Auto Repair the Right Way

Auto repairs are an annoying yet necessary expense.  They often come when a car owner least suspects, usually at financially inconvenient times.  For this reason a car owner must make sure the hundreds or even thousands that they are spending is being put to good use.  The last thing they want to happen is get involved with an auto repair shop that does work so shoddy the car must be sent to another one, resulting in even more bills.  Since delaying auto repairs can only harm the car further not help it and for those that have a car loan, the loan payments do not take a month off when the car doesn’t work, searching for the right repairs it imperative.

Be Aware of the Types of Auto Shops Available

Three types of auto repair shops are available for consumers: those provided through dealership, auto shop franchises or independently-owned auto shops.  If a vehicle is under a warranty, the dealership is always the best choice for an auto shop.  However, if there is no warranty, dealerships are significantly more expensive than franchises or independent shops.  So the next best options are usually well established franchises, which not only have a staff of professionals, but can also charge reasonable prices.  Independents should certainly be considered especially if they have been deemed trustworthy by reputable references.  Otherwise, turning to independents first could be riskier.

Avoid Paying for Extra Repairs

Sometimes extra repair work occurs due to mistakes made by the mechanic.  The auto shop tries to cover themselves by replacing parts until the problem is addressed.  This hides their incompetence while earning them extra money.  Other times extra repair work is required because mechanics intentionally damage car parts.

Car owners need to be suspicious if they have to constantly take in their car for work.  Good mechanics should be able to address whatever problem is ailing the car once.  If things cannot be achieved in the initial visit, car owners may want to consider taking their business elsewhere.  But before they do, they should ask the auto shop if they can see the old parts of their vehicle.  Most states legally require mechanics to do this, so car owners can see if they have been defrauded.

Use Certified Auto Shops

Car owners should make sure that the auto shop they plan to take their car to has been certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.  If the shop has achieved this distinction, they will have an ‘ASE’ sticker in their window.  However, things should not end there.  During the repair process, car owners should inquire what type of certification the mechanic working on their car has.  If it doesn’t match the area they are working on, the car owner should request the shop get a person who is qualified to do the repairs instead.

Don’t Stop at One Auto Shop

If a vehicle needs extensive repairs, a car owner should not necessarily expect an auto shop is going to give them the best estimates.  So, before actually getting the car fixed, they should take it to a diagnostic center.  They give the car owner an exact list of what needs to be repaired.  With an exact list of what needs to be done, auto shops are more likely to charge a fixed price.

Always determine if an auto shop is worth the price before having the work started.  Car repairs are certainly not coming down in price and as the costs of cars have escalated, getting the most out of a car and the car loan with good repairs is one way to keep total costs down.  One sure fire way to avoid a new car loan is to keep an existing car running longer.

Tags: car buying, car loans, car repairs

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 at 9:21 am and is filed under Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.