Reader question:

How do I choose an auto repair shop for my car?

Mallory

Great question.

For most drivers, owning a car is a significant part of life, so when it comes time for your car to have that major life changing operation, you want to have the best surgeon make the incision. Maybe that’s going a little too far, but it’s definitely true that anybody who cares about their car is going to be invested in getting the best auto repair shop to fix it after they have falled a car repair insurance claim. But choosing that shop is where the trouble is. For those in that situation, I have created these guidelines.

• Certified by I-Car.

I-Car is an org that basically teaches mechanics in the best way to handle vehicles that have been in a collision. Shops which havetheir employees certified with I-Car overall provide the best service and the most quality repairs. It’s easy to tell which shops these are, because they tend to hang their certification in a prominent area.

• Certified by ASE, too.

This is the one that your car insurance company is probably looking for. Often, if you want to make sure you don’t get played on your claim, you should take your car to an ASE certified shop, and most of the time your car insurance company won’t let you do anything but. Standing for the National Institute of Automotive and Service Excellence, it trains people in what is required for repairs by the automobile industry.

• Your gut.

Don’t turn so red, I wasn’t talking about the one above your waist. Trusting your gut is something that you should also rely one when picking an auto insurance repair shop. All of the accolades on the wall might not make up for a dirty shop with surly employees and rusty tools hanging from the wall.

• Balding.

There are a lot of people in there who would never hire a mechanic who doesn’t a least have salt and pepper hair. This confused me at first until I understood their reasoning. People who are older tend to have more years of car repair experience behind them, and are thus more trustworthy with your vehicle. Now that does make sense, but I would only take it if they fit other criteria. As for me, I’ve had plenty of younger people fix my car just fine.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.