subject: Ways In Finding An Auto Repair Shop (uaw) [print this page] Finding a reliable auto repair shop that does top quality work is a lot like finding a doctor or dentist for your family. Not everyone is friendly, punctual, or reasonably priced, and sometimes, just when you find a practitioner you like, he or she will move offices or go out of practice. It can be a frustrating experience to have to start all over again with a new mechanic, but there are a few things you can do to make the search easier on yourself.
To begin with, if you previously used a mechanic or auto repair shop that is now unavailable to you (for whatever reason), ask them for a referral. The majority of mechanics have relationships with other shops, and can usually direct you to another repairman who will be able to meet your car repair needs. If your former mechanic is unable to recommend anyone, he or she may suggest that you use a national chain until you can find a local source.
Identify what's most important to you in an auto repair shop. Is price the main objective? Do you want a mechanic who will take the time to explain each repair? What about a shop that has a separate division for bodywork? It's useless to ask for mechanic recommendations when the shop itself doesn't meet your needs. Maybe you prefer to have all car repairs done under one roof, or perhaps it doesn't matter if the shop will have to send your car out for air conditioning repairs. Decide ahead of time what you want in a shop.
Craigslist or some other type of classified is another alternative in finding an auto repair shop. You can just about find some type of ad for them looking for customers, especially if they had just opened up.
The last thing to remember before handing over the keys to your car to an auto repair shop is that you are in control. You should never be afraid to say "no thank you" and take your car somewhere else. You should never feel intimidated when taking your car in to be repaired, if you do then it is well within your rights to leave. You can test a local repair shop with a minor repair on your car. If you are satisfied with how they handled it, then you can trust them if something major happens.
