Finding the Right Mechanic or Repair Shop

When you consider how much you spend over your lifetime in the purchase, maintenance, repair and insuring of your vehicles, your automobile becomes a major part of your financial portfolio.

Since car repair mistakes can range from inconvenient, to costly, to dangerous it makes sense that you will want to put the same kind of effort and research into selecting your mechanic as you would for your accountant, financial planner or attorney.

Here are some tips for finding a good mechanic that you can trust:

Good Referrals…

Do you know someone who has a good mechanic they can recommend to you? Check Google.com for reviews, too.

Test Run

A good way to get a feel for a mechanic before you need a major repair is to test out potential shops with small jobs like oil changes and tire rotations.  

Free written estimates

Shops should offer free written estimates. Go ahead and get estimates from three different shops. Compare the quotes side by side. Do they all recommend the same solution to your problem? How do the prices compare? What kinds of warranties are they offering for their workmanship.

Organized

Do the office and garage areas look like someone takes pride in them? Are they orderly and organized?

Do you feel comfortable?

Trusting your gut is often your best test of a mechanic. Does he make you feel comfortable? If he tries to rush your decision or is pushy, consider this a red flag.

Check the BBB

Finally, it is always a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if this company has received any complaints for poor service. 

Finding a trustworthy, thorough, competent, reliable and reasonably priced mechanic for your vehicles will be a benefit for years to come. You will definitely want to have this person or shop selected BEFORE there is an emergency repair needed.