you need your vehicle to get to work, run important errands and get your family to the places they need to be. So when it is not working right, you need to get it fixed. But with the complexity of today's vehicles, it is very difficult for you to understand what is really wrong.
The fact is that with all the electronics and computers, most symptoms can either be something major or something minor. It becomes all too easy for a shop to take advantage of you and perform repairs you simply do not need. How do you give yourself the best chance of finding an honest and competent shop? Here are some pointers:
- Locally owned and involved in the community. Is the shop owned and operated by someone who is local, who is involved in the day to day operations of the business and someone who cares about the community? Some large organizations are franchises and are locally owned, such as AAMCO. Some of the big names are corporate ownership with an impersonal owner. Some chains that appear local are not - they are managed by someone who is not invested in the success and quality of the business - you need to do your homework. Do they participate in local community groups?
- Affiliations - There are many to choose from but look and see if the shop you are considering is a member of the Better Business Bureau with a commitment to fair resolution of any disputes.
- Testimonials - Does the shop have satisfied customers? Don't stop with the letters a shop provides, check them out on the local Better Business Bureau website to see what sort of complaints are on file.
- Clarity - Does the shop clearly describe what is happening with your vehicle? While modern vehicles are complex, they should still be able to clearly describe what is happening and their proposed course of action to get you back on the road. If they can't do this, then perhaps they are trying to hide something.
- Choice - What happens to your vehicle is your choice. Does the shop educate you on what your options are and help you make an informed choice or do they try to strong-arm you into an expensive repair?