A good Auto Mechanic is as hard to find as anyone else. I don’t know why some people think that all mechanics and shops should be good when they know from other experiences that finding a good doctor or plumber or even a good restaurant is going to be something that takes time and luck.
Unfortunately cars are something that we all depend on and they need to be running and we can’t do without them for very long. This is why some people lease cars and why other people learn to fix their own car.
I strongly suggest that everyone learns how to fix their own car. There are many little things that can go wrong with your vehicle that are easy to handle yourself and when you do the work yourself you save lots and lots of money but more so your car isn’t sitting in a shop waiting to be repaired.
Now if you are unable to do the work because the job is just too complex or requires special tools or you just don’t have time in your life to deal with things like oil changes then you are going to need to find a mechanic.
Finding A Good Mechanic
Now for the most part everyone that has had a car will tell you that you should stay away from your dealer but this is not always the fact. In many cases your dealer is going to be able to do those really hard jobs when your local mechanic just can’t get it done. It may be that they have access to technical documents and training or maybe they know the special tools to use to make the job easier. Whatever the case there are situations where your dealer is the best situation and what really might make you think twice is that sometimes your dealer can actually cost less than your local mechanic.
For example having a transaxle fluid change in some vehicles requires that you only use the manufacturer’s fluids. Honda is this way in the early to mid 2000’s and honestly its recommended throughout. If your mechanic has to order fluid and then has to have it delivered or picked up the time and cost to you is going to be more.
Also any warranty work should be done by the dealer even if it means you need to drive some distance for service. Once you are out of warranty then anyone can do the work who is competent and that still could include your dealer.
So if your dealer has good mechanics and access to the best documentation and tools why use anyone else? Because some jobs don’t require a mechanic with all of that overhead which results in higher costs and wait times for the customer. Also there are some shops such as tire sales where specialty companies do a better job for less.
I would always suggest that anyone getting basic service do the work themselves or find reasonable or even free solutions. Many people don’t know that national parts companies will often do basic service for free. They can check your car for check engine codes, Install lights and batteries and wipers for free and they can suggest other mechanics in the area that do the work you need done.
Tire work and Exhaust Systems are almost always better performed by a specialty chain store. Even the big box warehouse shopping places do tire installs and often do them for cheaper than anyone else. The price of a $35 membership to a warehouse club could be paid for with just one tire change.
Final Note
The thing to remember when choosing a mechanic is that when you bring your car in to a large shop you might not get the same person every time. Smaller shops you can normally request someone to do the work or it might just be 3 to 5 mechanics who all pitch in or have their specialties.
Word of mouth is really a primary way to get a good mechanic. Ask your neighbors what experiences they have had on price and turn around times and how the work was completed.
Inspecting the shop’s lot is another thing to take notice of. Just because they have a lot of cars on their lot doesn’t mean they are quick. Notice the cars at different shops as you drive by. What cars stay there more than a couple days and what ones never move. They could be the owner’s project cars or cars that are waiting extended time periods for service.
All in all your best bet is to learn how to care for your own vehicle even if you can’t do all of the work yourself you should research any job you will be having done so you know what the mechanics are telling you is an honest thing or even the results other people have had going to local mechanics vs dealers vs national chains.