Probably the most important thing that you can do when you’re looking for a good service and repair shop is to speak with your friends. If you’re new to the area, then speak to your co-workers or to people that you may go to church with.
Speak to auto parts store employees. A lot of people don’t realize that their local auto parts store is a great resource.
The local NAPA or CARQUEST people are going to know who the good shop owners are in town. They are the places that refer customers who have had their check engine light looked at, or who they’ve sold an O2 sensor to and the issue is still not fixed, and the customer isn’t sure what to do.
Another great resource is Google. Just take a look and read online reviews. Read 5, 10, 15, or 20 customer reviews and you’ll get a feel for how the shop operates and how they’re viewed within the community.
Check with the Chamber of Commerce. The Better Business Bureau is another great resource.
Also take a look at the shop’s website and at the staff bios. Go in and pay them a visit. Get the free consultation.
Trust your gut. Look at the shop. Is it clean? Are the service advisers friendly? Are the technicians certified? These are all questions you should ask.
Any high-quality shop is going to be happy to show you their technician certifications and is going to be happy to really show themselves off, because they’re proud of what they’re doing and how they conduct their day-to-day business. They’ll be happy to answer any of your questions.
AAA is another great resource. They really put auto shops through a litmus test of checking on them to make sure that they’re a quality shop. I know that AAA of Washington goes the extra mile to make sure that before they give a stamp of approval on a shop, they take a sample of customers. They’ll actually call customers to see what they’ve had done. AAA tours the facility and knows what kind of quality shop it is, and sees that they have the right equipment. They also demand that in order to be an AAA-approved shop, you have to employ technicians that are certified in the areas that you repair.
Those are some of the quickest, easiest, and most effective ways to find a good shop in whatever area of the country that you live in, but probably the best way to find a shop is by referral. Again, talk to your friends, family, and your neighbors.
