When you shopped for your car, you put time and effort into making the best possible choice. But have you done the same to find the right mechanic? The one to whom you will entrust its maintenance and who will accompany you for the next 5 or 10 years? Our advice for finding the best mechanical workshop.
On what criteria should I choose my mechanic?
Every good mechanic should:
- Hold the required skills cards (certification);
- Have the necessary training (and keep up to date) and qualifications to find the most cutting-edge problems;
- Have compliant and safe installations and necessary, state-of-the-art equipment and tools;
- Show your costs. The neighborhood garage will generally be less expensive than the dealership. However, everyone is required to display their hourly rate for customers to see. The free written evaluation is mandatory for any repair costing more than $100, make sure you understand what it is. If you don't understand anything, it might be a good idea to change mechanics.
- Provide impeccable customer service;
- Dispose of the polluting and dangerous materials used in an eco-responsible manner.
Should I go to the dealership if my car is under warranty?
For regular maintenance (oil changes and other checks scheduled in the manufacturer's maintenance schedule – see your owner's manual), you can go wherever you want, but keep your invoices. However, only dealers can honor your vehicle's warranty and offer repairs free of charge.
It is recommended that garages includes independent or “neighborhood” garages, as well as dealerships, body shops and specialists… all are evaluated according to very rigorous criteria. Members also obtain a discount in CAA Dollars and have access to a conciliation service in the event of a dispute with a recommended garage.
When should I do business with a specialized workshop?
While you can entrust several jobs to a general mechanic, certain problems, such as with your muffler, benefit from being repaired by a specialist. He will also have good contacts with the manufacturers of spare parts, when he doesn't make them himself... that's all he does! Other garages specialize in: tires, transmission, windshields, cooling or air conditioning systems.
What is the role of the technical advisor in an automobile garage?
This expert is very important, he will act as an intermediary between you and the mechanic. It is to him that you will describe your vehicle problem or mention the appearance of warning lights in your dashboard.
The latter will also have the task of explaining to you, in an understandable manner, the nature of the problem and the repairs to be carried out. In addition to having good knowledge of automobile mechanics, he must be a good popularizer.
Maintain a good relationship with your mechanic
It is essential to be able to trust your mechanic. No one likes to feel like they're being screwed. But you have to know the difference between good expertise and pressure selling. A good mechanic shop will follow your vehicle manufacturer’s maintenance schedule. He will be able to make recommendations and tell you the associated risks if you decide not to make the famous repairs (additional breakage, risk for the safety of the driver and passengers, etc.). He will also be able to help you with prioritization, for example, if you need to break up the repairs, if only to reduce your bill.
Of course, having a minimum of knowledge of your vehicle – and the repairs and maintenance carried out – remains the best way to avoid inconvenience and unnecessary loss of money.
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