Not many of us really have the time to research our vehicles thoroughly from inside out, not that I’m saying you should. Most of the times we couldn’t figure what happened to our cars and how to deal with it, and the best way to bring it to a mechanic. While we are not so sure about our cars, we can certainly know the people who we trust to fix it. This article will provide you with 4 in-depth questions that you can ask your mechanic or yourself so that you’d know if he had any idea about your cars or not.
Now let’s get straight to the questions. And, needless to say, you should ask these before he picks up the wrench.
1. “What is your experience with my models?”
You’d be surprised that some people are actually afraid to ask this question. The fact is no matter yours is some sort of outdated, sloppy models, it doesn’t hurt to ask! An experienced mechanic would save you a lot of time, effort, and money! If your car is still under warranty, bring it to the dealership where you bought it. If it isn’t, it’s more sensible to bring it to local auto services, since they only charge a portion of what you’d be quoted at the dealership. Besides, unlike dealerships, local auto services have a reputation to maintain and thus would try their best to serve you and your car. Just remember to get the one who knows your model best.
Local auto services have a reputation to maintain and thus would try their best to serve you and your car
2. After they’ve examined your car: “Do you know the exact reason why I bought my car here?”
It is important you don’t sound like you’re talking down to them, that you have good will and are just worried about your car. But still, this question is necessary as it is a reminder for them and for yourself too. Technicians are often busy and they can forget about the fine details if they’re not written down.
To be more assured, you should write down all the earlier problems that your car had and hand the list to the mechanic. By doing this, you and your mechanic can go through the problems together without worrying about missing any details. It is also a handy checklist when you go to pick your car up.
3. “Will there be a diagnosing fee?”
Some problems are minor while others can be pretty tricky. Many mechanics, especially experienced ones, have a lot on their plates already and therefore might need extra bucks to examine your vehicle. If your mechanic asks for it, you should confirm the fee immediately to avoid any extra to your bill later. An experienced one should do the calculations and gives you an estimated quote in a short period of time.
An experienced one should do the calculations and gives you an estimated quote in a short period of time
Pro tip: It is illegal in some cities for mechanics to ask for a blank check or refuse to give clients a quote, so you’d know what’s a major red flag when you see it.
4. Ask yourself “Can I trust this man’s integrity”
This is a tricky one. Maybe the mechanic is known for his low price, but does it mean he’ll use parts that are most suitable for your car? Or you might choose someone because he’s famous for his eyes for details until he replaces all your 4 wheels when only 1 is needed, because those tires are not “in line” with each other. It’s all too confusing. We suggest that you get to know your mechanic beforehand, chat him up a little bit so you’d get a feel of what’s he like before signing the quote.
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