Auto Repair: Finding a Shop You Can Trust

One of the most important aspects of auto repair is preventing problems from happening in the first place. Owning a car comes with a great deal of responsibility. Driving on the highway means taking the safety of yourself, your passengers, and the other drivers into your hands. You have to make your payments to avoid taking a hit on your credit score or having the vehicle repossessed. And you have to take care of the vehicle if you want it to last. Vehicle maintenance involves a lot of different elements, but there are a few you can't afford to ignore.

The Oil

You probably have a favorite retail store, a regular doctor, and even a trusted babysitter. But do you have a reliable place you can take your car for auto repair? Many people don't. Part of the problem is that there is often an air of mistrust when it comes to mechanics. Some of this reputation is warranted. There is no shortage of scam artists in the industry. No matter where you live, your local news has almost certainly done an expose on scammers and cheaters in the community automobile maintenance field. But there are plenty of good shops out there as well. If you can find one that you can count on, life as a car owner will be a lot easier.

Ask Around

Don't take your car in to an auto repair place based on an ad in the phone book or a billboard by the highway. What do these things tell you about the kind of service you'll receive? Absolutely nothing. Your friends and co-workers can tell you everything you need to know. Now, be careful about whom you take advice from. It's easy to get into a "blind-leading-the-blind" situation. Many people find a shop they feel comfortable with, completely unaware they are being overcharged and ripped off every time they walk in the door. If you know somebody who is fairly experienced with the concept of car maintenance, however, they will be able to steer you in the right direction.

Look At The Whole Package

It's easy to get into the habit of price shopping, but when it comes to auto repair, you should be looking at more than just the bottom line. If one shop charges $35 for an oil change, but it comes with a multitude of other services, you can't directly compare it with the shop that charges $25, but does nothing extra. The quality of oil the two shops use could be vastly different, and there's certainly nothing wrong with getting a little extra maintenance and inspection for your dollar. The same goes for almost all services. Look behind the price and see what's being offered.

Judge on Appearances

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but that maxim only goes so far. If you bring your car in for auto repair and the shop is an ungodly mess of discarded tools, trash, and the technicians are sitting around smoking and drinking beer, you may want to think about going somewhere else. A professional shop should look like a professional shop. How they present themselves says a lot, so take appearance into consideration.