As a car owner myself, I know that having a good mechanic near me is not only important, it’s also super convenient.
Consider Clinton’s situation.
He needs a mechanic. So he grabs his phone, inputs the search words "mechanic near me" in Google, scrolls through the search results, and makes a trip to the mechanic closest to his location. The chances are Clinton isn't going to find a reliable mechanic by following such a simplistic process. You can do better than Clinton, and this post will guide you on how to do just that.
What are the benefits of having a good mechanic you can trust?
It takes a bit of effort to find the best mechanic around. What’s more, you may have to jump from one mechanic to another before you find the mechanic best suited for your needs. Once you’ve made the initial effort, however, you will enjoy the following benefits.
1. Fast Repairs
A mechanic with vast experience can quickly identify faults and carry out necessary repairs, even with limited information. Meaning, when your car breaks down, you won't have to wait too long before your vehicle starts running again.
2. Helps You Save Money
Sometimes, mechanics have to outsource their job to more specialised mechanics. This is not an evil thing, of course. Most times, though, this practice ends up increasing your repair cost. A good mechanic knows how to fix varieties of problems, therefore cutting your cost by eliminating the need to visit different mechanics to solve different problems.
3. Reduces the Risk of Future Problems
A rookie mechanic could create a bigger problem while trying to fix a comparatively small fault. You've probably experienced this at some point before, maybe not with your car but with another appliance. Conversely, a good mechanic would not be so careless to overlook a big problem. They know where to look and how to address issues in such a way that prevents additional issues.
Bottom line, when you visit a mechanic for repairs, there are four major potential possibilities:
- You spend a ton of money, but the vehicle still doesn't get fixed properly. This occurrence is more common with newer model vehicles.
- The fault gets repaired but at the expense of more severe damage to another part.
- Your mechanic gets the repair done perfectly but cost you an arm and two legs.
- The vehicle gets repaired perfectly at a reasonable price.
The goal is to ensure that you get a mechanic who will deliver you the last result consistently. Now, let’s answer the “How” question.
How do I find the best mechanic near me?
For all our bravado about helping you find a trustworthy mechanic, there's no hard and fast rule to these things. And what you're about to find is that the best method is an intuitive one. Here are practical tips for finding the best mechanic near you here in Australia:
1. Ask Around
Ask friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues. Also, online reviews are your ally; use them to double-check any recommended mechanic shop's reputation. The most trustworthy information you'll receive about businesses will likely come from third-party sources.
It’s a good idea to ask for mechanics who service businesses like delivery companies, taxis, and government vehicles. These organisations have systems that have to keep running regularly. It's just practical that these structures must have a reliable mechanic to keep running steady. So do a little research about who does their servicing and repairs and consider taking your vehicles there. To find out who their mechanic is, ask their drivers.
2. Check for Manufacturer-Certified Mechanics or Shops
A useful screening question for shortlisting potential shops is, "is this shop manufacturer-certified?" Mechanics sometimes choose to undergo training to work on a specific brand of vehicles. This gives them in-depth knowledge of all vehicles made by that manufacturer. You can trust these manufacturer-specific certified mechanics to deliver excellent service.
3. Use CarPart AU Directories
The CarPart AU directory is a list of more than 20,000 entries and contacts of the best auto repair shops and auto professionals around Australia. This Directory is designed to help you find the best mechanics near you with ease. On the left side of the page, simply enter the type of service you are looking for, your suburb or postcode, and state, and you will be fed with matching results.
Alternatively, if you already have a shop in mind, you could fill in the name of the auto repair shop on the right side of the page. This works too even if you only remember a part of a business name. Type whatever (word or syllable) you recall from the name and the directory will display all contacts containing the letters you inputted.
4. Don't Start With a Major Repair
When dealing with mechanics, the burden of the risk is on you. One way to limit your risk when starting a new mechanic relationship is to start with a minor repair. True, doing this might not give you a perfect picture of the mechanic's proficiency since minor repairs are easier to fix.
However, it will give you progressive insights into the mechanic's attitude. Is he trustworthy? Is he patient enough to answer any questions you may have? Can you rely on him? Do you like working with him? If the answer to all these questions is "no," you're likely better off finding yourself another mechanic.
Final Note
You are looking for the best mechanic around. Guess what? The best mechanics are also looking for great clients. So don't stop searching. To quote Steve Jobs, “As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.” Make sure to do better than Clinton did; your vehicle deserves better.
Start checking out that mechanic recommended to you. You can start using CarPart AU’s Directory for that!
By Damilare Olasinde