Auto Mechanics

We may argue about the truth of the adage that all mechanics are dishonest, but the fact remains that for many people, finding a good mechanic is difficult.

In many ways, the principle behind the difficulty is the same reason finding a good accountant is hard: what they do is so specialised, most of us don’t know when we’re being ripped off and when we’re being told the truth. My mechanic could make up a part and charge me $200 for it and I wouldn’t catch on!

But there are ways to go about finding a reliable car mechanic. Here’s how:

Ask an Agency
The AA and other companies that specialise in roadside assistance have lists of great mechanics they recommend.

Ask or use your dealer
If you’ve bought a new car, often the best place to find reliable maintenance is at the dealership. Lexus in particular is renowned for offering excellent customer service. And when you go through the dealership, many of the things that need fixing might fall under warranty, or can be purchased at significantly reduced prices. If your car needs speciality care, or if it’s no longer under warranty, get your dealer to give you a list of mechanics they recommend.

Word-of-Mouth
People who have a great mechanic are always sympathetic to the cause of those who have recently been ripped off. Ask your friends for a recommendation, and see what turns up. It may take some trial and error, but you’ll stumble across a reliable mechanic before you know it!