Finding a mechanic is a stressful process but one you have find out, you want to make sure that you take a little tour of the shop where they work.  This can honestly tell you a lot about where the mechanic works and what type of work ethic they have in the shop.

You want to look at the equipment to see if it is up to take and if they have certified technicians.  You also want to make sure that the staff is helpful and courteous and that the shop itself is neat and organized.  While these might seem like mundane things, they are actually really important.

Next, you want to test the shop – send one of your friends to see how they treat women and men differently – if they do, you will tell that this is not the shop for you.

Now that we have talked about consulting your friends and family for a mechanic, you now need to decide whether or not you want to go with an independent shop or if you want to go with the dealer itself.  There are pros and cons to both of them, however you can really find a good mechanic anywhere.

One thing that you should know is that dealerships usually charge a heck of a lot more – so that is something to keep in mind.  Really, any competent mechanic can perform routine maintenance and repairs on your cars, you don’t necessarily have to go to the dealer, however if you need a warranty or recall repair, you will have to consider going to the dealership.

This is because these mechanics actually receive factory training from the manufacturers of the cars, so they know how to handle these repairs.