10 Tips to Help You Find an Honest Mechanic

10 Key Points To Help Locate An Honest Mechanic

1. Read reviews: The Internet is full of information and reviews for auto repair shops and mechanics in your area. Unless it’s a brand new shop, you’ll be able to find a handful of reviews on most places and their mechanics. Reviews don’t always paint the most realistic picture of a business, but they generally give a good idea of what to expect. It’s just one more way you can narrow your search for an honest mechanic. Be sure to check the dates of each review, so you aren’t going off of old comments from 2012.
2. Learn about your car’s problem: Before you see a mechanic, try surfing the Web for a possible explanation of your problem. If you enter the symptoms, you may find people who had the same issue and know how to diagnose and fix the problem. Many times they’ll include how much the services cost, how long their car was in the shop, and tips for having your vehicle serviced. Taking your vehicle in could save you a ton of money and frustration.
3. Look for ASE-certified mechanics: One little-known and beneficial way to find an honest mechanic is to look for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified mechanics. These professionals must have at least two years of relevant work experience and pass one or more vehicle repair and service exams to be certified. To maintain certification, mechanics have to retake their tests every five years. ASE-certified mechanics typically wear blue and white ASE badges and display their credentials within the shop. You can rest assured that you are in good hands if an ASE-certified mechanic works on your car.
4. Background check: One way to research the credentials of an auto repair shop is to contact your local Better Business Bureau to see if they are a reliable business. Here, you can find BBB ratings and customer complaints that will give you a better idea about the establishment and its mechanics. Much of this information is also available online.
5. Ask shops for references: Mechanics you’ve used in the past will gladly give you references for good mechanics in your area. Of course, you probably don’t want to get a reference from a shop where you had a bad experience. Instead, call ones you can trust to guide you toward quality service.
6. Bring along an auto expert friend: If you have a friend who’s a grease monkey, bring them with you to a repair shop. Your friend can help you decide whether or not the mechanic is telling the truth or lying about the condition of your car. If your inside expert has diagnosed your problem, you can compare the two diagnoses and see if the mechanic is on the right track.
7. Ask around: A good sign of an honest mechanic is one who your friends, family, and coworkers recommend. Using personal recommendations will help you feel more confident about using this mechanic and ease your worries about getting ripped off.
8. Be observant: If you go to a mechanic and he tells you and ten other people that you all need to replace your blinker fluid, you might want to think twice about the honesty of this mechanic. Be observant of what the mechanic tells customers, how he sells a service and explains a repair. A good mechanic will thoroughly explain the problem and show you evidence of the problem. If they rush the explanation and start pressuring you to accept the service, you may need to move on.
9. Get a second opinion: If you think you may have found a good mechanic but feel uncomfortable, you should get another opinion. Getting a second opinion will help you know for sure if your preferred mechanic is telling the truth. To do so, keep note of the first mechanic’s diagnosis, estimated cost, and time frame for repair when you go see another mechanic. If the information matches, you can probably trust their diagnosis, but you may want to get a third opinion to settle the problem if it sounds different.
10. Look for a customer satisfaction policy: When shopping around for an auto repair shop, look for a customer satisfaction policy that guarantees quality service, or you get your money back. Honest mechanics and reliable auto shops wouldn’t advertise this promise if they couldn’t ensure excellent service that’s worth your money.