Finding a good car mechanic and building a trustworthy relationship with them is important for your peace of mind. Once you know your investment is in good hands and will be taken care of well, half the problem is taken care of. There are many ways to look out for a good car mechanic, but by far, the best is to seek recommendations from your car dealership and, preferably, using their technicians to do the job. The main advantage of going to a car mechanic from the dealership is that they will have original spares and will be updated about the changes in models, recalls, and service warranties for your particular brand and model of car.

Not all prefer to work with authorized mechanics or service centers attached to their dealers. For them, looking out for independent mechanics is the alternative choice. In fact, independent car mechanic may be less expensive on your pocket compared to authorized service agents. Discussing with family, friends, or colleagues is a good option, along with doing a bit of research. It is possible to connect with those who have a similar model of the car like yours and take feedback from them.

A few points to be kept in mind while searching for a car mechanic are:

A dependable car mechanic should be accessible
You should be able to communicate with them through telephone or email. They should also have additional support staff who can attend to your call, book the appointment, inform you about the work to be done, and be clear about information regarding the service and delivery of the car.

Look for their certifications and ratings
If a mechanic is certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), it is a good indication that they know their job and can handle most car models.

Check online about the mechanic’s rating
There are many websites which give you a rating and review of the mechanic. It’s a wise idea to verify the reviews and ratings online.

Check on warranties given
The mechanic should give you a warranty based on the life of the parts and the services done. The kind of parts used should be verified, i.e, do they use original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts or second-hand, used, or new parts.

After-work service
A good mechanic should maintain records of your car and should be able to guide you over the phone if there is an emergency breakdown. He should keep you informed of the regular service and maintenance schedule of your car.

Ability to give estimates close to actuals
This is very important so as to be able to decide on the work to be done.

There are chances that you may get stuck with a shady, rip-off car mechanic who does shoddy work and upsells you. These could be very rare instances. So, to ensure that you are not being cheated, you need to have a basic understanding of how your car works and have some idea about what the problem is with it. Being informed about the basic parts of a car and its functions is crucial so that you do not get taken for a ride while the mechanic diagnoses the problem and gives you the solution and an estimate. Familiarize yourself with the auto manuals at least to the extent that you are not left completely in the lurch when the mechanic discusses the problem. You can cross-check the estimates with other mechanics to get an idea of the approximate cost before committing your car to a particular mechanic.