How To Pick A Great Mechanic For Your Used Car

Car Maintenance, Tips, Used Cars

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car mechanic

When you need repair work done on your used car, you want to make sure that you pick a reputable mechanic with the skills and expertise required to get the job done right – the first time.

But sometimes it can be a bit difficult to figure out which mechanics are offering you great service at a fair price – and which ones are trying to profit from your mechanical ignorance, and squeeze money out of you for unnecessary services.

Well, we’re here with a simple guide to help you pick a great mechanic for your used car. By following these tips, you can be sure you’ll find an above-board, legitimate mechanic who will treat your vehicle with the care and attention that it deserves.

1. Make Sure They’re Certified

This is where you should start with every auto shop you visit. Ask about the certifications that they require from mechanics. ASE – The National Institute of Automotive Excellence – certification is quite common in Canada, and is definitely a good sign that you’re in a legitimate auto shop.

2. Check Them Out Online

Thanks to the power of the internet, it’s pretty difficult for a bad business to stay in business for too long. Do a quick Google search, and look for information about customer experiences at a particular mechanic.

Don’t expect perfection – there are always going to be a few customers who have bad experiences – but look at overall trends in the reviews. Does this mechanic offer fast service? Do they charge reasonable fees? Have multiple customers had issues with their service in the past?

The online reputation of a mechanic says a lot about their overall quality-of-service – so take some time to do your research, and make sure that you’ve picked a shop that has provided great results to past customers.

3. Take A Look At The Shop

Sometimes, eyeballing an auto shop is the best way to get an idea of the overall quality of its services. If an auto shop looks clean, well-maintained, and fully-staffed, that’s a good sign. You want to work with an auto shop that’s professional, and takes your needs seriously.

If, on the other hand, the shop looks sloppy, poorly-maintained, or dirty, you should reconsider working with that mechanic. If they treat their shop poorly, chances are they won’t treat your car any better.

4. Talk To The Mechanics

Sometimes, nothing beats good old-fashioned conversation. You want a mechanic who you can trust, and who you can talk to. Just having a brief conversation can give you valuable insight on the quality of a particular auto shop’s services.

If you bring your car in for a simple repair, ask to talk to the mechanic about the problem, and pay attention to how the mechanic interacts with you, and get an idea of their overall level of experience and qualification.

5. Ask What Parts They Use

Not all auto parts are built alike. Most auto parts brands sell both higher-quality parts and lower-end “bargain” parts – and if you ask an auto shop what parts they typically use, they should be able to answer you right away.

Your mechanic should always be open about what parts they typically use for repairs. If they don’t give you a straight answer, that could mean that they charge customers for high-quality, expensive auto parts – and install lower-quality budget auto parts, pocketing the profit.

6. Start Small

Even if you’re pretty confident that you’ve found a great mechanic, take your time and make sure that you’ve made the right decision.

One great way to do this is to start with a smaller vehicle repair. Get your brake pads replaced, or have your new mechanic do a comprehensive fluid check and replacement – something that’s relatively inexpensive and easy to do.

Pay attention to how your chosen auto shop interacts with you during the process. Was the repair fast? Did they communicate well? Did their costs match their estimate?

If an auto shop exceeds your expectations when doing a smaller repair, they can be trusted to handle larger repair – and if their service doesn’t quite live up to your expectations, you may be better off looking for a different auto shop.

Need A Mechanic In Winnipeg? Ride Time Is The Place For You!

If you’re looking for a new mechanic in the Winnipeg area, come to Ride Time! Our all-new service facility boasts 8 repair bays, and our experienced mechanics can handle any automotive issues – no matter how big, or how small.

You can trust us to always be open and honest about your repair needs, and to never cut corners, or deliver sub-par service. Don’t believe us? Come in today – we’d be glad to show you around our facilities, discuss our policies, and do whatever we can to earn your trust!

So don’t rely on just anybody to fix up your used car. Trust Ride Time. We deliver open, honest service at reasonable prices – guaranteed.

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