Looking after your car is very important, as your safety may ultimately depend on it. If you have a new car, then you would normally entrust its maintenance to your local car dealer, but if you have an older car, you are more likely to pick out a vehicle garage in your neighborhood. Finding a good garage is not an easy job, but the following tips may just come in handy to pick a good garage for your car:
- Find a good garage in your locality: The first question that may pop up in your mind is, “how do I find a good vehicle garage?” Doing a little homework will help you get an answer to your question. First, you can search online and make a list of all the vehicle garages located near you. You will then need to ask your family and friends, and you can even post the question on social media to get reviews on the garages that you have shortlisted. This will definitely help you figure out which vehicle garage is most popular.
- Check out the prices in advance: The research shouldn’t stop once you find the vehicle garage of your choice; you can continue and try to learn how much it will cost to get your car serviced or repaired at that garage. You can also call several garages and enquire about their hourly rates. You will find that the labor rates at local vehicle garages are lower than those at a franchised main dealer usually.
- Things to do at the vehicle garage: Ask for a written quote before the mechanic gets started on the work in your car. You could also enquire about a courtesy car for you to use until the work on your car is completed. Once the work on your car is completed, you could ask the mechanic to demonstrate the working of the part that has been fixed or ask them to take a test drive. A mechanic is normally pleased to show off their work if they have done a good job on the car. You will know that there is something amiss if they are reluctant to do so, and you will need to follow up on it.
- Stick to the service schedule: It is always a wise move to stick to the service schedule, as prevention is better than cure. New cars don’t require annual servicing, but the duration consecutive services may vary based on the usage of the car.
If you are satisfied with the work and services offered by the vehicle garage, ensure that you stick to that particular garage for all your service needs, as you can build a personal rapport with the people there. This way, they are more receptive to the feedback provided about their services.
