Tips and Tricks on How to Find a Good Mechanic You Can Trust
If you have automobile problems, don’t get taken for a ride with these tips and tricks on how to find a good mechanic you can trust.
Does your car have a lot of mechanical issues?
Car owners never expect to have to put so much into maintaining their vehicles, but wear and tear is a real thing and you want someone you can trust making the repairs. Today, we’re going to give you some tips on how to find a good mechanic.
Most mechanics are honest, trustworthy, and capable, but there are some that’ll try to take you for a ride. Don’t let your lack of car knowledge be the thing that costs you extra money on repairs, let us help you learn what to look for in a mechanic and what to avoid at all costs.
Maintenance Versus Repair
Before you start searching for a good mechanic, you need to do a bit of learning on your own. The biggest thing to consider is the difference between routine maintenance and repairs. This should help you determine what you’re looking for.
Car maintenance is what you need to do regularly to ensure that your car functions as smoothly as possible. Repairs are needed when there’s a specific problem preventing the car from running properly.
Finding a mechanic you can trust will depend on what you need them to do. Most shops will be able to perform basic maintenance on any vehicle, but not every shop specializes in every type of repair. Finding a shop that can handle a wide range of mechanical problems helps build trust between the mechanic and driver.
Don’t Wait Until You’re Desperate
One of the biggest mistakes that drivers make is neglecting routine maintenance and waiting until they’ve got huge problems before they find a mechanic. Bringing your car in when you need to spend hundreds of extra dollars for repairs isn’t going to get you off on the right foot with your mechanic.
You have to understand the mechanic’s position here. They can’t, in good faith, send your car back on the road without doing the work to make it run safely. When you don’t take care of your car, you have to understand that it’s going to cost money to repair, regardless of who the mechanic is.
It’s best to take it in somewhere when you’re due for a checkup. Let’s now discuss how to find quality mechanics.
Looking At Online Reviews
Mechanics tend to thrive or fall on their reputation, so a good place to start is by checking out reviews online. The shops that have a high rating from lots of customers, coupled with a list of positive reviews, are where you should start your search.
Most auto repair shops will proudly display testimonials on their website to show off the quality work that they do. Reading these can help you get a better idea of the type of people that’ll be working on your vehicle.
Other Things You Can Look At
Aside from business reviews on Google, Yelp, and other listings sites, you can also look at the Better Business Bureau or the AAA’s Approved Auto Repair network. If an auto shop is highly rated and registered on these outlets, then it’s probably a safe bet that they’re going to do an honest and good job on your car.
An ASE certification means that your mechanic has passed a test and has two years of experience on the job. They have to renew this every five years, so having this certification means that your mechanic is competent.
Don’t Go for Cheap Rates
It’s easy to get tempted by cheap prices advertised by auto mechanic chains, but price shouldn’t be a key factor in your decision. When it comes to car repairs, you first need to take the quality of service into account, then the trustworthiness of the mechanics.
The cost comes into play, but only after you’ve satisfied the first two requirements. A cheap mechanic isn’t necessarily bad, but low prices are more likely a tactic to draw customers in, only to be upsold and have shoddy repairs done.
Good mechanics will have fair rates and shoot straight about the work that your car needs. They should be able to lay out why certain repairs need to be made, how soon they need to be made, what’ll happen if they aren’t made, and help you decide what to do.
Ask Questions and Build Trust
When you’re conducting your mechanic search, have a list of candidates and talk to them before agreeing to anything. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the repairs that they want to make. Bad mechanics will try to take advantage of your lack of car knowledge, but asking questions will show that you aren’t going to be a pushover.
If you’re unhappy with or untrusting of answers that a certain mechanic gives about your car repairs, you can rule them out and move on to the next one.
Warranty
Warranties are another important part of auto repairs.
Make sure to ask about the warranty on the repairs before they happen. These things can vary depending on the status of your vehicle and the work being done, but a great warranty policy can help establish trust between you because it shows self-confidence in their abilities.
Testing Them Out
Last, but not least, trying out different mechanics for different small issues can help you make the right decision. If you’re satisfied with the work but aren’t too happy with the price, take it to another mechanic next time. Maybe that mechanic will have better rates, but the work isn’t quite as good.
Remember what we said earlier. Always go with the quality of work over the up-front cost because the cost of repairs won’t mean anything if you have to go back in for more repairs in a few months.
The Many Benefits of Learning How to Find a Good Mechanic
The benefits of learning how to find a good mechanic are huge. Having someone you can trust with all of your maintenance and repairs will put your mind at ease on and off the road. At A Plus Transmission, we’ve been serving Brighton, MI and the surrounding area for over 40 years.
All of our mechanics have ASE certification and experience with repairing and maintaining all makes and models. If you need an auto mechanic you can trust, then look no further than A Plus.