Types of Auto Repair Shops

There comes a time for every car owner to take a vehicle in for maintenance or auto repair. With so many in the business, it may be difficult to decipher which is the best place for your vehicles needs. Dealerships, privately owned shops, auto shop chains, and specialty shops all have their benefits, you just need to measure their services against your specific needs.

If you drive a new vehicle that is still under warranty, the dealership is the place to go for most issues. Getting work done someplace else could void your warranty. For maintenance and non-warranty work, a dealership could still be a good choice. Oftentimes they offer loaner cars or shuttle service for their customers. So if you want to get your car repaired on a typical week day without interrupting your personal agenda, you can drop your car off in the morning and accept a loaner car until your own vehicle is ready for pick up. If the service will only take part of a day, some dealerships upon drop off will shuttle you back to work, and then pick you up and return you to your car when the job is complete.

Independently owned auto repair shops may be the best deal for you are searching for the lowest estimated cost. Whereas bigger business or dealerships may quote you a price based on a flow chart from their price book, a small business guy will be able to work on the cost for you. Perhaps he knows where you can buy your own parts to bring in for installation or is willing to tell you some shortcuts that will save you money.

Specialty shops either deal in a certain make of cars or a certain type of auto repair. There are places that fix only brakes or tires, places that only do tune ups and oil changes, and places that do all repairs and maintenance but only for a certain type of car (i.e. VW, BMW). A brake or oil specialist is a good choice for those respective issues, and sticking to a foreign luxury car expert for your foreign luxury car is always suggested.

Chain shops usually run the scope of issues from simple maintenance to larger, more in depth projects. You will also find chain shops that specialize. These businesses are usually quicker than dealerships with turnaround, and may have more negotiating power when it comes to price. They may not, however, provide amenities in order to keep their costs down. When your time comes to take your car in, consider both your car’s needs and your personal needs when choosing an auto repair shop.