How to Find a Good Mechanic

Finding a mechanic is like choosing any other small business. Look for quality, value and service.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Phone Directories
• Telephones
• Car Mechanics
• Auto Emergency Kits

1. Ask trusted friends for recommendations.

2. Talk to people who have cars similar to yours, if you are new to an area.

3. Make sure the mechanic you've chosen services your type of car. Lookaround the shop and see what kinds of cars are being worked on.

4. Call the Better Business Bureau to check whether the shop has any complaints on file.

5. Check whether the shop is accredited by the American Automobile Association (AAA).

6. Ask whether the shop's mechanics are certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

7. Check the warranty on the repair work before leaving the car at the shop. Six months is great; 90 days is good; 30 days is a little suspect. Find out whether the warranty covers both parts and labor.

8. Ask for a full explanation of what is going to be done to the car.

9. Find out what the shop's hours are. Will it be open when you get off work? Is the shop near the bus or train? Will you get a loaner while your car is being worked on?

Tips & Warnings

• Don't wait until your car needs major repairs or a tow to find a good mechanic. Bring your car into the shop for small stuff like oil changes and brake checks to get a feel for the place and develop a relationship.
• Don't choose a shop based solely on price. The least expensive repair shop might not be the best place to go. At the same time, the most expensive shop (usually the dealership) may not give you the best service or quality.

[mechmike]

on 12/29/2008 My last comment was truncated - here's the rest of it:

Access to information. By belonging to ASA, members have access to more than 30 association benefits, including the latest technical and management education, and regulatory information.

The International Automotive Technician's Network Repair Shop Finder at http://www.iatn.net/shopfinder/

Any automotive repair facility that is a member of one or both of the above groups will tend to be better than average.

[mechmike]

on 12/29/2008 Two other potential sources of reputable repair facilities are:

The Automotive Service Association's Shop Finder at http://www.asashop.org/maptest/advantage.asp?template=map_search

When your vehicle is repaired by an Automotive Service Association (ASA) member-business, you can expect the following:

An attentiveness to you, the customer. ASA members work to earn and keep your satisfaction and trust. An average of 77 percent of customers are repeat customers.

Repairs and service backed by years of experience. The average ASA shop is 22 years old and 89 percent of ASA members are part of family-owned businesses.

Adherence to ASA's Code of Ethics that outlines professional business practices.

Accurate diagnosis and repairs. ASA members stay up-to-date with evolving vehicle technology by attending technical education classes.

Access to information. By belonging

[astralauto]

on 11/23/2008 The number one thing ANY person can and should do is ask around. Word of mouth is the BEST way to find a great mechanic. I agree with alot of people that if the shop (or mechanic) is filthy looking, then chances are pretty good that your car will not be taken care of.

but believe me, and I can't express this enough, ask around or even go to Yahoo local or Google local and find a shop in your area. You can also see how they rate.

[creativ]

on 2/14/2008 Or try http://www.autoservicesavings.com - they pre-screen the mechanics first!

[cindy68]

on 1/19/2008 You should check how up to date the workshop is, and what sort of equipment they are using. If they don't have a website, you can suspect that they are also behind the times on other things as well. For an example of a good mechanic, have a look at www.shiretune.com.au - they are upfront about their equipment and even offer online services.