4 Must Ask Questions For Your Mechanic

Why do people go to the auto repair shops that they do? Sometimes it’s at the dealership where they purchased their car. Other times it’s because they’ve been going there for years or because it happens to be the closest place from home.

These aren’t bad reasons for going to an auto repair shop but there are certainly better reasons out there.

Things like quality, cost transparency and personal care based on specific needs are huge considerations when choosing a repair center as well.

If you haven’t already, consider asking these 4 questions the next time you schedule service to make sure you are getting the best value and care you possibly can. In truth, you should already know the answers to these questions and if you are having difficulty getting these answers, it’s a sure sign that you may want to consider shopping around for better service.

What am I getting with the service?

You’re not offending anyone (or at least shouldn’t) if you ask your repair technician what you are specifically getting with a suggested repair. Different shops or dealerships do things a little bit different. As an example, if you are paying for a tire rotation, ask if they will do a visual check of your breaks while the wheels are off. Some do automatically and others don’t.

Do you offer itemized estimates?

No one likes sticker shock, especially when you are told something will cost ‘X’ and it ends up costing ‘Y.’ Ask your mechanic for a breakdown of parts and estimated labor before work starts on your car. You can even ask to see what they are proposing to work on, such as brake pads, fan belts and even computer readouts from the diagnostics system. That way you can watch for unauthorized repairs and understand the work being done. A little accountability goes a long way as well as piece of mind.

Does your repair shop cater to specific vehicle types or specific work?

You need to understand what the strengths and weaknesses are of your repair shop. Just about everyone can do the basic stuff: oil changes, tire rotations, brakes, etc. But some specialize, for instance, on transmission services, diesel engines or imported cars (versus domestic.) They can specialize in collision repair or customization. This can affect their quality of work and also their rates.
If you are a business owner, you’ll want to make sure your repair center is capable of servicing fleet vehicles and/or large format vehicles.

Am I getting the best service possible based on the way I drive my car?

It’s always good to explain to your mechanic how you use your vehicle and they should be able to offer better care for your car. Consider your commute as an example. If you drive an hour to work every day and there is a lot of stop and go traffic and high speed travel, your car care needs will be far different from someone who drives 10 minutes to work. Brakes, oil, fluids, cooling systems and tires are a few areas where heavy driving accelerates the wear and tear to your car. Hauling/towing is another example. If you are putting a lot of weight on or in your car, your mechanic should know to ensure that your car is handling the stresses you are putting it through.

The team at BBack Car Care will be happy to answer any question you might have, from estimates and services to payment options and shuttle services. Our goal is to make sure you are getting the individualized attention that you deserve.

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