A few Tips on Finding a Reputable Auto Mechanic

These days it seems that the old ‘shade tree mechanic’ is a thing of the past. One reason for this speculation is the level of technology that cars have as standard equipment. Unless your neighbour down the street is, ASC certified or not with all of the electronic testers available to check your car out, you need to find a reputable automotive service in Ottawa.

However, one difficulty remains, and that is finding a place that does not charge an arm or a leg to do a minor tune-up, oil change, swap the tires, brake job, or other such work. Considering that most car warranties cover most of a vehicle’s major systems, such as the drive train and engine. The first few years of ownership and maintenance should be uneventful as far as running into any major costs.

Nevertheless, if you plan to keep your vehicle more than three years, it helps to find a mechanic that is reasonable and knowledgeable about your car. Your neighbours are your best resource, specifically if they own a similar make and or model as your own. They can tell probably tell you who stay away from as well as pointing you in the right direction, in their minds.
Check the Better Business Bureau for businesses that carry a triple ‘A’ rating and then call to inquire about their pricing. The point is having a high rating does not always translate into affordability. However, the BBB is still a great resource for Ottawa businesses.
Always read customer reviews of the Ottawa shops you are thinking of using, along with any rating by the BBB. This is another indicator of satisfaction and reliability.
Another aspect is how an Ottawa auto repair shop prefers to work with their customers. Some places might prefer cash only while most others will honour payments with credit.
Distance for your home may have some weight in picking a repair shop. If you do not want to burden anyone to pick you up or drop you off when your vehicle needs to have a repair performed.
Another consideration is the operating hours of the shop, some close on the weekends. While others perform most of their repairs during this time, this makes adjusting when to pick up or drop the vehicle off difficult according to your own work schedule.
Find out how long they have been in business and whether the shop is part of a franchise or a chain. In either scenario, there are bad and good points. The thing to keep in mind is that a franchise is independently owned and operated under a corporate name. This means the customer service policies are management control at the shop level. If the repair shop is a chain, the policies are mandated by the corporate board and every shop within the chain should follow them. In each case, the labour and prices will vary accordingly both good and bad.

In the midst of finding a reputable auto repair shop in Ottawa that charges reasonably and is convenient things may seem a bit confusing. That is why it is always wise to check with friends and family first.