How to narrow down your auto shop choices

Author: Crystal Alvarez

Selecting the right auto shop to repair damages toy our vehicle is a difficult but important job. While you are at risk of receiving poor-quality services, it is also likely that you will be taken advantage of. To avoid such a possibility, you must look for the best automobile repair services available around. The following are the ways you can do that:

  • Your car’s needs are unique–Before beginning your search, it’s important that you understand what care your damaged car is in need of. Having even a little knowledge about how a car functions will help you figure out what repairs your car may need. If the damages call for professional help, knowledge about cars will help you be in a better position to judge which auto shop is the best for your car.
  • The basic inquiry–Before you take
your car to an auto repair shop, it’s important to visit them personally or have a talk with them over the phone. You should ask about their charges for the kind of repair work your car needs. Also, don’t forget to ask if they offer discounts. It’s advisable to go for an auto shop that provides a guaranty or warranty for their work. You can also ask them where they buy their car parts from. This will give you an idea about the quality of services the auto company provides.

  • Get feedback from past clients–Most auto shops will be more than willing to provide you with references of people who have used their services in the past. Contact these references; ask them what services they bought. Their feedback can help you a great deal in deciding whether or not to go for that particular auto shop.
  • Get an estimate for the repair work–It’s always a good idea to get an estimate from the auto shop for the repairs your car needs. Make sure they give you the estimate in writing. Most professional and reputable auto shops are not only pleased to provide a written estimate for you but also will explain it part by part. After all, it’s your car, and you need to know how much of your money is going into its repair. These are some common questions posed by customers, and do not bother the people at the auto shop much. So, don’t hesitate to ask.
  • The time required for the repair work–While narrowing down your choices, you will come across a number of auto shops and will talk to probably all of them, but you’ll have to choose the services of only one. You should choose this particular shop based on many criteria. One of these criteria is the time required for the repair work. You want your car repaired in the least possible time because not having it impacts your day-to-day life. An auto shop that offers great services but takes too long for the repair work is no good for you. You should look for an auto shop that not only provides satisfactory services but also does the job faster.