Finding an auto mechanic you can trust may seem impossible. But there are some steps you can take to ensure that you’re trusting your car to a trustworthy mechanic. As you look for a trustworthy auto mechanic, there are several points to keep in mind:
Being a good mechanic isn’t enough. The auto mechanic you choose should also be fair. It’s easy to find someone who can fix your car’s problem, but finding someone who’ll fix only what’s wrong and will do the work for a reasonable price may be another thing altogether.
Not all work is the same. You might be able to find a really cheap mechanic, but do you trust he will do a good job on your car?
Some deals are reasonable. I know, it's hard to believe! Yet, some major dealerships do have reasonable repair rates and place a value on their work. Get a quote from your dealer on some small work before deciding whether or not to abandon them.
Steps
Start with Family and Friends. While anyone who has the money to buy advertising can do so, and can have ads that say anything they want, your friends, family and coworkers will tell you honestly whether they got a good deal and quality service from a particular auto mechanic. These are people who will typically have nothing to gain from whether you patronize a particular business, so they’re a better source of good information than an advertisement.
Compare Apples to Apples. Before you agree to a repair, ask for an itemized list of everything that’s wrong and what it will cost to fix it. Ask that the estimate include labor and supplies separately so that you can accurately compare those prices with other estimates. You can also check on the price of particular parts with auto parts supply houses. While you won’t likely be furnishing the parts needed to fix your car, you can see whether an auto mechanic is putting an unreasonable markup on the parts he’ll use to fix your car. Remember that some markup is normal as a handling fee, but it typically shouldn’t be more than 10 percent.
Ask for a Guarantee of Their Work. Ask what kind of guarantee there’ll be on the work. While it may seem unreasonable to get a guarantee on some things, high dollar repairs (such as transmission repairs) should come with a guarantee that the work fixes the problem. Car dealerships sometimes offer the best guarantees and best turn around time, though you sometimes pay for that in higher labor fees.
Ask How Long the Manager Has Worked There. I have found the best mechanics are the shops with the longest tenure manager. If you had to go to work today and here gripes from ripped off customers, would you last long in that job? The most reliable mechanics I have found are ones with managers there the longest.
Shop Around. Get a written quote and shop around for the best deal.
Tips and Tactics
Check with the BBB. The local Better Business Bureau will have information about the number of resolved and unresolved complaints by an auto repair shop.
Is the Shop and Office Clean? This could give insight into how the business is run. Is the office tidy? Is the shop clean?
Be Cautious of Up-Sells. Be careful when mechanics start offering additional work which they say your car needs. They are often trying to up-sell you and oftentimes the work isn't necessary. Be sure to get a second opinion.
