How to choose a good mechanic for your vehicle?

7 Necessary steps to find a good mechanic:

1. Legal and licensed shop

2. The organization of the facility

3. Entry inspection

4. Clear estimate

5. Return of old parts

6. Different repairs options

7. Warranty

Finding a good and honest mechanic is almost as tricky as finding a partner to get married to. Mechanical workshops do not always have a good reputation. I think we’ve all heard horror stories from an acquaintance that every time he takes his car to repair, he comes out with a few hundred dollars less and with another damaged part that will break down in a short time. While it is true that we usually rely on recommendations, knowing how to choose a good mechanic isn’t that difficult, you need to follow some advice and check that they meet specific quality parameters.

It must be legal:

A good shop must be registered in the city and with all their documents in order. The type of registration varies from state to state, but you must know what the regulations are in yours. There are workshops specialized in vehicles of specific brands and often are backed by these companies. Avoid using the services of improvised or illegal workshops.

Clean and organized facilities:

The facilities, organization, and cleanliness can give you an idea of how they work. Check the location, the type of space available, if the repair area offices are separated, if there are other cars in the workshop, among other aspects. In general, you should have an excellent first impression.

Entry inspection:

A good mechanic will make a report when you are entering, which list the problems that motivate the visit, but will also notice the possible defects that the car has at the time of entering (if it has a bump or scratch, for example). An inspection is crucial because it’ll let you know that the car will leave in the same state it entered and that you can make a claim if necessary.

Clear estimate:

Before starting any repair, a good mechanic will give you a written estimate that should detail the damage, possible solutions, and costs involved in the repair, including parts and labour. The budget must be detailed and precise, without surprise rises or hidden expenses.

They return the old parts:

A good mechanical workshop will offer to return the defective parts that have been replaced; this is to ensure that these have not been changed unnecessarily or that the workshop won’t keep it to repair and resell it.

They offer you less expensive options:

A good mechanic will be able to provide you with alternatives when making repairs and, if possible, will tell you which is the most economical but equally efficient option to solve a problem. You will even be able to avoid unnecessary substitutions or repairs, which shows that you are interested in providing a better service than in making money.

There’s a warranty:

An honest mechanical workshop offers a fixed period of warranty on their work, clearly specified in the invoice, and that can be determined regarding time and mileage, which will be counted from the time you take your vehicle home.