How to find an HONEST car mechanic

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

First, you have to decide if you want to so 'big car dealerships mechanic' or 'small town Joe independent mechanic'. Big car dealerships mechanic shops tend to have the most up to date equipment available to use, their workers are usually professionally trained and have periodic 'reviews' and refresher courses mandated by the dealerships owner, the car technician/mechanics for dealerships have a ready supply of parts and access to parts and are usually specialized in THAT field of repair work (I.E. you can take your mustang to a FORD car dealerships to have the transmission rebuilt and you can pretty much guarantee that the FORD car dealerships mechanics have worked on a FORD mustang transmission before YOURS rolled in). Dealerships mechanics are usually more pricey than 'small town Joe' shop mechanics and if ONE tech doesn't know how to work on a hybrid' s electrical system; then you can bet that SOMEONE in that shop will know what to do to repair it. "Small town Joe independent mechanics' are just that. Independent mechanics tend to form better 'first name relationships' with their clients and work on 'word of mouth' business as a primary source of advertising. Small town mechanics tend to have far less overhead expenses than big car dealerships and can usually charge less for repair or maintenance work. Small town Mechanic shops have all makes, models, years and styles of vehicles come through their shops with issues and problems and they must be well versed in troubleshooting for the source of the issue as well as how to fix it in a timely manner. Having such a large array of 'clients' can either be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the mechanic and his or her ability level, equipment, parts availability, and space.
Step 2

Look for car mechanics or repair shops with an ASE certification. ASE stands for Automotive Service Excellence certification which means the mechanic or mechanics on staff at that shop have been certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service and that the mechanic or technician has received proper training and certification on the most current vehicle technologies out there right now on the market.
Step 3

Take your car in to see a referred mechanic or shop when NOTHING is wrong with it. You know there are no noises, no shakes, no smells or smoke coming from your vehicle anywhere--you just had the tires rotated, the brakes done, the oil changed, the a. c. tested, etc. and you know that your car is 100% tip top perfect. Take it in to a mechanic shop of your choice and make up something to tell them that is 'wrong with your car'. Tell them you hear a noise when you start it, tell them it grinds when you come to a gradual stop, tell them it starts shaking on the highway after you hit 50 mph. Most mechanics will give you a free estimate for repairs, or ask them to have a quick look to 'tell you what is wrong with it' BEFORE they do any work to repair your car. If they come at you with a list of what's wrong that is 50 miles long ... you'll know something is up. Even if you have to pay $25 or $40 for an 'estimate', you'd be way further ahead to pay that small fee and know to steer clear of a dishonest mechanic in the future! Do this with several local mechanics to see who is honest and who is not!
Step 4

If possible, get a warranty on the parts or repairs your mechanic provides to your car or vehicle. If he 'rebuilds' your transmission, ask him for a written warranty to protect you against having to have it 'rebuilt' again in 3 months. Ask for warranties on tires, motors, etc. that amount to large purchases and keep all receipts, communications, etc. between you and your mechanic (both for YOUR reference as well as for his/hers in the future should you have to go to small claims court or 'remind' him of what was fixed/repaired/etc.)
Step 5

Do your 'shopping around' for a repair shop or honest car mechanic BEFORE you really need one! Don't blow the motor and rush out to find a mechanic in the middle of a panicked situation. Take your time and listen to what other people are saying about various local repair shops or 'garage mechanics' that do 'good work'. Word of mouth is usually right, the good and the bad; let other peoples trial-and-errors help YOU to find an honest mechanic and save some money as well!
Step 6

Check with the better business bureau about ongoing complaints, members of good standing, and legal issues involving local mechanics and car technicians. The BBB might be a good source to help you find a reliable and honest mechanic in your home town.
Step 7

written by mumstheword

If you think the tips and advice offered in this article may help you to find an honest mechanic or car repair shop; then please don't forget to post your comments before you leave this page! Thanks so much for reading and rating my work and following me here on ehow!

Comments

kjshannon said

on 7/14/2009 Tired of over paying for services, just because I am a woman....doing much of the easy stuff on my own saves money!

on 5/28/2009 Paying higher prices at the dealership is a stereotype that we should lay to rest. Car dealers are well aware of the industry's climate and offer competitive prices along with factory trained technicians who understand the quirks of your particular car. Moreover, they are not dishonest by their choice of employment. I've seen horror stories at independent car repairs over the years. Trust your judgement. Thank you for bringing this to light.