When you ask most people about the inner workings of their car, most people couldn’t even begin to tell you how their oil is changed or even what kind of oil their vehicle takes. After all, that’s the reason you pay a mechanic, right? Well, as it turns out, what you don’t know can really hurt you- especially where your pocketbook is involved. In order to avoid being misinformed by an auto mechanic, the following are five tips for better auto repair service.

1. Read your manual. There’s a good reason why your vehicle came with an owner’s manual, which is why there is no excuse that you shouldn’t know at least the basic workings of your vehicle. The owner’s manual can provide a plethora of information on things such as how to change a tire to what kind of oil your vehicle takes and how to perform the oil change. Pay attention!
2. Dealership vs. Mom n’ Pop- You may think that you are saving money by taking your car to a local mechanic, but are you? Most auto technicians at dealerships are specialists who are manufacturer-trained to work on a specific type of vehicle, so it may be worth the extra bucks to bring it to someone who will get it right the first time around.
3. Is your auto tech A.S.E. certified? The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (A.S.E.) offers two opportunities per year for auto service industry professionals to become certified by passing a written test and having at least two years of work experience in auto repair service. This helps prove the competence of your auto mechanic.
4. Ask about pricing and labor rates. Before you turn your vehicle over to the service department at a dealership, make sure you ask about the labor rates. In most auto shops, the labor rates are posted in a conspicuous place, so ask questions if you have to. You have every right to know how you are going to be billed and what chunk of that bill is going to come from labor costs.
5. Ask lots of questions. If you don’t know something, don’t feel silly about asking. Remember that the auto technicians and staff you are dealing with should all be certified professionals who know what they are talking about and should, therefore, be able to explain it to you in terms that you can understand. [source]

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