Aren’t You Tired of Your Mechanic Ripping You Off?
Owning a vehicle is a necessity in most parts of North America. Since we lack stellar public transportation systems, we need to rely on our personal automobiles to get us to and from work, to the market for groceries, and to meet up with friends after a stressful day to grab a pint at the local bar. In short, without a car in running condition, even the most mundane parts of life will be near impossible.
Of course, keeping your car in tip-top shape is not always easy, not when you consider how much that will cost you on an annual basis. According to Five Cent Nickel, a popular online guide to cutting costs, the average car owner will spend upwards of $1200 per vehicle each year on regular maintenance and repairs of their car. Oftentimes, saving on servicing your car is just about finding an honest auto repair shop. With these simple tips, you can do exactly that.
Four Simple Tips for Finding an Auto Repair Service Worth Its Weight in Gold
- Weigh the Advantages of Local Car Dealers Versus Independent Shops
- Do They Have Their Certification?
- Ask for a Personal Referral
- Don’t Choose an Auto Repair Service Until You’ve Gotten Multiple Estimates
For The Gazette, one of the best ways to find a reliable auto repair service is to weigh the benefits of going to a car dealership and an independent shop against each other. For instance, if you need repairs that are covered under your warranty, you shouldn’t even think about going to an independent shop, where your warranty will likely be voided. On the other hand, if your warranty is already void, independent shops usually make for the better deal.
You should feel comfortable when taking your car in for work that the people servicing your vehicle actually know what they’re doing. That’s why AutoServiceCenters.net recommends you always look for shop certification. In particular, you’ll want to look for certification from the National Institute for Auto Service Excellent, or ASE. ASE certification is a great sign that your shop is la creme de la creme.
There are few better ways to find an auto repair service you can trust, writes ConsumerReports.org, than by asking friends and family for their recommendation. Friends and family are the most likely to recommend only the best service to you, not wanting to see you needlessly waste your time and money on a sub-par shop. That’s the sort of honesty you aren’t likely to find anywhere else.
The biggest mistake you can make when trying to find an honest, affordable auto repair service is going with the first mechanic you find. As the Better Business Bureau points out, you need to get estimates for the work you need from at least three different services before you even consider giving them your business. This is a great way to keep costs low and quality of service high.
Do you make a living as an auto mechanic? What tips would you give car owners looking to find a reliable, honest auto service? Let us know in the comment section below. Helpful links. Read this for more.