Is your Mechanic Trustworthy? How Can you Tell?

Your car is acting up, so now what do you do? Jay Jennings, GM of NARPRO (Network of Neighborhood Auto Repair Professionals) offers these helpful TIPS to determine if the shop you’re about to enter is reputable, reliable and honest.
 
Aug. 16, 2011 - PRLog -- 1- Find a good shop before you need one. Don’t wait until your car is having problems to find a mechanic. Do your research, use a service like NARPRO.com, and ask your friends for recommendations on shops they trust.  This will help you avoid being rushed into decision during an auto crisis.  Search out a shop that has been in business for at least 10 years. Before you need to service your car, become a member of NARPRO’s free VIP program to receive your VIP card.

2- Read what customers are saying online.  Remember, not every review is going to be positive. Look at how the poor comments were handled by the shop and make sure the positive feedback outnumbers the negative.  Auto repair is a complicated business and sometimes even the best shops are not perfect.

3- Ask if the shop employs ASE certified technicians.  ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certified mechanics must have two years of experience and pass an exam to become certified. Most NARPRO approved shops have at least one Master ASE tech on staff.

4- Look for a clean shop, especially the bathrooms.  If a shop cares enough to maintain their bathrooms they obviously take pride in their establishment and their work.

5- Get it in writing.  An honest and reputable shop is not afraid to give customers a written estimate before any work is started.  Insist on this, and run if they refuse to accommodate this request.  Doing this will also give customers the opportunity to compare apples to apples when they get a second opinion – which is highly recommended.  Every NARPRO shop offers a 2nd opinion program, free of cost, where a technician will take up to 30 minutes of their time and diagnostic equipment, reviewing a written estimate and providing a their written estimate, detailing their recommendations. This service is valued up to $135.

6- Ask if the shop is willing to return the worn out/replaced items.  Doing this will ease the mind and confirm the work done was necessary.

What to AVOID!

While it may be a challenge to find a good auto repair shop, be especially wary of shops that don’t charge for diagnostic time, are not willing to give you a written estimate and detailed description of the work that needs to be done (with itemized costs), or a shop that advertises oil changes for under $30.  Reputable shops don't try and draw customers in this way, because eventually they have to make up the costs somewhere else.
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