Finding a good shop can be very difficult. There are so many mechanics to choose from and to the average person who knows little about what to look for, this search for a good mechanic can be a dangerous proposition. So here are the questions to ask yourself before you decide:
1 - Look for a mechanic or auto repair shop that has a good reputation.
One of the best ways to find a good auto repair shop is to ask around. Ask friends and family which auto repair shop or mechanic they use. Some auto repair shops throw big money at advertising and promotion, but reputation cannot be bought, and that's why reputation is so important.
2 - Prescreen an auto repair shop or auto mechanic.
The best way to prescreen you prospective long term mechanic or auto repair shop is to take your car in for general maintenance such as oil changes, transmission fluid changes and basic general preventive maintenance work. If the mechanics treat you with respect and the general vibe is good then that's a great start. Also look for things like the cleanliness of the shop, observe to see if there are certifications and award plaques on the wall. If everything seems legitimate, then maybe this is the place where you should get major repairs done.
3 - The difference between a national chain auto repair, a privately owned auto repair and a backyard mechanic.
There are many forms of auto repair in everyone's area. The first type of auto repair shop that I'll describe is national chain shops. The good thing about national chains is that you can be sure that their mechanics are A.S.E. Certified. And also, national chain shops such as Goodyear, Tuffy and all the rest usually have great warranties. There are anywhere from 30 days to 90 days on parts and/or labor. The drawback is that national chains are more expensive in most cases than what a privately owned auto repair shop charges.
Privately owned shops are less expensive and often times provide the same quality of service as the big national chains do. Just be sure to check that the shop has A.S.E. certified mechanics, most do.
Backyard mechanics are risky to work with because they usually don't have the proper diagnostic equipment to detect what the mechanical issue is or appropriate tools to do the work needed. And forget about A.S.E. certification! On the other hand, everybody needs to start somewhere. Personally I have had friends and so called backyard mechanics do work for me and not really any problems. A good backyard mechanic knows and will tell you his limitations. For example installing a starter or an alternator might be a 15 minute job. On the other hand, replacing a transmission is a pretty big deal. The best thing to do is to take your vehicle into an auto shop with the appropriate diagnostic tolls so that you will know what needs to fixed. Once you know what it is that's broken, you'll know what needs to be fixed. From that point you can decide if a backyard mechanic is the right choice for you.
You see many times in this article the term "A.S.E. certified". So you might be asking "what is A.S.E. certified?
A.S.E. Certified definition:
A.S.E. stands for Automotive Service Excellence. To obtain and maintain A.S.E. certification a mechanic must take a test once every five years. The test includes brakes, suspension, steering and engine repair. And this is not just a written test; this is a real hands on test that utilizes actual diagnostic and repair, which means that the mechanic must perform mechanical work to a level of excellence on the test just as they would in the auto repair shop. This is not an easy test either. The statistics are that one out of every three test takers fails the A.S.E. test.
