Finding A Good Garage For Your Oil Change
Your car's going to need an oil change eventually. If you don't have the time to do it yourself, you can always take it into a shop. This article details what you should look for when you need that maintenance done.
You can get an oil change at any number of places - garages,
dealerships, specialty shops or big box stores. The roadside is dotted with places advertising this essential service. So, how do you go about picking the right one? Here are some tips.
Referrals Are The Best
If you look in your local yellow pages, you'll find page after page of ads for garages. In one neighborhood alone there are enough places to make your head spin. How do you sift through them all and find the best? Your #1 option is to go with a referral. Ask family members, friends, co-workers and other acquaintances where they get theirs done. Even better, talk to people who are really into their cars but regrettably don't have time to take care of the maintenance on their own. If possible, get a referral from somebody who drives the same make and model car that you drive.
Look For Accreditation
Find a place that is accredited. There are a whole lot of different organizations that devote themselves to offering certifications. These organizations have strict standards of quality. If a garage or shop meets these qualifications, they can get accredited. When searching for somebody to do your oil change right, look for a place that has several accreditations. The more certificates they have, the higher quality service you can expect from them.
Shop Around
The price of an oil change is pretty cheap. You can expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $40. But still, it's a great idea to shop around. This isn't a job that takes a whole lot of expertise to do right; in fact, you can even do your oil change yourself if you don't mind getting a little dirty in the process. Because this isn't a major repair, find somebody who offers a good deal. You can also look for coupons. The coupon books from the grocery store or from your local paper will be loaded with deals. Try out one of these shops, and if you like the service and general feel of the place, use it in the future.
Go Local
A place that is close to your home or work is best, but don't choose a bad place just because it's close. Start your search with places that are close to home, or located on the way to work. If you can find a good place to get the work done that's on your way to work, that will make it even more easy and convenient. Start locally, and widen your search if you don't find anything you're satisfied with. Since there are so many shops that do it for you at a reasonable price, you shouldn't need to go far.
When you're looking, remember that this is the place you'll want to take your car every time. Finding a really good garage means that you'll always have professional, trustworthy folks working on your car. You'll need to get your motor oil changed every 3,000 miles, so find a place that does good work in your local area, and you'll never have to look again.
