10 Ways to Find An Honest Mechanic

Finding a mechanic is easy. Finding an honest mechanic who isn’t trying to rip you off isn’t. Doing a little homework and investigation before letting just any mechanic work on your car will save you money and ensure your car problems get fixed. If you take pride in your vehicle and value your time and money, you should take the time to find an honest mechanic who isn’t going to steer you wrong. Here are 10 ways to find an honest mechanic:

1. Read reviews: The Internet is full of information and reviews for auto repair shops and mechanics in your area. Unless it’s a brand new shop, you’ll be able to find a handful of reviews for most places and their mechanics. Reviews don’t always paint the most realistic picture of a business, but they generally give a good idea of what to expect. It’s just one more way you can narrow your search for an honest mechanic. Be sure to check the dates of each review so you aren’t going off of comments from 2003.
2. Learn about your car’s problem: Before you go see a mechanic, try surfing the Web for a possible explanation of your problem. If you enter in the symptoms of your problem, you may find people who had the exact same issue and know how to diagnose and fix the problem. Many times they’ll include how much the services cost, how long their car was in the shop and tips for having your car serviced. This could save you a ton of money and frustration when you bring your car in.
3. Look for ASE-certified mechanics: One little known and extremely helpful way to find an honest mechanic is to look for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified mechanics. These professionals must have at least two years of relevant work experience and pass at least one or more vehicle repair and service exams to be certified. To maintain certification, mechanics have to retake their tests every five years. ASE-certified mechanics typically wear blue and white ASE badges and display their credentials within the shop. You can rest assured that if an ASE-certified mechanic is working on your car, you are in good hands.
4. Background check: One way to research the credentials of an auto repair shop is to contact your local Better Business Bureau to see if they are a reliable business. Here, you can find BBB ratings and customer complaints that will give you a better idea about the establishment and its mechanics. Much of this information is also available online.
5. Ask shops for references: Mechanics you’ve used in the past will gladly give you references for good mechanics in your area. Of course, you probably don’t want to get references from a shop that you had a bad experience at. Instead, call ones you can trust to guide you toward quality service.
6. Bring along an auto expert friend: If you have a friend who’s a grease monkey, bring them with you to a repair shop. Your friend can help you decide whether or not the mechanic is telling the truth or lying about the condition of your car. If your inside expert has diagnosed your problem, you can compare the two diagnoses and see if the mechanic is on the right track.
7. Ask around: A good sign of an honest mechanic is one who your friends, family and coworkers recommend. Using personal recommendations will help you feel more confident about using this mechanic and ease your worries about getting ripped off.
8. Be observant: If you go to a mechanic and he tells you and 10 other people that you all need to replace your blinker fluid, you might want to think twice about the honesty of this mechanic. Be observant of what the mechanic tells customers, how he sells a service and how he explains a repair. A good mechanic will explain the problem in a comprehensive way and show you evidence of the problem. If they are rushing the explanation and pressuring you to OK the service, you may need to move on.
9. Get a second opinion: If you think you may have found a good mechanic, but you aren’t completely convinced, you should get a second opinion. Getting a second opinion will help you know for sure if your preferred mechanic is telling the truth. In order to do so, keep note of the first mechanic’s diagnosis, estimated cost and time frame for repair when you go see another mechanic. If the information matches then you can probably trust their diagnosis, but if it sounds different then you may want to get a third opinion to settle the problem.
10. Look for a customer satisfaction policy: When shopping around for an auto repair shop, look for a customer satisfaction policy that guarantees quality service or you get your money back. Honest mechanics and reliable auto shops wouldn’t advertise this promise if they couldn’t guarantee excellent service that’s worth your money.