that needs to be done immediately.
Once you find your new shop, be sure to understand your rights: only work you authorize can be performed on your vehicle, and the work can cost no more than 110% of the original estimate you received. You’re entitled to a written estimate for any work over $100. Get everything in writing, including information on any warranties they place on their work.
Hopefully you’ll be satisfied with the quality of work done the first time, but if you happen to end up with a bad replacement part it’s good to know how your mechanic would expect to handle that situation. A good repair facility will work with you to ensure you don’t pay for a fix twice or work you don’t need.
Also keep in mind that you can (and should) ask for any damaged parts pulled from your vehicle back. This gives you the opportunity to have it looked at by another trusted source and verify the part was, in fact, damaged in the first place.
Once you know you’re in good hands and working with a shop that cares not only about retaining your business, but as you as a person, you’ll be able to breathe a whole lot easier.
