Choosing a mechanic can be a difficult and stressful task. Like used car salesmen, there is a stigma associated with auto technicians that leave us all a little leery of putting our faith in them and unsure who to trust with the maintenance and repair of our vehicles. By using a little common sense, however, it is possible to find a technician worthy of your trust and business. Here are some tips to get you started from someone in the business.
1. Ask People You Know. Ask at work, at school, ask your family and your friends, who do they bring their car to? What experiences have they had? Is there anyone they would recommend. At our shop, 80% of our new business comes from referrals, and that’s the way I like it. I do not run those shiny ad slicks in the newspaper, We run a reputable shop that does good work, I would rather get my new customers from referrals then from coupon cutters.
2. Stop Where They Shop. If you have an auto parts store near your home or your job, stop in and talk with them. The people who work at the counters generally know who is good and who doesn’t have a clue what they are doing, they are talking to them all day long. Try to find someplace like a Napa auto parts or Carquest, places like Advance and Auto Zone deal primarily with the individual consumer rather then businesses, so they may not be in as good of a position to give you a good referral.
3. Check their Reputation. The Attorney General of your state is a good place to check and see if the business you are considering is in good standing, meaning they do not have any unsatisfied complaints against them. The Better Business Bureau is another place to check. Keep in mind, however, that the BBB is a business that takes paid accreditation. A business that is listed as accredited basically bought a membership. You can check their site, however, for outstanding complaints and previously satisfied complaints.
4. Check their Credentials. There are not any required certifications for automotive technicians. Most technicians that are halfway decent, however, will be ASE certified. ASE is the Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. They have a certification program that tests an applicants book knowledge on a range of subjects. It is possible to be certified in just one area, however, so ask the shop you are considering what areas they are certified in. You are looking for an ASE Master Certified Technician, meaning that they have passed all the basic level tests.
5. Be Leery of Chains. Actually, be leery of anyplace where the employees do not have a vested interest in the success of the establishment. Places like Jiffy Lube and NTB tend to hire new kids just out of technical school who don’t have a whole lot of experience and who don’t really care if the business is a success or not, they get paid one way or another. New techs are great, they have learned a lot in school and have the information fresh in their brain, but they really need a seasoned mechanic steering them and checking on them, you won’t find that at a chain establishment. You may think taking your car there just for an oil change is fine, and it may be, but new techs forget to tighten oil filters all the time and all it takes is one time and you will be looking for a new engine. Plus, once you do find a tech, it’s a good idea to have that one person do all the work on your vehicle so he gets to know it and you. It is possible to find a good tech at a chain, but easier to find a bad one.
6. Stop in and Visit. Once you have found a place, or a few places, stop in and talk to them. Make sure they can do the work on your vehicle and ask the basic questions. Do they allow waiting appointments? What’s their policy on dropping off and picking up? Do they offer free estimates? Will they call you before doing any unauthorized repairs? Will they save your old parts for you to see after work is done? What’s their policy on test driving vehicles? This is an important one, and if the guy looks at you like you are crazy when you ask it, you might want to consider leaving it. Any place that is interested in doing quality work and getting the job right every time will have a policy that the techs drive the vehicle AT LEAST after it is completed, I prefer before and after. If you have a customer complaining of noisy brakes, how do you know if you fixed them right if you didn’t drive it first to hear the noise and last to make sure it was gone. Also ask about the policy regarding the use of junkyard parts. If the facility uses them make sure they are letting you know in advance.
7. Ask About State Certifications. Some states have an emissions or state safety inspection, if independent garages are permitted to do them (this varies by state, some states have stand alone inspection stations) then make sure the place you are considering is one of those places.
Using these tips, you should be able to find a good quality repair facility that you can establish a long relationship with.
