QuickOverview

by Devon McCollum

When your car breaks down or you are in need of preventative maintenance, you will need to find a good mechanic. Finding one is often a daunting task, especially if you have recently moved to the area. Honest mechanics, unfortunately, do not grow on trees.

You should ask around to get referrals. Surely, if you ask your co-workers if they know of a good mechanic, you will get plenty of responses. Everyone has mechanic stories, and they are usually either really good or really bad. Your car or truck is important to you, and the cost of repairs can be very costly. Having said that, you will naturally want to avoid any place that has bad reports associated with it.

Should you trust your best friend’s brother’s cousin to repair your vehicle?

Isn’t funny how there is a mechanic in everyone’s distant family? Seriously. Everyone is related to someone - whether directly or by marriage - who can fix cars.

Chances are these mechanics are not certified, and they have no practical repair experience in a shop. They tinker around on cars for a hobby, or they have picked up the skills “along the way”. If they have worked or currently work in a professional auto repair shop, you could be in luck.

Certainly, you will get a better deal on the repair by using a “shadetree” mechanic. And, if something goes wrong with the repair or it requires adjustments, these people will usually do it for free. These are the mechanics that operate on a much more personal level than those in auto repair shops.

However, there are no guarantees or warranties with them. Usually, they provide no receipts. They may not provide safe, reliable repairs on your car. Perhaps they don’t have the proper equipment to get the job done right. They do work well, though, for temporary fixes and smaller-scale repairs.

Should you trust the dealership to service your car?

You may be tempted to take your car to a dealership for service, especially if you car is newer. This isn’t always the best choice.

First off, the dealership will be more expensive than any other mechanic (unless they are seriously overcharging you). The parts that a dealership uses are more costly to consumers, and the hourly labor charges are usually somewhat higher than the industry average.

On the other hand, the mechanics at the dealership are specifically trained to service your brand of car, and they have access to the most updated repair manuals. On average, they know what they are doing and are ASE certified. You may also benefit from getting a loaner car from the dealership if they are available. You may decide, after getting a couple of estimates, that the higher price is worth the experience and loaner car.

Should you trust a retail chain automotive group to service your car?

Retail chains such as Midas and Sears Automotive Centers are convenient and quick when you need your car repaired. Sears Automotive Centers are quite reliable and affordable. Midas, on the other hand, is not known for giving good service. There have been many horror stories about people who have brought their cars to Midas and other muffler specialists for new shocks and ended up with numerous odd problems after returning home.

Auto parts houses such as Napa and CarQuest often have repair areas at their locations, who are usually reliable. They do have access to the parts needed, and the mechanics are ASE Certified.

Retail auto repair shops are noted as having wonderful satisfaction policies and warranties. Midas guarantees its replacement parts for the entire time you own the vehicle, which is great. A good warrantee is certainly a plus at an automotive shop.

Should you trust “the little guys”?

Some gas stations have auto repair shops attached to them, although it is becoming less popular. The mechanics at these service stations are ASE Certified and often provide great deals on auto repair. They are always happy to provide you with an estimate, as service stations are losing business overall to larger auto repair shops. That is why you rarely see them anymore.

Also, there are probably several auto repair shops around town that are independently owned. Many of these specialize in one type of car. For example, we’ve all seen places that specialize in imports and Volkswagens. Usually, these places are a great resource for good, honest mechanics.

Oftentimes, the “little guys” - independently-owned, smaller auto repair shops treat customers better than larger shops. They work harder to earn your trust, and therefore provide quality service along with trustworthy repair work.

Information for getting estimates and choosing a good mechanic

It is important, if possible, to get estimates from a few different mechanics. If the car or truck is in safe driving condition, check out a few mechanics and auto repair shops. If not, you will need to research local car repair shops by getting numbers from the telephone book or on the Internet.

Make sure the mechanic(s) are ASE Certified. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence is a professional certification testing organization for mechanics. Most service shops will not hire mechanics who are not certified by the ASE. Mechanics who pass the certification test demonstrate their knowledge and professionalism, and are therefore more reliable (on paper, at least) than those who do not become ASE Certified.

You can actually find auto repair shops in your area that are approved through the ASE by visiting their web site.

If you choose a mechanic who you believe will do a great job but is not ASE Certified, ask them for references. Contact the references and ask if the service was reliable and how the repair process went. You should feel confident in the mechanic based on the references’ responses.

Finally, in your search for the right mechanic, don’t forget that they should treat you with respect and common courtesy. Arrogance and rude attitudes are not requirements for a good mechanic.