How to choose the mechanic for your car

If you are going on vacation and plan to travel several miles, consider taking your car to mechanicalto make sure it is fit for the trip.

Checking that everything is in good condition is very important not only to offer you greater levels of comfort (we are talking, for example, about the correct functioning of the air conditioning system), but also to ensure that you travel with all the necessary safety.

Some of the most important items that should be checked frequently are: tire pressure and condition, brakes, oil level and air conditioning. It goes without saying that if you have recently detected any strange noise or if there is an ongoing problem, you need to address the issue as soon as possible.

Having a trusted mechanic is essential in this process. But if you have just moved to a new city and have no references, it is natural that this decision will not be so easy.

Ask family and friends for referrals this could be a great starting point. But you should be careful about who you ask for their opinion. Remember that the goal is to have a appear honest and uncompromising and, therefore, people you don’t trust as much can lead you to make decisions that will cost you more money in the future.

Always try to find out what went well, but also what could have gone better. And if you choose to take the advice of a friend or family member, be sure to mention it when you visit the mechanic in question. This can be a good way to quickly build a close and trusting relationship with professionals.

In the digital world we live in, a company’s reputation largely depends on it opinions and comments online.

Therefore, before making a decision, we suggest you do a short online survey and pay attention to comments made by customers of the establishment. Visit the official pages on social networks, the various automotive industry forum or other websites that may be relevant (for example, the Portal da Queixa).

Remember, however, that it is always easier for a customer to write a negative review when something goes wrong, rather than writing a recommendation or positive comment when everything goes well.

As tempting as it may be to go to the nearest mechanic for convenience or price, it is important to ensure the quality of the service provided.

In this sense we recommend it give preference to an authorized workshop. These facilities are used to working with one or more brands and have trained professionals who can service various car models (including the latest models).

Another great advantage of contacting an authorized workshop is that, right from the start, the repair will be carried out using original brand spare parts (or others of equal quality).

If you still decide to use an independent workshop, it is important that they respect the rules established by the most recent models. The objective of this regulation is that independent operators are able to achieve high levels of service quality (with the support of producers), respecting all legal requirements and conditions of competitive equality.

Also remember that if you have a new car under warranty, a poorly carried out repair could invalidate the coverage provided by the manufacturer.

Read all: “Buying a car: tips for buying your first car”

The quality of the service offered must be good but, of course, the price must also be competitive and adequate.

So, before taking your car to the mechanic, request a formal quote and analyze it. This budget should be as detailed as possible, so you can understand the cost of labor, expected services, parts prices, etc.

This can be a good starting point to make a comparison between different mechanics, but also to analyze their response and service speed.

And if you have difficulty having full confidence in the services of the new workshop, we advise you to work on the relationship gradually.

Instead of starting with replacing the timing belt – a delicate and potentially expensive job – Start with simpler, smaller jobs.

This will give you time to build a relationship of trust with your new mechanic and to evaluate the quality of the services provided.