Running in to your local auto repair shop for a quick oil change is easy. Yet what happens when your oil change turns into something more? Instead of being surprised the next time you are told about a major auto repair from a shop you aren’t familiar with, go in prepared. Instead of saying “yes” to whatever surprises they throw at you, have your own set of responses to make sure you are getting the kind of service you deserve.
1. Start by looking at the condition of the auto repair shop. A good mechanic will make sure his equipment and the area he works in organized, clean and in good working condition. You won’t find old parts stacked in the corner, and trash strewn across the floor. This is his business and he should be showcasing a professional look for his customers.
2. Estimates should be a fact of life. When you drop off your car for one reason, the written estimate should cover work realted to that service alone. If additional problems are discovered, make sure you will be contacted with a quote before any work is done. This should include parts and labor. Never accept surprises.
3. Get a second opinion if you are unsure. In some cases you may be quoted for repair work you aren’t sure you need. If you have any doubts, don’t be afraid to tell the mechanic you’ll think about and find a trusted source for a second opinion. Never share the cost or diagnosis with the second shop – let them determine the condition on their own.
4. Be wary of the upsell. Adding a new filter on to your bill for a few dollars is one thing. Adding on a separate maintenance item for hundreds of dollars is another. Ask questions and make sure you understand the necessity of the situation before you move forward with new repairs.
5. Look for a quality auto repair shop instead of relying on coupons or flashy advertising. Just because a coupon arrives in your mail doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for you. Do a little research first. Do family/friends use someone they can recommend? Can you find references online?
6. Talk with the mechanic. Mechanics work on a lot of cars each week and can usually peg a problem fairly quickly. For example, if they notice metal shavings in your transmission fluid, it might not always be a bad thing. Get their opinion and ask questions. Is this something that needs immediate attention or can you wait?
7. Ask about reduced labor fees for two repairs at once. Some maintenance items become more difficult because of the amount of labor hours involved. If you are having a timing belt replaced, it may be easier to get to and check and replace the water pump since the belts will be removed anyway.
Good tips, I think most people have had a bad experience with auto mechanics. The first thing I look at is how the front-end customer service is, are they short with you or do they take time to answer your questions and inform you of the repairs? Customer services is very important and it sounds like you guys do a great job.
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I’m hoping to see the same high-grade blog posts by you later on as well.
In fact, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my very own blog now 😉
I’m a big believer in using coupons. Most of the time when my wife and I go out, we usually have coupons with us. It’s a great way to save money, but places still get our business. I think with something as important as car repairs, it is bonus to have a coupon.
Good tips! Thank you for putting things here! This should be kept in mind. A lot of people be needing these tips. Great share!
As a vehicle owner, we should prepare for everything that comes in a negative way, it includes vehicle repair and maintenance cost, vehicle parts cost, and many others. The maintenance cost of every vehicle would be quite expensive for our annual budget, so in most of the cases, we used to prefer the best car repair and service center to get the best result. I would like to suggest every car owner follow the essential instructions present here in this article to get rid 0f the maintenance cost of our vehicle. Thanks for this wonderful information.
Back when I had my first car if there was anything about it that I needed to be fixed I would let my parents deal with it. Now that I am an adult, I want to learn how to take a car to an auto repair shop myself. I will make sure to talk to a mechanic and understand what is going on in my car.
My wife and I just moved to a new area, so we are looking for an auto repair shop to get our cars checked, but we aren’t sure what to look for. I like that you suggest researching places a bit of asking friends and family for suggestions instead of just going to the place you have a coupon for. We want cheap prices and quality services, so we’ll be sure to look at each shop first so we can compare them. Thanks for sharing.
You were right when you said that there were times when a person will be advised to do a repair job that they might not need, so it’s best not to be afraid to tell the mechanic about their plans of getting a second opinion. My brother talked to me last night and said that there’s something wrong with the transmission system of the car. Since he knows a little bit of troubleshooting, and he has been doing that for me for a while now, I know I can trust him. Thanks a lot! I’ll be sure to take your tips into consideration.
I like your idea to get a written estimate so that you can be sure to understand all of the products and services you are paying for. My husband and I have had issues with our car, so we are wondering how to find a good auto shop to fix them. I will be sure to get a written estimate from the auto repair shop we end up choosing so that I can know what we are paying for.
This is some really good information about auto body repairs. It is good to know that it would be smart to have a professional help with doing the maintenance for your car. I liked that you pointed out that I should look for a quality repair job first. That does seem like a good way to ensure that I am keeping my car in good shape.
I appreciate your advice on always getting an estimate and making sure it includes all the work that will be done. My husband’s car recently broke down while he was on his way home from work, so we will need to find a shop to take it to to get it fixed. It seems like it would be a good idea to check out options at a few different car shops and get different estimates before we choose one.
It really got me when you said that it’s important to research about the auto shop first instead of getting hooked with discount coupons. I might have to tell my sister about this because she easily gets taken away by vouchers and coupons. She just bought her own car, and I know that she needs to find a repair shop in the future when her car got problems. Thanks for the tips!
I agree, estimates are absolutely essential when it comes to choosing an auto repair shop. After all, you’ll want to know what needs repaired, how much it will cost, and why it costs what it costs. An estimate will provide you with all of that information and allow you to compare it to other estimates provided by air conditioning companies.
I really appreciate your tip to not share the quote that you got if you want to get a second opinion. My wife and I have been thinking of getting a new mechanic that is close to our house, especially since we don’t want our car to break down. I will be sure to tell my wife that we should try and find a mechanic that will give us the lowest price by shopping around.
I think it is great that the article actually recommends talking with the mechanic. After all, it can help to have an opportunity to talk to the person that will be repairing your car. That way you can get an idea of their skills and experience before they start working on it.
I need to get my brake pads repaired because they have been wearing down and causing my brakes to not work effectively. I recently moved to a new area, so I am looking for a quality auto shop near my new home to make the brake repairs. You make a great point that you should visit potential shops and look at the cleanliness of the shop because this will show how organized and professional the mechanic is. Also, I think that visiting would be a great opportunity for me to meet the mechanic in person and see if they are friendly and would be easy to work with.
I like what you said about a good repair shop being clean and organized is a good way to judge. I think that auto repair companies should provide fast and efficient service and focus on customer satisfaction. My wife and I will put an effort into finding the best auto repair shop if we need reliable service done on our ’06 Honda.
My wife’s car has been making a funny noise and I want to make sure that nothing happens. I do not want her to get stranded on the side of the road when I am not there to help. Because of this, I have been looking for an auto repair shop and I think that you give great advice to find a quality repair shop rather than a flashy one.
It is good that you pointed out that we might as well come prepared for any unforeseeable event that may happen to our car. Aside from checking the condition of the auto repair shop as you mentioned, I believe the best way to do that is to have a contact number of the professional automotive mechanic with the proper training and expertise in doing the job. That way when an unexpected happens, we can quickly get in touch with that person and not worry about the issue so much.
I like your point about choosing a mechanic that shows professionalism by keeping the area clean and well organized. If I were a client, I would think that a car shop that is in an immaculate state would mean that these guys are very thorough with every project. I will be sure to remember this tip should I run into any car troubles in the future. Thanks!
I do like that you recommend sitting down and talking with the mechanic. After all, you will want to make sure that they can handle the repairs that you need. For example, if you have a specific part that needs fixing you should make sure that they have experience with fixing it.
My sister’s car recently started to make noises and needs to find an auto body repair shop in our area. As I was reading your article, you state that a competent mechanic will keep his equipment well maintained. I will pass this information along to her so that she can make her decision.
Thanks for this advice for finding an auto repair shop. I’m glad you mentioned that you should try to find a quality auto repair shop and not rely on coupons. It also sounds like you can still save money because getting a good service can ensure the car will work well for a long time.