Three kinds of shop
Dealership service departments know your make best, have the factory tools and handle warranty and recall work at no charge, but their labor rates are usually the highest in town. Independent shops charge less, often $100 to $160 an hour against $150 to $220 at a dealer, and the good ones specialize in a few makes. Chain stores are convenient for tires, batteries and oil changes, and many pay their staff partly on what they sell, which explains the long list of recommended flushes. Federal warranty law does not let a manufacturer void your warranty because routine maintenance was done elsewhere. Keep every receipt to prove the work was done on schedule.
The audition
Start with people who drive what you drive, then read reviews for how the shop answers complaints rather than for the star count. Look for technicians certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, whose blue seal hangs in the waiting room, and ask how long the shop has been at that address. Then bring the car in for something minor. You are watching for a written estimate, a call before any extra work, a car returned when promised and a counter person who can explain the problem in plain words.
Estimates and authorization
A diagnosis is a job in itself and usually costs about one hour of labor, which many shops credit toward the repair. Before work begins, get these things in writing.
- The estimate lists parts and labor separately, with the labor hours stated.
- The shop agrees to call for approval before exceeding the estimate.
- The warranty on the repair is stated, commonly 12 months or 12,000 miles.
- The shop will return the old parts to you if you ask in advance. Many states require written estimates and your consent to overruns, and your state attorney general or consumer affairs office publishes the local rule.
Signs to walk away
Be wary of a shop that will not put a price on paper, that finds an urgent safety problem during every oil change, or that pressures you to decide on the spot. For any repair quoted above about $1,000, pay a second shop for its own diagnosis. A hundred dollars for a second opinion is cheap against a transmission you did not need.
Tip Ask the mechanic to show you the worn part on the car before it comes off. An honest shop is glad to walk you under the lift, and a dishonest one suddenly gets busy.
