Auto Expert

A great mechanic-customer relationship is key to the long-range care of your car.  Sometimes it takes a little effort to find the right shop for the job, so begin by asking around.  Word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and co-workers and customer feedback help considerably.  Decide if you prefer a dealership, a retail chain or an independent shop.  Dealers’ mechanics are usually far more experienced and better trained on specific models and they’re almost certain to use factory authorized parts.  They tend to be more expensive as well.

If you’re not faced with an urgent repair, interview a few candidates and ask as many of the same questions as possible.  Describe your specific problem, ask for a first-blush opinion, see if they provide warrantees and guarantee their work.  The answers and thought process will give you an indication of how they approach the job. Two other important topics are pricing and qualifications.  Ask about hourly rates, as well as the likely time and repair cost necessary for the specific job you described.  Find out what kind of certification and training the shop’s mechanics have.  ASE-certified is a good sign, as are any courses they’ve taken that are specific to the cars they often repair. Finally, look over the shop.  Is it clean and business-like?  Are the employees professional and courteous?  You may need to try a few shops before arriving at the best choice for you.  These topics are a good way to narrow the field.