How to Hire a Reliable Mechanic

It's not that hard to find a trustworthy mechanic--until you're desperate. It's worth taking the time to look for one before you're in dire straits. Have a good mechanic regularly maintain your car to help keep surprise breakdowns to a minimum.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Recommendations

1. Ask friends who have your make or model car if they would recommend their mechanic.
2. Get a recommendation of certified mechanics from an auto club like AAA, if you're a member. You can also find mechanics with valuable certification from the National Institute for Auto Service Excellence (ASEcert.org).
3. If you have a specialty vehicle or sports car, try to get a recommendation from a local auto club--the Miata Club, for example.
4. Find a dealer that has the most service awards from the manufacturer. Those mechanics have been manufacturer certified.
5. Check with the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org) to learn whether a garage has any strikes against it. Ask how the shop charges before you have any work done.

What to Look For:

• Recommendations
• Auto club referrals
• ASE-certified technician
• Manufacturer-certified mechanic
• Approval from the BBB

Tips & Warnings

• If you can't decide between mechanics, call each with a problem and ask how much repairs would be. Get a friend to do the same the next day, and compare the pricing you got from each. Some mechanics have random pricing policies.