Giving Car Repair A Personal Touch: How To Find A Quality Mechanic

It takes you to work, it keeps you out of the rain, cools you in summer heat, and warms you in the coldest winter. It takes you where you need to go when you want to go. It's your car. You love it more than you think a human should love a machine. You spend more time washing your car than cleaning your house. Admit it: you named it.

As much as we love our vehicles, why is it so difficult to find a mechanic? It seems like there is a shop on every corner. Your neighbor “knows a guy.” (Oddly, you can never figure out who that guy is.) You look in the phone book and are greeted with pages and pages of advertisements. You don't want to trust your baby to just anyone, after all. You've put a lot of money and love into it.

Finding a great repair shop can be simple, with a little effort. The first place to start is, of course, family and friends. Their experiences can tell you a lot about a potential shop for your vehicle. If they feel the work was done well and for a good price, they will tell you. If, however, they had a negative experience, you're probably in for a few minutes of listening to get the whole story.

Another option is to check with the Better Business Bureau. The BBB website has a ton of information about just about every business in the country. You can see complaints and if said complaints were resolved satisfactorily, as well as getting the BBB's rating of the company. You can also see if they are licensed, insured, and bonded. The BBB is a great resource for any type of company search.

Once you have narrowed down your choices, drive by a few. Do they seem well kept and reputable? Do the cars seem to be in a secure area? If the work on your car takes more than a few hours, do you feel comfortable leaving it there overnight? Do they only do specific types of work?

You should also ask questions of the mechanics. Are they licensed? How long have they been doing this type of work? Do they have experience with the make of your vehicle? Most shop managers will be happy to answer your questions. Ask if they give free estimates for what you want or need done. A reputable shop will give you a print out detailing everything and the cost, even down to the labor per hour. Ask about their policies if a repair you have done isn't completed correctly. Also ask if they are certified by your vehicle's manufacturer, and if they use the manufacturer's recommended parts. Your warranty may cover some of your costs if the shop is certified.

Once you have found a mechanic that you like, let people know! Word of mouth is a powerful tool, and it worked for you, so return the favor. It doesn't have to be a stressful ordeal to find a shop for your vehicle; it just takes a little patience and research. Car repair can be a time-consuming pain, but if you put a little time into finding the right mechanic your baby will be running like new before you know it.