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Get Referrals from Friends and Family
The best way to find a great repair shop is to seek places others like. You can get the best recommendations from your friends and family. Mainly, they will not have any reasons to exaggerate benefits of any particular shop. You can get honest and useful insight from the people you know. Start your search with input from friends and family.
Find Affordable Rates, Not the Cheapest
Be careful that you find shops with the affordable rates. Don’t hunt for shops with the cheapest rate because you might end up sending your car to a store with really bad service. Often, shops reduce rates to lowest of the low by selling second-hand spare parts. If you need to replace a segment of your car, then you need genuine auto parts no doubt about it. Therefore, find an affordable shop that also provides customers with real items from manufacturers.
Don’t Choose When You are in a Hurry
It’s important to find a repair shop before you run into an emergency. Think about it; when your car’s windshield is smashed you would want to get it fixed right away. You might not think about the quality of the products, rate, or even the quality of the service. Therefore, you should conduct your search early on to find the best place to get your car repaired when needed.
Online Reviews Matter Too
If available, check out online reviews for the store as well. Online reviews are mostly unbiased, and they can provide you with fresh input into areas your friends and family might not be familiar with. You don’t have to base your judgment solely on online reviews, but they are worth checking out.
Check Qualifications and Credentials
Who works at the repair shop? Are the mechanics trained and licensed? Make sure you check out the credentials of the repair shop before going there. It’s best to ask a lot of questions in advance to get your answers. Don’t hesitate to ask probing questions. After all, you are the customer and you have a right to know all the details before making a purchase.
Discuss Price
Don’t always judge rates based on what the stores advertise on their websites. These are price estimates, not necessarily quotas. You should always call or email the repair shop to find out the most realistic rates for the job you want done. Get estimates directly before you go.
Use the above tips and you will be able to find a great car repair shop in your area for emergencies and everything else.