Car Repair: Making An Appointment

When you make an appointment for car repair, it isn't like making a doctor's appointment. It doesn't mean that at the exact time, your vehicle will be examined. What it does mean is that you are going to be coming in and talking to a professional at that time about the issues that you are having and what can be done to remedy them. Many people that skip making an appointment can end up frustrated because they aren't running through the system smoothly. 

Choose a Convenient Time

Because you don't know exactly what your vehicle will need, you may not know how long it is going to take. Try to choose a time that will work well for you. Is there a day that you drive less? Is there a time that will fit into your day? If you have these details in mind when you call, you will be able to tell them when you would like to come in.

Call the Shop

Call the number of the local shop and let them know that you need to make an appointment for a car repair. They will ask you questions about the vehicle and what types of problems you have noticed lately. Do the best that you can to answer questions accurately. The more information that you give, the better able the technician will be to diagnose your concern. Also, if you need any maintenance done, consider asking if it is possible to have it handled at the same time. While you may be without transportation for a little longer, it will save you from making a separate appointment and coming back in.

Prepare Your Vehicle

When you drop the vehicle off for the car repair, you want to make sure that most of your personal items are removed. Anything such as CDs, electronics, or any other items of value that you keep inside are best to just take out. If there is a lot of clutter, be sure to remove it so that a technician can easily get it and out of it. Before you drive up, it is a good idea to have everything that you will need packed up and ready for you to remove when you exit the vehicle.

The Day of the Appointment

Arrive a little early for your car repair appointment. Because other customers are going to be there and there is usually a lot going on, if you come a little bit earlier, you aren't going to feel as rushed. Grab the belongings that you will need and meet with the person responsible for writing up your car. They will want to write down some of the important information including the VIN number, the miles on the odometer as well as the condition of the exterior.

Be sure that you have arranged for some type of transportation from the shop. If you don't think that the visit is going to take long, you can always wait and bring something to work on. Don't have much to do? Consider turning the wait into something relaxing. Bring some music to listen to or you can pull out a book that you have been meaning to read in the waiting room.