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How to Find the Right Mechanic for Your Car

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Finding a garage and a mechanic who can keep your car ticking over perfectly should be as important as finding a doctor or a good chiropractor near you. Tracking down these services can be difficult, but it will be worth it if you know that you have found the right person to take care of your car. Your mechanic is going to be the one who knows exactly how to restore your car to the levels you expect. Here are some of the things you should look for when trying to find a mechanic.


A good working knowledge on both sides

Don’t get ripped off because you don’t know anything about your own car. When a mechanic takes a look at your car, they will often reel off some possible causes of the problem. The temptation here is to nod and act like you know exactly what they are talking about.

This could unfortunately mean that you could get ripped off. You should instead make sure that you do some basic research about your car. Learn about general car maintenance and a car’s anatomy and a little about the unique features of the car. You do not have to be an expert but make sure you know enough to catch when someone who claims to be a professional is leading you astray.

When you have this knowledge on your side, try to pick someone who seems to have a good knowledge that goes past your own. Through careful questioning, you should be able to work out whether or not someone can meet this standard.


The right insurance

Working with someone else’s cars can be dangerous. You want to make sure that whoever you choose has the correct insurance. This is a sign that they are reputable and trustworthy as they are in a position to be able to deal with anything which might happen to your car while it is in their care.

One of the most important policies you should look for is motor trade insurance. This policy protects someone when they are driving someone else’s car for business reasons. Someone could have to do this simply when moving your car around the workshop, or they may even offer a service where they pick the car up from your home directly. By making sure that a company has motor trade insurance for its employees, you will know that your car is in good hands.

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Specialty

If you want to be certain that your car will be taken care of, you should look for a garage or mechanic which specialises in that brand of car. You don’t even have to have a car which is rare. There are plenty of mechanics who specialise in some of the most common models on the market. If you drive one of these cars you might find more comfort knowing that someone who knows exactly how to take care of your motor is going to be taking look at it.

The need to find a specialist does increase if you have a rare or vintage car. This is simply because you need to make sure that your car has been left with someone who knows how to take care of it properly. If you give your vintage car to just any mechanic, their inexperience may do more harm than good. Take the time to research car mechanics and be aware that for rarer cars you might have to look further afield to find someone who can fix it.


Visit the garage personally

If the garage you are considering is located locally to you, you might want to stop by to arrange an appointment personally instead of phoning it in. A garage is always going to be greasy and dirty but you will want to make sure that it is not overly so. Take careful looks at the tools and equipment; everything should be neatly organised and packed away when not in use. If there are cars waiting to be serviced, are they parked haphazardly or does there appear to be some sort of system?

You should also pay attention to how the staff treat you. The best mechanics will want to build a working relationship with you so you will be happy to return there again. If it feels like they are being short with you, or feel overly unfriendly, you might want to think about going elsewhere.


When searching for the best mechanic for your needs, there are many details you should pay attention to. Unless the job is urgent, try not to rush finding the right person. With some careful searches, you should be able to find a mechanic who suits you well. This will hopefully be the start of great partnership so you can keep your car in top condition no matter what.  

This is a collaborative article.