Your car may not be the most expensive item you own but it is likely to be the most important. It’s more than just a means of getting from A to B. Your car allows you to conveniently travel to work, pick up friends, and even take a vacation.
If you pause to think about what life would be like without a car you’ll quickly realize how important it is. The next logical step is to realize how important it is to find a trustworthy auto mechanic.
After all, if you’ve got a car you need to look after it, that will help to ensure it works when you need it to. The problem is that it can be hard to know which auto mechanic to trust. Fortunately, these tips will help you find a good one.
Table of Contents
1. Ask Friends
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The best starting point is to speak to your family and friends. They can tell you who they usually use and whether they trust them. The more people you speak to with positive things to say about a specific mechanic, the better.
In many cases, you’ll find a local business is more reliable than the big franchises, they have more at stake.
For a great example of a trustworthy auto mechanic, click here.
2. Social Media
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Your family and friends mean well but you should also take a look online at social media and online forums. Check out the mechanics your friends have recommended. Online you’ll find plenty of people with opinions about all the garages in your area. You should look for mainly positive opinions. However, it is important to note that a negative opinion can be valuable. A few negative opinions in a sea of positive suggestions that the reviews are genuine. They also give you the opportunity to see how the mechanic reacted. This is essential if you find yourself in the same position.
3. Certification
It’s important to verify that the mechanic you’re considering is properly qualified, certified, and insured. You can visit the garage and ask to see the proof of all these documents. If they are genuine they shouldn’t have an issue showing you. In fact, the required documents are likely to be displayed on the wall in the garage.
Alternatively, you can look online to see who is listed as an industry approved repair shop. This will help you to confirm you have chosen well.
4. Talk To Them
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After having checked out their reputation you should consider what they are like in person. Before you commit your vehicle to them take it in for a free quote. They should be happy to tell you what the issue is or give an indication if it needs further investigation.
This is an important opportunity to talk to the mechanic. You’ll want to instinctively feel comfortable talking to them. Being able to talk to them will be beneficial if you have an issue or think they are trying to pull a fast one.
When visiting the garage you should trust your gut instinct, if the situation doesn’t feel right then choose a different mechanic.
Don’t forget that you need to see more than one garage. This will help to confirm that both mechanics have identified the same issue. It will also help you to compare quotes and ensure you’re getting a fair price.
You won’t need to do this when you trust your auto mechanic. But, trust can take time to build.
5. Longevity
Some of the best mechanics have been in business for years. While it’s true that the youngest generation will be most up-to-date with car electronics, it can be hard to beat the fundamental knowledge of the combustion engine that any older mechanics have.
Take a look at how old the garage is and how long it’s been serving customers in your town. The longer it’s been around the better the reputation is likely to be and the more they’ll have to lose from bad service. That makes them a better bet.
6. Price
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We’ve already mentioned the importance of getting more than one quote to confirm a diagnosis. However, you should also use two, or even three quotes to review the price each place mechanic wants to charge.
In general, you can expect different garages to charge roughly the same amount unless you are comparing to the main dealer. If the price is vastly different you need to check out what they are doing differently or eliminate them as an option.
7. Start Small
Unless you have a major issue that needs to be resolved then you can book your car into your preferred mechanic for a simple service. This will give you the opportunity to assess how easy it is to book, what kind of service you get and whether you’re happy with the work.
Getting the mechanic to do something simple and ensuring they don’t suddenly find other faults or overcharge for the work will help to assure you that you’ve chosen well.
8. Community Involvement
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All the best businesses try to get involved in the community. It may be to donate funds to a specific local charity, offer free services, or a variety of other options. But a company that invests in its community is intending to stay in the area and is likely to be on the level.
Ask around to see what your chosen mechanic does for the local community. If they contribute, you should definitely be considering them to work on your vehicle.
9. Check Expertise
It is also essential to verify that they have the experience and knowledge necessary to deal with your vehicle. While most mechanics are comfortable with all types of vehicles, some prefer to specialize. If that’s the case they may not be the best choice for your car, unless you happen to have their specialty.
Final Thoughts
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Choosing a trustworthy mechanic doesn’t need to be difficult. You simply need to give yourself a little time to check out the prospects and choose the one that works for you.
By planning in advance you’ll have a mechanic you trust when something serious goes wrong. The fact that you’ve built a rapport with them will help to ensure you get the best possible service when needed.
