How to Choose a Car Repair Shop
When it comes time to get your car fixed make sure to follow the advice below.
Plan ahead
Being proactive and finding a good shop before you actually need any repairs done will prevent you from making a rushed (and possibly bad) decision. Call a few different shops in your area before choosing one. You may even want to check with the Better Business Bureau for any negative or positive feedback on them.
Ask for recommendations
If you don't already have a shop mechanic that you trust to repair your car, start by asking your friends, family and co-workers who they take their own cars to for servicing and repairs. A shop's reputation is an important factor to consider.
Make sure the shop is neat and organized
When you get to the shop, look around to make sure it is neat, well organized and has professional staffs that are willing to answer your questions. Also check to see whether or not they use new or used auto parts. Using Recycled Auto Parts is a great way to save money and the environment.
Check that licenses and certifications are current
Certification alone does not guarantee of good or honest work, but it's still important to make sure the shop mechanics have current certifications. Shops with the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) seal are a safer bet.
Ask about experience
Not all cars or brands are made equally, so ensuring that the shop has experience working on the same make or model vehicle as yours is a good idea.
Find out how the pricing works
Some shops charge a flat rate per hour for labor on car repairs based on an independent or manufacturer's estimate of how long it takes to complete the repairs. Others charge based on the actual time the technician worked on the repair. Which is better? It depends on what you're getting done. It may be cheaper to consider auto recycling.
Get a second opinion
If you choose a shop and get an estimate for work but it seems too expensive, go and get a second opinion from another shop. This way, you can make an educated decision on which to go with. But before you get an estimate from either shop, make sure you know whether or not they will charge you a diagnostic fee.
Read the fine print
When you get an estimate, make sure it is signed and that you read it over in detail (including the fine print so that there are no surprises after the work is done. The estimate should identify what is being repaired, parts and anticipated labor charges.
Watch for red flags
A red flag that the repair shop you're checking out is not a good option is whether or not there are cars in the garage being worked on and cars waiting in the parking lot to be brought in. If the shop is like a ghost town, you probably don't want to go there. They might get your car in right away, but there's probably a reason they're not popular so do your research beforehand. The better auto repair shops will likely have cars waiting for repairs or customers picking up their cars. Another red flag is when you walk in and customers are arguing with the staff and clearly unsatisfied.
Sometimes your old car has just reached the end of its useful life and if that is the case it might be time to Donate Your Car To Charity or simply have it recycled at your local junk yard.
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Would you trade a 1980 Triumph TR7 for a 1958 Hillman Minx?
My husband and I bought a Triumpg TR7 this summer. It's brown with quite a bit of primer. It runs (needs a water pump) and is pretty solid. It's a soft top. A local car restoration shop is interested in trading us the Triumph for a 1958 Hillman Minx straight up. I can't decide if that's a good trade or not. I really like the Hillman (they're cute!) but I think the parts may be harder to come by and more expensive. Any opinions?
I must add that I am from the middle of the US. Hillman's are EXTREMELY rare here. And TR7's are sought after...at all....that why we only paid $250 for it.
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Info on a small version of a 1957 Chevy Bel Air?
I once lived in a small town and there was a car that looked just like a 1957 Chevy Bel Air but MUCH smaller. I now own a classic car restoration shop and have asked many people about this car. I have had one person tell me it is called the "phantom" 57 and it's origin is unknown. This person claims there are only three or four in existence. I recently went back to this small town only to find the car and the owner no longer reside there. Has anyone ever seen or heard of such a car? If so I would be interested in the history of it as well. Thanks in advance to any plausible answers I get.
There is "such a thing" as I have seen one with my own eyes. I am not saying GM made it, I am just saying it exists and I want to know what it is, a kit car, a proto-type or what.
I searched for Vauxhall classics, nothing there. This car looked EXACTLY like a 57 bel air with the silver inset on the rear fenders and everything. It was just smaller in every aspect, height, width, and length. This may have been a one-off custom. I truly don't know, just thought I would throw the question out there. At the time, I just never asked the owner about it and when I went back to look at the car and talk with the owner both were gone.
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Good (car restoration) buisness idea?
I have visited some websites that offer car retorations on muscle cars, exotics, ext. Is car restoration a good buisness to start these days because I have always wanted to own my own buisness some day. And how much does an average car restoration shop charge for a single car? Is it hard to start? Any answere is appreciated
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Good (car restoration) buisness idea?
I have visited some websites that offer car retorations on muscle cars, exotics, ext. Is car restoration a good buisness to start these days because I have always wanted to own my own buisness some day. And how much does an average car restoration shop charge for a single car? Is it hard to start? Any answere is appreciated
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Car Restoration Shop?
Does anyone know a good car restoration shop around Los Angeles CA, that would do some work on my 68 Camaro
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