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Auto Repair Blog

5 tips  on how to find a Good Auto Repair Shop

4/2/2019

9 Comments

 
Whether it is for maintenance or repair, taking your vehicle to an auto repair shop is an inevitable occurrence for a car owner. If you’re a first-time car owner or you’re new to a place, finding a shop where you can entrust your most prized possession may seem to be a daunting - if not stressful - affair.

More than likely, you seldom think about the inner workings of the modern car, let alone understand them. So when things about your car go bad, you become dependent on a mechanic’s “expertise” for diagnosis and repair. You worry because you want to find someone who not only knows what he’s doing but somebody who is also a true professional that would not take advantage of your plight, or your mechanical ignorance.

To help you with your search, here are 5 of the most common things to look for when finding an independent auto repair service that you can trust.

1. Word of Mouth

You have to do your research beforehand, long before you would actually need the services of a mechanic. Word of mouth is perhaps the best way to find a good place that services cars and also a great way of knowing which places to avoid. Do  family and friends have personal recommendations? Would your close circle have a suggestion particularly to the make of your car (some repair shops have brand or vehicle type specialization)? When it comes to determining the right place to go, nothing beats the actual experience of others.

2. Online Presence

An auto repair service having a good amount of online presence give discerning customer two valuable information. First, having a website or a business account in social media shows that a company is up-to-speed with the latest. This is an indicator of their attitude towards technology not just for marketing but more importantly, the latest in in automotive technologies, diagnostics, and repair methods.

Second, having an online feature helps customers determine credibility whether its reviews from other customers or ratings from regulating groups. Though nothing beats the depth and weight of personal recommendations from people you know based on their real-life experience, but information online does help.


3. Certification and Associations

A mechanic and shop should be certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. Having ASE certification shows that a car repair service and personnel has the necessary technical expertise needed to perform their services.

Other memberships that show professionalism and good services are: accreditation or at least, listing on the Better Business  Bureau (bbb.org) with accompanying good ratings; AAA-Approved Auto Repair status; membership with the Automotive Service Association; and local community service awards and recognition.

4. Ocular Inspection

In finding the right place for getting your car fixed, most experts will also recommend doing a site inspection of the place of repair. Whether it’s a small garage or vast shop, you’re looking for organization in the operation. Equipment are well-maintained, tools and supplies organized, evident work-stations and workflows in place, even the shop floor should look reasonably clean in spite of constant repairs of leaky cars. Again you’re not just looking for experts but also professionals who take pride in their work and their work-space.

5. Building Customer Relationships

Another pro-tip in determining a good auto repair shop is having a simpler service done to your car (like an oil change for example). This is to test the water. Not only will the small-job give you an opportunity to check the premise and maybe even talk to other customers for feedback, but it will also give you a first-hand experience on how the service treats its cars and customers.

You want a car repair service that values building customer relationships. This is an important aspect of any business and  there are many ways to tell this with an auto repair service. For example, a good repair shop helps with the education about auto repair particularly with helping clients understand how an issue was found and why a certain repair procedure is needed. A good auto repair service also gives good advice to clients in order to help them decide if a certain repair procedure is worthwhile especially if it might prove costlier than the value of the car. Receiving a warm, friendly, assuring and accommodating attitude from the shop’s personnel is also a strong point.

Maintaining good customer relationship is more than a gesture of goodwill or an appreciation of bringing your business to them. Equipment, expertise, and experience get the job done in the first place but by also treating the customers right, trust, reliability and reputation are realized.

9 Comments
kate hansen link
8/10/2021 12:19:41 pm

It was really helpful when you said that the shop needs to have certifications. My sister was telling me last night about how her car has been having issues with the brakes for the past couple of weeks, and she wants to make sure that she can find the right shop to repair the issue for her. I'll make sure to pass these tips along to her as she searches for an auto repair shop that can help her with repairing her brakes.

Reply
Tex Hooper link
9/20/2021 04:47:17 pm

I like your mechanic tips. I need to have my car fixed. I'll have to take my car to an auto shop.

Reply
Ivan Barley link
2/23/2022 10:37:53 pm

Very helpful tips! Thank you!

Reply
Victoria Addington link
3/10/2022 08:19:44 am

Thank you for pointing out that we can visit bbb.org to know if the auto repair shop is accredited and have good ratings. My brother's car is not functioning well after an accident he encountered. I think bringing the car to an accredited auto repair shop is the best action to take.

Reply
Max Jones link
5/31/2022 10:31:08 am

Thanks for the info about auto repair shops. My car is not working. I'll look for an auto repair shop in my local area.

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Charlotte Fleet link
7/26/2022 03:46:00 pm

My brother-in-law needs to find a good auto repair shop that can fix some mechanical issues with his car. I am glad you mentioned that the best way to find a good repair service is through word of mouth from friends and family. I'll have my brother-in-law ask his family members and friends for suggestions of reputable auto repair shops.

Reply
Mia Evans link
11/3/2022 01:19:54 am

It really helped when you said that we need to ensure that the auto repair shop has mechanics who are certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, since it can prove that they have the necessary expertise in this industry. I will suggest this to my brother who has an issue with his SUV. Earlier, I had to pick him up from his place to take him to his appointment because his car won't start.

Reply
mobile auto repair link
11/26/2022 11:37:05 pm

As a car owner, there will inevitably come a time when you need to take your vehicle to an auto repair shop. Whether it's for a simple oil change or something more serious, it's important to choose a reputable shop that you can trust. When choosing a shop, be sure to ask around for recommendations, read online reviews, and get a sense of the shop's pricing and level of customer service. Once you've found a shop you're comfortable with, be sure to keep their contact information on hand in case you need to use their services again in the future.

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pool cleaners in johnson county link
2/28/2023 09:16:44 pm

Thank you for pointing out that we can visit bbb.org to know if the auto repair shop is accredited and have good ratings. My brother's car is not functioning well after an accident he encountered. I think bringing the car to an accredited auto repair shop is the best action to take

Reply



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2206 Needmore Rd
Dayton, OH 45414
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  • Home
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