Finding a Good Mechanic

Whether you have had a car for a long time, or are thinking of getting your very first vehicle, the necessity of having a good mechanic around is pretty much a necessity. After all, no matter how much you try to keep your vehicle in good working order accidents do happen. When faced with a situation like a broken radiator, or a damaged rotor, you don't really want to waste time in finding a good mechanic. If you take a few simple steps before you actually need it, you can have the number of a good mechanic ready and waiting for you. 1. Ask around friends and family. When looking for a mechanic that you can trust, and that does good work, the first place that you should check is with your immediate friends and family. Often times these trusted people have had to get their own car work done. This means that they will have had to do a lot of the same research that you are doing now, by asking them you won't have to repeat the same research. Write down the names and contact information for any mechanics that you receive for later. 2. Talk to other car owners. Talk to other people who own the same make and model of car as you. These people could be coworkers or attend the same church as you. Just as with your friends and family, these individuals may have had previous work done on their car. Write the contact information down that you receive. 3. Check the credentials. Contact such agencies as the American Automobile Association, or the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence to see if the shops on the list you have compiled are certified by them. These are the two top mechanics accreditation and certification organizations in the United States, and will have records of which mechanics are affiliated with them. 4. Check for complaints. Contact your local Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if there are any complaints that have been filed against that mechanic. In addition, the BBB can also tell you the nature of the complaint, and if it was resolved satisfactorily or not. 5. Interview the mechanics. With the information that you have compiled, it is time to start interviewing the different mechanics. If there hare any duplicate names that have come from different sources, start with them first. Remember, these people will be working for you, and as such should be competing for your business. One of the questions that you should ask is if the mechanic will provide a warranty on their work. Good mechanics will usually offer a three month warranty, if they don't then ask why.