Auto Repair - Finding a Great Mechanic

For most drivers, taking the car in for auto repair is a gamble. They rarely take their car to the same place twice, often just picking the place that "specializes" in the problem they currently have, or choosing someone nearly at random from the phone book. About half the time, they leave the shop feeling as though they probably got ripped off. And they probably did. It takes some work to find a shop that will give you a good deal while still taking good care of your vehicle. But it is far from impossible. If you're tired of bracing yourself for impact every time you have to get service done, here are some tips to help you find a great mechanic.

Before you can find a great mechanic, you have to know what that means. What separates a good one from a bad one? You're looking for an auto repair shop that meets some minimum standards of decency. This includes being willing to communicate clearly with the customer. It means not constantly trying to "up-sell" to the next service or piece of maintenance. It means identifying a problem, showing the customer why it is a problem, and fixing said problem with a minimal amount of hassle. It means charging a fair price, regardless of whether the customer knows a lot about vehicle maintenance or nearly nothing.

Look for an auto repair shop that stands behind their work. Even the best mechanics make mistakes, and even the best parts companies sometimes sell you a defective part. You shouldn't have to pay for these things twice because the shop couldn't get it right the first time. Make sure your parts and labor comes with a warranty so this doesn't happen. A shop should be willing to stand behind their work. If they do good work, they shouldn't have to worry about losing any money by providing this peace of mind to the customer.

Don't try and reinvent the wheel. Learn from those around you. Why do you need to find out that the auto repair shop on the corner is a haven for rip-offs and scams when all of your friends and co-workers already know this? Ask before you take your car in. If you don't know anyone with any experience with the shops in the area, check online. People can't wait to rant about their terrible experiences with a shop online. Granted, one or two bad reviews doesn't necessarily mean much, but if you see a pattern of bad customer service, there's little reason that you should expect anything better.