What to Look for in a Shop

What You Should Know about Your Future Repair Shop…

  • Background information
  • Hours of operation
  • Drop-off or pick-up services
  • Guaranteed delivery date
  • Locations
  • Certifications and accreditations
  • Customer Service
  • Honest technicians
  • Guarantees and warranties
  • Quality parts
  • Services and products offered
  • Shop cleanliness and overall appearance
  • Cost

Certainly not all auto repair shops have websites, but do you want to go to one that doesn’t?  A lot of the information you want to know is found through a shop’s site. You can tell a lot by a shop depending on how informative and user-friendly their website is. Many auto repair shop websites can be educational, which is a good sign because it means they are looking at things through your eyes.

When you come across a shop that you may be interested in doing business with, you can always ask them for references and call those references. Word of mouth from family and friends usually never fails, but if you are out of town you can always search online for shops that provide customer testimonials. Another reference to call is your local Better Business Bureau to check on the quality of the shop’s repairs. Trustworthy shops will have a warranty program, showing that they are confident in their services and will be reliable if anything goes wrong. Certified technicians by Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) are the technicians who you want working on your vehicles. Auto repair shops with technicians that are ASE certified are the shops that search for qualified and reliable staff members.

For expensive or complicated repairs, get a second opinion and cost estimate.

Be skeptical of advertisements for low-price maintenance work. Consumers sometimes pay for unnecessary repairs after shops do the advertised low-priced maintenance.

Lastly, ask a lot of questions to get a feel of the customer service as well as knowledge of the mechanics. Those shops that value their customers and take pride in their work will be more than happy to answer all questions and earn your business!  Once you find a shop you trust, stick with it.

Now to put these tips to use and find a shop near you.