Can You Trust Your Mechanic? How To Find A Trustworthy Mechanic |
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Donna Fuller
November 6, 2013
We have all been there, that moment when your mechanic announces a series of repairs that will literally break your bank, the point where the cost of the repairs will exceed the value of the car and it leaves you thinking; is this guy on the level?
It can be an extremely difficult task to find a trustworthy mechanic no matter what part of Australia you are in. That is why this article came to life, to give you, the reader, a little something to think about before you dive head first into another bad relationship with a shifty mechanic.
How to know if your mechanic is shiftier than his shifter
Here are some handy hints to help you find a mechanic who will do the right thing by you and your vehicle.
Do your research- Don't go into the mechanic when you have a problem with your car with no idea about who they are and what they're reputation is. Do all of your research ahead of time and be armed with that knowledge when inevitably you have to take your car in for a service.
Avoid the dealership- Unless you still have free or deeply discounted services under a warranty then avoid the dealership. Why? Because quite simply the dealership will gouge your wallet deeply. There are some statistics that say on average you can save up to $3000 a year by using an independent mechanic over the dealership.
Get referrals- Word of mouth works. Talk to you friends and neighbours and compile a list of the top candidates from what they tell you, then do your due diligence and find out more about your prospective mechanic.
Read reviews- There are plenty of review websites out there and while a lot of the information here is not to be solely trusted it may give you some insight into your mechanic of choice.
Look for certification- Make sure that your mechanic is fully certified and above board. There are plenty of chop shops and shady mechanics out there, and while they may be cheap you can be sure that their work will be the same.
Inquire about warranty- Great mechanics have zero problems with backing up their work, they are sure of the labour and services they provide so demand a warranty every time.
Look for a specialist- Look for a mechanic that has some speciality focus in your vehicles area. If you have a late model vehicle, try a late model specialist and so on.