by Semify
Finding and hiring a mechanic is inevitable if you own a vehicle. You will need someone to keep up with the maintenance on your car and do repairs when it breaks down. You can’t just hire any mechanic, however. You need to hire the very best provider for your money. The following are some things to look for during your search.
1. Reasonable Tenure
The first thing you need to look for before you hire a mechanic to work on your car is a reasonable tenure. You’ll need to look for an establishment that has been in the business for at least five to 10 years and is loved by most community members. If you can find that, you’re on the right track. Reimagining Education says that more than 6,000 mechanics are in the United States. So, there are plenty to choose from. Still, not everyone will fit the profile of the best mechanic to take care of your vehicle.
You can typically find out how long an automotive shop or mechanic has been in business by reviewing the information on their website. Most will have an ‘about us’ page that explains how long they’ve been providing services in their community.
2. Strong Reputation
The next quality to look for in an auto repair shop is a strong reputation. You’ll need to know if current and former clients stand by their work and feel they received good customer service and professional treatment. Fortunately, the world of consumer reviews is out there.
With a little research, you can find any establishment’s star rating and consumer comments explaining how the process of getting automotive work went for them. You might find a shop with much better reviews than most in the area, and you’ll need to put them on top of your candidate list.
Positive consumer reviews will help you feel safe about getting services from a provider. You’ll know whether they performed work that left the customers’ vehicles safe. You should pay close attention to this part of the process because it’s vital.
The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration reports that 50% of the car accidents that cause deaths or injuries happen at urban intersections and 30% in rural areas. Some of them happen because of poor automotive repair jobs and misdiagnoses. That’s why you must hire a provider you can believe in.
3. Mix of Services
You also want to look for a good mix of services. Finding a mechanic that can do everything will save you the trouble of hiring several providers. You can go to the same company for maintenance, small, and large jobs. Oil changes are examples of maintenance jobs that are super important. Experts like AAA say that one should get their oil changed every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Thus, you’ll need a shop that provides those services but can also work on your tires, suspension, engine, transmission, etc. It’s all the better if you find a mechanic who can also do odd and miscellaneous jobs.
4. Fair Pricing
Pricing is pretty important because you can only pay what your budget will allow. Thus, you need to figure out your budget first and then match it up with a company offering fair labor costs. You might get lucky and find a shop that offers coupons, promotional codes, and special discounts to its new customers. Many automotive shops do these promotions. You must ask or visit their website to see if they announce such things.
5. Certification
Lastly, you’ll want to invest in a shop that has certified mechanics working for it. A certified mechanic has formal education and experience working on cars. ASE certification is a popular system that certifies mechanics in different vehicular systems. You might find a certified automotive electrician specialist, an alignment expert, or a transmission guru. You might also be fortunate enough to run into a master mechanic who knows little about everything.
You can make a well-educated choice if you use the above criteria. Remember not to rush. Look at all the important aspects and narrow your selections down carefully. Choose wisely and you can keep your car running well for many years.
So, what do you think ?