Indio Certified Smog's Step By Step Guide To Finding
An Excellent Professional Auto Mechanic
So your car's clunking, Whining. Whirring. Making a grinding-banging noise that has you concerned. But after hearing countless horror stories from friends who've been taken to the cleaners by their so called professional mechanics, you're also understandably concerned about finding an honest and reliable mechanic shop.
Fortunately, the odds are mostly in your favor. As of June 2010, there were 211,793 auto professional mechanic establishments in the U.S. You just need one (albeit a superior one). So where to begin?
Here's a step-by-step guide to finding repair shop respect.
- Play the field. It's a good idea to shop around before you have an emergency. An easy way to do this is to have regular maintenance performed at various local mechanic repair shops. If a shop does a great job on an oil or tire change, chances are they'll perform just as well on larger, more complex jobs. So do a little "ranking" and remember what they say about first impressions. If you need a professional mechanic NOW, however, skip to step 2.
- Get set up. Ask friends and people you trust if they can recommend a good mechanic repair shop. As with most things, word of mouth is your best bet in finding a knowledgeable, reliable and professional auto technician. But if everyone you know happens to drive miraculously trouble-free vehicles, proceed to step 3.
- Go online. Search is magically simple. There are a number of online engines that can help you find a list of local mechanic repair shops. National Public Radio's Car Talk offers a locator that helps you find local mechanic repair shops that meet your criteria. Just click on a shop name to see customer survey results and reviewer comments. You can also find professional mechanic reviews at professional mechanicRatingz. Once you have a few shops to investigate, move on to step 4.
- Know your stuff. Researching professional mechanics online isn't the most fun you can have in an afternoon (we know), but it could pay off. Check to see if a shop's professional mechanics are registered with the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Becoming ASE-certified involves a lot of experience and testing. The tests are notoriously difficult and staying certified requires a sizeable amount of industry knowledge and expertise. (Tip: look for actual certificates, not just logos or patches.) You can also check to see if a repair shop's registered with the Automotive Service Association. While these affiliations don't necessarily guarantee quality, they're an excellent and reputable place to begin.
- Get the dirt. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if the shop you're considering has had any registered complaints. Because we adore our cars, and because a bad experience with any mechanic can be infuriating and expensive, people tend to follow through on complaints of this nature more so than with say, an unpleasant exchange at the downtown cafe. Double check — if nothing comes up, that's a good sign.
- Trust your instincts. True, you're not a professional mechanic, but you probably know more than you think. Look around. Is the place neat and ordered or does it look like your teenage son's bedroom? Is the staff organized and helpful or about as friendly as a stick on a pole? Reputable repair shops realize that customer recommendations are key to a successful business, and they work hard to present a clean, friendly, and professional environment in which to keep customers happy.
- Drive happily ever after. Once you've found a reliable automotive repair shop and a good professional mechanic, all that's left is the honeymoon (so to speak). Be sure to keep their contact info handy for the next time and if you've had a really great experience, don't be shy. Sites like mechanicRatingz make it easy to give feedback. And unlike respect, when you find a good professional mechanic, it is more than okay to share!
Certified Smog & Registration Services Customer Service
Certified Smog's Links - Other Coachella Valley Professionals You Can Trust!
Our first priority is our Customers! Certified Smog takes great pride in treating our customers with respect and courtesy, as well as attending to one our most important aspects of life - our Vehicles and our Safety in our Vehicles.
You will find our Certified Smog location to be clean, comfortable, and convenient for your short stay.
If you have any questions, please contact us by telephone or
.