In the search for a new mechanic in Melbourne? With hundreds of options available, it can be hard to decide which one to go with. There’s heaps of factors to consider and making the wrong choice can leave you with a car that doesn’t run properly and a hole in your bank account. No need to worry though, as we’re here to help guide you through your choices and make the right decision.
What to look for to guarantee a great car service
Getting a regular service is important if you want to keep your car running well and to avoid major issues popping up in the future, but how can you guarantee that the service you’re getting is up to par? It’s easy, look out for these things:
Communication
The true sign of a good mechanic is their ability to communicate with you as the car owner. No matter how much or how little you know about cars, your mechanic should be able to explain to you what they offer in a service, what your car needs, and the work they’re doing in a way that you understand. At no point should your mechanic complete work without your complete consent, and consent requires an understanding of what’s being done and why.
If you don’t understand what your mechanic is saying, make sure you ask questions! If they can’t answer your questions in a way you understand, you should reconsider going through with the service – you may end up paying for things you don’t want and don’t need.
Transparency
Nothing should never be any surprises when it comes to car servicing, when you rock up to pick up your car you should know exactly how much you’re paying for the job done. A good mechanic will also be transparent from the beginning – you should be able to easily find pricing on their website and if you ask for a quote, that quote should be accurate to the final cost.
Transparency is also important when it comes to issues found over the course of the service. If your mechanic finds a problem with your car, they should clearly outline to you the impact this problem will have on your car’s ability to run and safety so you can decide whether you want to pay the additional costs to correct the issue.
Reviews
When in doubt, trust your community! A good and reliable mechanic will have many reviews with a high star rating, so don’t go to a mechanic with very few reviews or a low star rating. You should also make sure you filter the reviews to read the lowest ones – a good mechanic will respond to negative feedback to show that they take all criticism onboard and always strive to offer the best work possible.
Warranty
A good mechanic will always stand by their work by offering a warranty guaranteeing they will fix any problems that may arise that should have been caught and corrected over the course of the service. If you can’t find information about warranties on your mechanic’s website, make sure you ask them when getting a quote or booking an appointment.
Choosing where to go for urgent repairs
Sometimes the unexpected happens – your car breaks down, you’re involved in an accident, someone hits your parked car… A lot can go wrong. You depend on your car, so it’s important to get your car back up and running quickly without sacrificing quality in the repair (you don’t want to have to bring it back a couple months later for the same repair). So, here’s how to pick the right mechanic for urgent repairs in Melbourne:
See Above
Everything you should look for in a service, you should look for when needing a repair: communication, transparency, reviews, and warranty. While you won’t have as much time to weigh up your options, you need to get back on the road after all, if a mechanic doesn’t have these things, then you shouldn’t use them for your repair.
Qualifications & Specialisations
Cars are complex beasts, so only large mechanics will be able to repair a large range of vehicles and problems, and even then, they may not be able to fix your car. Before you book your car in for a repair, make sure you check that the mechanic has the qualifications required to fix your car.
Some mechanics will also have specialisations that give a fair indication of whether they can perform the repair – if they advertise themselves as experts in windshield replacements, you probably want to go elsewhere to get your side mirror replaced.
If you’re not sure about your mechanic’s ability to fix your car, ask about their specific qualifications and specialisations! You can also ask them about their experience in fixing similar issues in similar vehicles for further ease of mind.
Location
Unless you’re getting a replacement vehicle to drive while your car is getting repaired, it’s best to choose a mechanic that’s close by to your home or work to make your time without a car go a little easier – you don’t want to add the stress of figuring out the commute to your mechanic on top of the stress you’re already under!
Because you depend on your car
At Car Servicing and You, we know you depend on your car so getting it serviced and repaired well is vital. We take great pride in our quality of work when servicing and repairing cars, and you can trust us to always get the job done right. If you want to learn more about maintaining and fixing cars, make sure you check out our blog. Needing to get your car serviced or repaired? Contact us to discuss what you need and get a quote, or book online for a car service or repair.
