How to choose a reliable auto repair shop

Anyone who drives a vehicle won’t be able to avoid dealing with breakdowns and repairs. As a working car is an absolute necessity for most people, especially the ones who have a family and need to cope with numerous responsibilities/work assignments, finding a reliable auto repair shop is just as important for the health and the safety of your vehicle as finding a highly-qualified veterinarian for your pet or a babysitter for your child. Moreover, every experienced driver knows that it’s better to pick the right shop in advance to conduct timely maintenance routines and call the professionals you trust when a car emergency strikes.

Follow the tips below to find a budget-friendly car repair shop with well-trained professionals able to handle all sorts of automobile problems, modern equipment, exceptional operation quality and ongoing customer support.

7 steps toward finding a trustworthy auto repair shop 1. Choose independent providers

If your vehicle is off the producer’s warranty, opt for an independent auto repair shop that’s highly rated by local drivers. If compared to car dealerships, they’re much more flexible, provide more affordable services, offer special deals and perform quality repairs faster.

2. Competence check

Apart from checking customer reviews online, asking for referrals and recommendations, make sure to verify the license of the shop you plan to take your vehicle to, as well as the level of professional training of their mechanics and the state of their equipment. Reputable shops should display the certifications of their mechanics according to the recommendations of the Federal Trade Commission. This will help you identify trustworthy auto repairs the moment you walk into the shop and avoid further automotive issues caused by improper repairs.

3. Seek specialties when required

If you experience any troubles with your car’s electronics or any other issue with the system that’s quite exclusive to the model of your vehicle, it’s probably better to entrust the repairs to the auto repair shop that specializes in this kind of services or this brand of vehicles. This will put your mind at peace when it comes to the mechanics’ competence and the quality of the craftsmanship, which has to be on point in this case. Taking your car to the dealership you bought the vehicle from is quite beneficial as well, as you won’t experience any difficulties with finding necessary parts and technicians who’re experienced in repairing the kind of cars you own. The major downside of using dealership services is the fact that they charge $20 more than average independent shops per an hour of labor.

4. Ask for estimates

Unless you break down in the middle of the road and are forced to call towing services to get you towed to the nearest repairs, you have a chance to shop around and ask different mechanics for the job bids. After choosing the place you’ll take your vehicle to, don’t forget to ask for a written estimate to protect yourself from elevated costs. Do that before the mechanics start working on your car and see how the costs compare to the estimate that was given before. If the difference is significant, it might mean that the pros are attempting to overcharge you or one of the shops you decided to check out diagnosed the problem incorrectly and thus gave you a wrong estimate.

5. Don’t let the price decide for you

The price of the services will inevitably define your choice of an auto repair shop. But you shouldn’t look for the lowest rate in your local area only. Look for the quality and the cost balance, as you may often come across affordable and expensive automotive services that perform equally great.

6. Shop for an extended warranty

Any reputable auto repair shop provides decent warranty on the services it provides and repairs it executes, as its owner is confident in the quality of the details he supplies and the skills of his mechanics. An extended warranty increases customer confidence and adds to the shop’s image, as when that warranty isn’t backed up by high quality, the shop will experience significant financial losses. It may be the reason behind the slightly increased price, though. It’s up to you to decide if it’s worth spending a couple of extra bucks on.

7. Don’t drive too far

Maybe, the best mechanics are located across the city, but are his services worth spending a lot of traveling time and dealing with major transportation inconveniences? When it comes to auto repair shops, choosing the best among the closest ones is probably the best solution unless the issue you need to get fixed requires special equipment and qualifications only certain mechanics in your city obtain.

Helen Sheplyakova, a passionate blogger writing about social issues, home improvement, lifestyle and sharing her inspirations with people.