Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
Step1
Ask trusted friends for recommendations.
Step2
Talk to people who have cars similar to yours, if you are new to an area.
Step3
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.
Step4
Call the Better Business Bureau to check whether the shop has any complaints on file.
Step5
Check whether the shop is accredited by the American Automobile Association (AAA).
Step6
Ask whether the shop's mechanics are certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
Step7
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.
Step8
Ask for a full explanation of what is going to be done to the car.
Step9
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?
Comments
creativ said
on 2/14/2008 Or try http://www.autoservicesavings.com - they pre-screen the mechanics first!
cindy68 said
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.
poeavor said
on 1/30/2007 Hello. I agree and disagree with "mechanic's wife"You can't generalize. "Shade tree" mechanics are those that work independently.Some very good master techs do shade tree work from time to time. There are however some very professional mobile mechanics out there. They come equiped to do your work and they comply with all the local regulation.Your job is if you decide to use a mobile mechanic, to investigate to make sure they are professional.For some good imfo about the mobile repair industry, check out my web page.
www.mobilerepair.com
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 Before you take your car to a mechanic (second highest investment for most people), take a look around the shop. A dirty, oily, cluttered, poorly lit shop is never a good sign! My experience with these type of shops has been a bad one every time.
Anonymous said
on 1/19/2006 It may be a good idea to ask people who work at the parts store or the local tools dealer. They have relationships with every garage in the area and know their business practices. It is not the parts store or tool dealer's job to provide this information, so be courteous or buy something from them.