When you own a car, it is important to have regular maintenance performed. It is also important to have a trusted, reliable mechanic to perform this maintenance, as well as to repair any other problems.
Choosing an auto repair shop can be a bit of a chore because they are not created equal. You want to choose an auto repair shop that will not gouge you with high prices and will give you quality repair work. The truth is that there are some repair shops that do not practice good business. The following tips will help you choose the right auto repair shop for your needs.
Choose your repair shop BEFORE you have any automobile problems. You want to make an informed choice, not one under the stress of a malfunctioning vehicle. If your car is not running, you are more likely to do business with the first repair shop you find – which could have disastrous effects, not only on your car but on your wallet. Do your research and find your repair shop before you experience car trouble. Try them out with small jobs, like an oil change. This way you can talk with the service department and begin developing a relationship before you need larger repairs.
Find out if potential repair shops are members of any automotive repair associations, review organizations like the Better Business Bureau, or are a part of community groups. These associations have certain standards that must be met before a repair shop can become a member. Choosing a repair shop that is a member of a reputable association helps to ensure that you are doing business with a trustworthy company.
Do not be afraid to make a visit or two a potential repair shop. You need to see how the business operates and how it treats its’ customers. Talk to some of the customers you see and get their opinion on the shop. Do some online research and see what other feedback you can find on a particular shop. Customer feedback is valuable during your search for an auto repair shop.
Keep prices in mind, but do not let the prices scare you away from a repair shop. Ask questions about the differences in prices between two or more shops. There are often reasons for the pricing differences. Keep in mind that you do get what you pay for – if you cut too many corners when it comes to your car, you might just end up walking.
Build a relationship with the owner/manager. By doing business with a auto repair shop again and again, you’ll begin building a long term relationship with the owner or manager. Having someone you can call and ask questions to, knowing you’ll get a straight answer can be worth its weight in gold.
I agree that you should already have an auto repair shop in mind before you need them. I liked how you also suggested trying them out with a smaller job, like an oil change, to see if you like them. I think it’s a good idea to choose an auto body shop that does not have a lot of overhead, like front office staff, since this means that you tend to pay a higher price on your repairs.
The engine light in my car came on, and we are looking to take it to a mechanic. We want to make sure that the shop we take it to will be able to diagnose and fix the problem with my car at an affordable price. I hadn’t thought of checking to see if potential repair shops are members of any automotive repair associations, as you mentioned, but this can be a great way to ensure reputability and qualification for the job.
The article makes a great suggestion about actually visiting the shops in person if you can. After all, you wouldn’t want to schedule an appointment for your car if you weren’t one-hundred percent certain that you trusted the shop. Visiting the shop in person gives you a chance to also speak with the mechanics and ask any questions you might have regarding the repairs to your car.
The article makes a fantastic point about choosing an auto repair shop before you actually need one. After all, you need time to make sure that you’re choosing a reliable mechanic that will be able to repair your car for a decent price. You do not want to make this choice in the panic of the moment right after you’ve been in a car accident.
My wife and I just moved to a new area, and we were considering where we would take our car to get repairs. One thing that really stood out to me is that you say to choose a shop before your car has issues. I know that it would be nice to know right where we are going, and that they have the services we need.
I like your advice to find an automobile repair service that is part of some kind of association or community group since these organizations have high standards for their members. My husband’s car engine is having some issues, so we are wondering how to find the best shop to take it to. We will definitely have to start our search for an automobile repair service by first looking at those that belong to organizations of some kind.
I recently bought a used car and there are a few things that I need to repair. I am glad that I found this article because I have never had to choose an auto body shop before. I like that you say to make sure the repair shop is part of an automotive repair association. Also, I appreciate that you mention to not be afraid to make a visit to the shop and see how the business operates and how the customers are treated. Plus, I had no idea that you should build a relationship with the manager because they are the best person to answer any technical questions you may have. Thank you for these tips!
I have noticed that my transmission has been having some issues and I am looking for a quality repair shop in my area. You make a great point that you should go and visit a few different shops and see how the business operates as well as their customer service. Also, I want to make sure to find a shop that is clean and treats their employees well so that they take pride in the work that they do.
It really can be surprisingly helpful to take the article’s advice and check to make sure that the repair shop you choose is part of an association. After all, repair associations have very high standards for who they let into their groups. If the shop you choose is part of one then it is very likely that they have high quality repair jobs and service.
Personally, I don’t know much about transmission repair so I wanted to look up some information. I really appreciated how this article talked about not being afraid of making a visit or two potential repair shops. This is something that I will have to keep in mind in case my transmission fails.
My brother was telling me the other day how his RV has been giving him some problems, but he doesn’t know where he ought to take it to get repaired. I like how you suggest taking the time to look at online reviews a shop has on the BBB before deciding on which shop to choose. I’ll pass this tip on to him so he can make sure he finds a mechanic shop that is both experienced and reputable.
I really appreciate that you said that it is smart to choose an auto repair shop before you start having problems with your car. I want to be sure that when my car has troubles, that I can have the best possible care. I will be sure to shop around now so I can already have decided where I will take my car for its repairs.
Thanks for suggesting that we make a couple of visits to potential repair shops and get customers’ opinions on the shop. My husband and I just moved to a new area, so I’ve been searching for a reputable local auto shop that we can rely on for repairs. I’ll definitely take your advice to heart and go talk to some customers!
My wife and I just moved to a new town, so we need to find an auto shop to get our emissions test done at. I like your point about checking with the Better Business Bureau first. I’ll be sure to do this os I can see what kind of reputation the shops around here have.
It really helped when you said that we should not base on the price that much but ask about the reason behind their rates. I will definitely do that to ensure that we will be hiring the right company that fits our budget. We just have a small amount of money because we just paid for the rent last Monday.
It really can help to take the article’s advice and actually visit the repair shop. This can be especially important for making sure that they can actually provide the repairs that you need. For example, if it is the electronics or dashboard that are acting up in your car then you’ll need to make sure that they have the tools and skill to repair that stuff.
I really appreciate your tip to check in with the Better Business Bureau to gauge the quality of a business! My wife and I have been thinking of getting our son a car, but the one that we found for him has some small dents that we want to get rid of. In order to ensure that we get the best service, I will be sure to check with the Better Business Bureau!
It helped when you mentioned that one should search for an auto body shop that is one the BBB, as it will show their ratings. My uncle has an RV, but it could probably use a little maintenance after the last camping trip. These tips could help him find a great auto body shop for his RV, so thank you for sharing.
My car has been making a few weird noises, so I’ve been wanting to get it looked at. Thanks so much for the great tip to check the BBB, as it will show the ratings and reviews of a repair shop. These tips will really help me get my car looked at, so I appreciate you sharing them.