You know that sound that you dread. You put the key in the ignition and all you hear is grinding, if you’re lucky. You do what everyone else does.You grumble, get out and pop the hood. If you’re lucky it’s something as simple as a new battery. But if it’s not something so simple, or even if the battery is difficult to replace, you need a qualified mechanic. Is this really the time to search high and low for a mechanic? Before a breakdown happens you should have a car repair shop in mind.
First off, you need to do your research. Start by doing an internet search to see what type of auto repair shops are in your area. If they have websites check them out, you might find that some are limited in what they offer, specializing in breaks or tires. Once you have a handful of places make note of their address and phone numbers. You might find some that are located close to home, close to work, and in between.
After you have your list, don’t hesitate to call a few of them. You want to see if they are members of any professional automotive repair associations. Being a part of NAPA Auto Car or APS means that they have had to pass certain standards. These standards are more than just if they offer low prices as well. This will help you narrow down the list.
Once the list is narrowed down, drop by the shop sometime. This will give you a chance to see what the building looks like. You want a clean and orderly area that doesn’t look like it’s ready to fall in on itself. You also want to be greeted by courteous staff.
When you stop by, take the opportunity to ask a few of the customers why they chose this car repair shop. You want to hear about the service. Having low prices is good but it shouldn’t be the reason that the shop was chosen to begin with. If that is the most common answer then you might want to find another shop. If you don’t have time to ask the customers you can always look for customer comments on the internet.
Talk to the mechanic. This is the final and most important step you can take. You know what the building looks like and all the certifications and memberships they belong to by now. You need to know what the mechanic knows. Before speaking to the mechanic do a little research on your own. You might not be able to perform the repairs after you’ve looked a few things up but this way you will know if he’s a quality mechanic or if he’s just blowing smoke.
Having car repair can get expensive fast. If you don’t take your vehicle to a quality mechanic you could end up spending more money than you should have.
