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Choosing an Auto Mechanic

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Auto mechanics are essentially car doctors. When your beloved Mazda Protégé seems sick, you call the mechanic and ask for an immediate appointment. You describe the symptoms, and the mechanic will look closely, run some tests, and determine the exact problem and the solution. Hopefully, no major surgery is required.

But if a mechanic is a car doctor, why is visiting one so frightening? We all want Click and Clack, the lovable brothers from NPR's Car Talk, but we're all nervous we'll get either the inept or the dishonest mechanic. In reality, most mechanics in the yellow pages fall somewhere between these two extremes. The trick to finding a good one is doing your homework.

First, ask your friends or co-workers for suggestions. In addition, the local Chamber of Commerce or Better Business Bureau won't make suggestions, but it will tell you if a mechanic is reputable. Finally, find a mechanic that will be convenient for you. What are the shop's location and hours? Does it provide a loaner car? Can you drop off your car before or after hours?

Next, call or go by the shop. Look for ASE or AAA certification, which indicates that the mechanic has received specific levels of training. Then, ask about the mechanics' experience--both in general and with your make and model. Finally, describe your problem, and see how they respond. Don't ask them to identify the problem (they haven't even looked under the hood yet!), but expect them to listen and ask intelligent questions.

You should also get some idea of the cost of the repair. Ask for hourly rates and/or an estimate of the repair cost, which you can then compare with other shops.

Ideally, you'll start with a small job so that you can get to know the mechanic before entrusting him with a big job. Watch if he delivers according to his time/price estimate. More importantly, as you drive the car over the next few days try to determine if he really did fix the problem.

The best mechanics give you fair prices and work quickly. In addition, however, they bombard you with respect. They explain problems in laymen's terms, differentiate between the importance of jobs, and outline the advantages and prices of multiple options. They listen to you and answer your questions.

Finally, work at building a good relationship with your auto mechanic. Find one you like and stick with him. He will not only learn more about your car, but he will learn what kind of performance you expect from your car and what jobs you will want done. You will be patient while he works, trust his advice, and rest assured that your car will stay in great health.

Next Page: Different Types of Auto Mechanics

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