If and when you’re dealing with auto repair problems, it can be a time-consuming process finding the right shop, but asking the right questions is key. Read The Car Husband blog to learn important tips that will help you select the right auto repair shop.
If and when you experience troubles with your car, time can be of the essence. For many drivers, dealing with a work schedule and other responsibilities like family make having a working car an absolute necessity.
Before car trouble strikes, take the time to compare several auto repair shops to find the one that best suits your convenience and needs:
1. Ask around
Often the best referrals come from your friends and family who have had experience using the mechanics in your area. Getting a word-of-mouth referral from a friend or family member can also mean you’ll get an honest insight about their experience with those repair shops, which can help save you money or avoid a scam.
2. Shop around before an emergency
If your radiator is smoking or your car won’t run at all, chances are you are in a hurry to fix the problem. If you are in a rush to get your car to the shop, your judgment might be clouded; this may influence you to make a hasty decision based on needing your car back immediately, rather than saving money and receiving top-notch service.
3. Don’t choose based solely on price
While price may affect your choice, since you want an affordable rate, do not just opt for the cheapest choice. Do your research and compare. The cheapest rate may not always have the worst services; likewise, the most expensive might not offer the highest level of service.
4. Check online reviews
Your friends and family could have given you great advice about the repair shops that they have used, but they might not have covered all of your options or have had a major automobile issue that needed attention. Look at online reviews from unbiased consumers.
5. Check for certification
Your mechanic and shop should be certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, or ASE, Top shops are typically AAA certified and are subject to binding arbitration.
6. Play 20 questions
As a consumer, you have the right to ask a shop about their credentials, experience, customer service and warranty policies. Search for places that supply customers with extended warranties on parts as well as a customer guarantee. Do not forget to ask about the certifications held by the employees—such as the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certificate—and the years of experience in the field that the employees have.
7. Get estimates
If you are in a bind and your car, truck or SUV needs major repairs, get estimates. This is vital when you do not have a regular repair facility that you use. Written estimates can assure that the shop is not going to keep tacking on unneeded services. Additionally, written estimates that are far from the same can mean that a shop has charged you for unnecessary repairs and parts. It may also signify that one shop has misdiagnosed the problem.
8. Make the shop explain it so that you understand
Mechanics are sometimes guilty of speaking in terms that someone unfamiliar with cars might not understand. Make sure you know the problem and the needed repairs before you choose from one of the auto shops in your area.
For more tips like these, read our blog.
