How to Find a Quality Auto Repair Shop - Consumer Reports

Finding a reputable repair shop is one of the most important factors in keeping your vehicle in good condition.

It can be challenging, but CR's expert advice can help you evaluate service facilities like a pro.

In this article

• Start your search
• Make your decision
• Review your repair estimate

"Assessing the quality of a repair shop is complicated, and its size and cleanliness can only tell you so much," says John Ibbotson, chief mechanic at Consumer Reports' Auto Test Center. "The best way to find out if the store is a good choice is to speak verbally with people who have used their service and are happy with it."

Below are Ibbotson's tips for finding a good deal in your area.

Start your search

Ask for recommendations. Quality mechanics have a good reputation in their community. Ask around. This becomes especially relevant if you ask someone who owns a car similar to yours.

Make your decision

Consult the certification. A quality mechanic and repair shop should be certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). To become certified, technicians must pass one or more of the 52 ASE tests. To maintain ASE certification, the technician must retake the exam every five years.

Check with the Better Business Bureau. Auto repair shops are ranked 16th on the Better Business Bureau's list of companies receiving complaints. Visit the office's website to search for the repair shops you are considering.

Ask the store about their experience. "In my experience, it was rare for people to contact us and talk about the services we offer before bringing in their car," says Michael Crossen, a mechanic at CR's Automotive Test Center and also ASE certified. Master technician with many years of experience in dealer service departments. "Be sure to ask them if they have experience with your car model." Find out what type of work they do, such as: E.g. express service, oil change and brake pad/rotor replacement, or whether they have a more qualified technician who can deal with electronics and diagnostics. Although these are more complex services that you may not need now, you may need them in the future.

Try the store. Once you've narrowed your options down to a few shops, try them out for small repairs or maintenance, like changing the oil or filter. Observe how well the mechanics treat your car and how well they communicate with you. Ibbotson says this approach allows him to build a relationship with the repair shop and gives his technicians the opportunity to learn more about your car, its maintenance schedule and any problems it may have.

Ask about guarantees. Check to see if the shop backs its work with any type of warranty. To compare shops, ask about their warranty for a common repair, such as brake work. "A good workshop will guarantee most repairs for at least 12 months and 12,000 miles, with others even longer. This way you can make sure the shop stands behind their work and the parts they use," says RepairPal's Long.

The Federal Trade Commission provides helpful information about auto warranties and service contracts .

Find the best repair shops.

Use the CR ratings of workshops and vehicle repair assistants .

Review your repair estimate

How to avoid confusion. There are ways to ensure you are covered for repairs beyond basic maintenance, such as: E.g. oil change, don't charge too much. To get started, contact CR's Auto Repair Assistant to find out approximately how much a specific repair might cost in your area. Compare this to a written estimate from your mechanic. Request a quote detailing parts and labor costs.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. There could be a good reason, Ibbotson says, why the repair estimate is higher than expected. Remember that a cheaper solution is not always the best. A good repair shop may use parts with a longer warranty or have specially qualified technicians.

Become independent. . . but sometimes the dealer is a better option. You may be able to get a better price from an independent mechanic if going somewhere other than the dealer won't void your warranty. However, keep in mind that dealers sometimes have special tools and diagnostic equipment that independent repair shops do not have. The best validation is a trustworthy mechanic who isn't afraid to answer questions or explain his work, says Ibbotson. A trustworthy mechanic will also be honest with you when it comes time to take your car to a more specialized repair facility, such as a new car dealer or transmission repair shop, if you can't handle the level of work. drive.

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Jon Linkov

Jon Linkov is an associate automotive editor at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2002 and covers a variety of automotive topics including buying and leasing, maintenance and repair, ownership, reliability, used cars and electric vehicles. He manages CR's special interest publication series, hosts CR's " Talking Cars " podcast, and writes and edits content for CR's print and online products. An avid cyclist, Jon also enjoys driving his 1980s sports car and giving lessons on track days.

Benjamin Preston

Benjamin Preston has been a reporter on Consumer Reports' automotive team since 2020, focusing on new and used car buying, auto insurance, car maintenance and repair, and electric bicycles. Since 2012, he has reported on cars for The New York Times, Time, BBC, Guardian, Road & Track, Car and Driver, Jalopnik and others. Outside of CR, he maintains his own small fleet of vintage vehicles and is a volunteer firefighter specializing in auto accident response and vehicle recovery.

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