You’re driving home from a long day at work, looking forward to some much needed downtime, and your “check engine” light comes on. If you’re like most people, you immediately flinch at the thought of unnecessary overcharges and the inconvenience of dealing with this unexpected and unpleasant situation. Since today’s cars are much more complex than the cars of yesterday, car owners generally lack the ability to ascertain whether they’re being given an honest quote or an inflated one. With a little planning and research, you can find a technician who is both knowledgeable and fair, and who can get you on your way without costing you an arm and a leg.

Be Prepared
Regardless of what make or model car you drive, it’s inevitable that you’ll require the services of a mechanic at some point. Waiting for a breakdown essentially puts you at the mercy of the tow truck driver, who may or may not have your best interests at heart. Smart consumers will research local mechanics’ shops before they’re in a bad situation by asking their friends for recommendations, checking social media, and reading online reviews. Services such as Angie’s List and the Better Business Bureau are great resources to find reputable shops and weed out the others. 

Start Small
Once you’ve found a mechanic that you feel good about, take your vehicle in for a small service or repair. This will enable you to check out things like the cleanliness of the shop, the professionalism of the mechanics, the timeliness of their services, and how they treat their customers. This is also a good time to use a search engine like google to compare the price you are quoted to prevailing industry standards. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand something, or if the price seems inflated. A reputable mechanic will welcome the opportunity to educate you, in layman’s terms, about your vehicle and the services they are recommending. 

Try Try Again
Like the old saying goes, “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”. If your first choice shop seems to be overcharging you, or not treating you as a valued customer, don’t hesitate to get a second opinion. One major red flag is a technician pressuring you into committing to expensive repairs without truly explaining the situation to you. Listen to your gut – if it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Again, a reputable shop will appreciate and take the time to allay your concerns.
Need a mechanic? The pros at Ormsby Motors have years of experience and training to provide you the repairs you need. Check us out online or give us a call at (815) 459-4566