How to choose a car service?

No matter how well you care for the car, you will always have to turn to a car service for services. To fulfill their functions perfectly, cars need timely maintenance, and if necessary, repair and replacement of some auto parts.
However, the choice of a car service center can create a lot of difficulties for you due to the fact that similar companies that offer these services can be found in every garage cooperative in the city.

How to choose the right service?

1. Conduct a preliminary study

Preliminary research is important because it provides information from which you can find out if customers rate the service as good or not. You can find information from other drivers who have already used its services, and from the Internet.

Browse the service’s website on the Internet, log in to Facebook forums and groups, and you will find very detailed information about the services they provide, as well as the cost of the work.

2. Compare prices

Compare the prices of at least a few service stations in your city that carry out the necessary work. Keep in mind that too low prices inevitably raise the question of the quality of the services offered.

If they are too high, this may mean that they will charge you for additional services that you did not request. To determine the service station, stop at one that offers quality service at reasonable prices.

3. Consider the experience

On the service website you will surely find useful information about both the company and the qualifications of its employees. The experience gained by the company and its employees is important because the larger it is, the better and better the service will be. Of course, there are always exceptions to this rule, therefore, in addition to information from the site, you should also draw information from other sources (friends, acquaintances, even competitors).

Choose service type

Car repair shops, as a rule, are divided into two main groups:

• Authorized Services;
• Independent.

Authorized Services

Authorized repair shops work with authorized suppliers and representatives of certain brands. Typically, these service stations serve customers, owners of cars of the same brand. The services they offer are extremely diverse (from oil changes and diagnostics to replacing an engine or other main part of a car).

The only drawback of authorized services is the price at which they offer their services. This is much higher than the prices for other types of work, since the authorized ones use only original parts, and their team specializes in servicing and repairing cars of only one brand. If your vehicle is new and under warranty, authorized service centers are your best bet.

Independent

This type of car service offers a wide range of services, has highly qualified employees with experience in repairing all makes and models of cars. The prices at which they offer their services are lower compared to the cost of work at authorized service stations, and the result is at the same high level. If your car is not new or is no longer under warranty, independent repairers can offer you very good options - good service at an affordable price.

5 factors that determine a good service center

● License and certificates.
If the service center is good and legal, then its employees have nothing to hide and be ashamed of. At the moment when you cross the threshold and look around, you will notice a license placed in a prominent place, and all the certificates necessary for the work of the company. In addition to the required documentation, a serious company has a price list for the services offered. It should also be placed in a conspicuous place. If you do not find such data, it is best to seek help from other specialists.

● Clean and tidy workrooms.
It is true that car repair includes a lot of disassembly and assembly, piles of automotive parts and tools and a lot of dirt. However, if the service is good, the facilities in which the services are provided are clean, tidy and pleasant for both employees and customers. And employees work in clean clothes and are equipped with goggles, gloves and masks (if necessary).

● Modern equipment
Regardless of how many highly qualified employees work in the service center, if he does not have high-quality and modern equipment, he is unlikely to be able to provide high-quality car repairs. Therefore, before leaving your car for service, inspect the service premises. A good service should have all the necessary tools and equipment to perform both the simplest and the most complex repairs.

● Good service
If you go to a service station and you are told that you should buy the necessary auto parts for replacement and bring them, most likely this service is not the best. With good service, they will certainly explain the problem to you and establish at least an approximate time period during which it will be eliminated. After the repair is completed, you will be billed for service and a repair guarantee.

● Repair speed
This is another factor that distinguishes experienced mechanics. In good service, you do not have to wait a week to return the repaired car. Instead, if they have many customers, they will provide an opportunity to pre-register for service, indicating the day and time when it will be possible to get the car back.

When your turn comes, they will call you in person, take your car and immediately start working on it. Thus, instead of having your car at a service station for several weeks, you will only pick it up in a day or two and continue to drive it with pleasure.

Which is better: an authorized service center or an independent one?

In fact, both types of services have their advantages and disadvantages. That is why it is up to you which of the two types of services you choose.

Authorized repair shops are a very good choice if your car is new and under warranty or if it is 3-4 years old. By visiting an authorized service center, you can be sure that the car will be repaired efficiently and quickly, and the auto parts necessary for repair will be original. If you have a new car, authorized repair shops are your best bet, even if they are on the other side of town.

The nearest service is a good choice if you are looking for a quality service for your car at affordable prices. If you have a car that is not very new and you do not have enough money for original car parts, the nearest reputable independent service is your best bet. in it, experts will tell you where you can compromise.