This post is part of a sponsored automotive series. All opinions are mine.
I’ve had countless friends ask me how they can find a reliable mechanic for their car. Too many times, mechanics can get a bad rap for overcharging, over-diagnosing or just being hard to work with. I can honestly say I’ve dealt with both ends of the spectrum and finding an honest and reliable mechanic can be a valuable piece of information to have.
So what do I typically tell people? Do your research. Yes, but how? Utilize the tools you have available to you. Here’s where I would start, and also some advice I received from a friendly Oregon Dodge dealer.
Poll your friends and family.
It could be in person, on Facebook, or via text/email. Asking for recommendations for an accountable mechanic from your most trusted acquaintances can be very beneficial and a very quick way to create an emergency database in case you ever find yourself needing car repairs.
Search for local mechanics on Facebook.
This works with all kinds of businesses, not only car mechanics. Just type in a service you’re in need of, and Facebook will find the closest ones available to you. Once you’ve got a list of them in front of you, do some vetting by visiting their business pages and checking on their ‘reviews’ score. This can say a lot about a business, not only by how many reviews they have but how positive they are. A business with many reviews and a high service score (4 stars and above) are definitely worth giving a shot.
Check out Google and Yelp.
Once you have a company in mind that you want to do a little research on, you can search them on Google or Yelp to get more customer feedback. You’ll be able to browse through previous customer’s reviews of the business and get a better idea of whether or not you want to do business with them as well.
It’s a good idea to compile a list of dealers/mechanics that you can trust and have that list available to you whenever you might need it. Being prepared can not only save you money but also stress and time as well.
What tips do you have to add? Leave a comment below!
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