Whether your car needs a simple tuneup or some major repairs, you need an auto repair shop that you can depend on. Choosing the right shop is sometimes more challenging than it should be. It can be hard to know who is trustworthy, who is reliable, and who really knows what they are doing beneath the hood of your car.
So before you choose just any auto repair shop, check out these tips to help you find the right one for your needs.
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Services Offered
If you’re going to take your car in for repairs, you need to make sure that the location you choose can provide the services you need. What is it you are looking for? Does this repair shop offer a wide variety of services so they can always take care of your vehicle needs?
You will find that most locations offer similar services, and they all pretty much cover the basics. But will they be able to offer those services for your vehicle’s make and model? Plan ahead so you can make sure they work on vehicles like yours and that they will have the materials they need to take care of you as well.
These are some of the most common services to look out for.
- Oil changes
- Filter replacements
- Tire changes
- Wheel alignment
- Brake repair
- Transmission repair
Certified and Experienced Mechanics
Another factor you should consider is whether the mechanics in the shop are certified. Do they have experience for handling vehicle repairs? Have they been properly trained and educated? Believe it or not, some shops will hire just anyone and they may not really know what they are doing.
Ask about certification and experience. Any reliable auto repair shop is going to make sure their mechanics are well-trained and ready to take on your vehicle. Many reputable shops will specifically hire ASE-certified technicians because it means that individual has specialty training and has been certified by the National Institute for Automotive Services.
While hobby mechanics are certainly capable of many of the small tasks, when it comes to complex needs, you’re going to want someone certified to take care of your vehicle.
Client Reviews and Testimonials
You know the best way to get real-life feedback about an auto shop? Check out what clients have to say about them. A quick search will bring back all sorts of client reviews and testimonials. You can also look at their social media pages and review boards like Trustpilot or Yelp to see what is out there.
Hearing what others have to say is the best way to get tried and true feedback. This information talks of real life experience and lets you know how they treat their customers in general too.
Look for clues as to customer service, responsiveness, and even overall quality of work. Take note that there will always be some negative feedback too. It’s simply impossible to please everyone. But there should be more positive than negative.
Your Waiting Experience
Many people sit and wait while their vehicles are being worked on. Others choose to leave their vehicles and come back. Regardless of which of these categories you fit into, how they treat you while you wait says something about the shop.
It’s like being in a doctor’s office waiting room – but for your car. Is the waiting room decent? Is the staff friendly and welcoming or do they act like you’re a burden on their day? Consider things like cleanliness, entertainment (magazines or TV), coffee or water, and even how well they communicate with you.
A reputable shop is going to take care of their customers, even while they are hard at work.
On that same note, if you need to head to work or your vehicle’s repairs may take a couple of days, do they offer anything for convenience? Will they drop you off somewhere while they have your car or will they provide you a ride?
Prices
You’ve heard it before. You get what you pay for, right? While that certainly can be true, you also don’t want your wallet to be taken advantage of. Look for a shop that offers fair prices and affordable services.
In some cases, an exact quote may be challenging simply because they may need to take a closer look. But in general, prices should be posted and easy to understand. You should know what you are getting into when it comes to oil changes or minor repair and maintenance needs.
You need the repair shop to be honest and open about their prices and to be fair and affordable while providing quality work.
Find Auto Repair Services that Meet Your Needs
When you’re looking for an auto repair shop, you want to make sure they are a good fit for you. Just because someone else loves a certain shop doesn’t mean they can meet your needs. Take the time to do a bit of checking to find the best shop for your needs.
Always look for a trustworthy, reliable, and experienced shop. From there, it’s all about choosing a shop that can provide services for you and offers what you need from an auto shop.
