How to Find a Good Mechanic

Don’t settle for the first mechanic you meet. Keep searching until you find one who inspires trust and confidence. Don’t know what to look for? That’s okay. My name is Audra Fordin. As a woman, I can understand your frustration. As an auto shop owner, I am equipped to show you how to find a good mechanic. Are you ready? Let’s go.

Online reviews are a great way to get started. Members of the Women Auto Know community receive instant access to a trusted auto shop directory, where female drivers share unbiased reviews about their experience. We are all about women empowering other women, so they can feel more confident about being a driver + vehicle owner.

That said… you can never be completely sure an auto shop is right for you until you go and experience it for yourself. Read online reviews, but don’t let them determine your final decision. Write down a list of auto shops that sound like a good fit. Visit them in order of metrics like the # of positive reviews or miles away from your home. After you leave, ask yourself these five questions.

1. Was the staff warm and inviting?

Qualifications are important, but so is attitude. You want to feel welcome when you walk inside an auto shop. The staff should be happy to see you. Smiles, eye contact, and a positive greeting are good signs. Trust your gut instinct. If the staff seems disinterested or customers are being ignored, try another auto shop. 

2. Did the mechanic ask questions?

Any car problem could be caused by a number of things. Your engine might overheat due to a cooling system leak, bad thermostat, clogged radiator, burst hose, defective water pump, etc… I could continue, but you get the point. Good mechanics should ask follow-up questions about sights, sounds, and smells to investigate your problem. 

3. Are online reviews mostly positive?

In the Internet age, it’s difficult for companies to take advantage of customers. Any person can share their experience – positive or negative – in a review that could be read by hundreds or thousands of people. Female drivers share unbiased reviews about their auto shop experience at Women Auto Know. Click here to make a free account. 

4. Is the environment clean and professional?

Keep your eyes open. “Pictures speak louder than words,” as people like to say. Are there framed certifications in the lobby (or posters of half naked women)? Did you notice similar cars in the parking lot? Is there a clean waiting area with comfy seats and books or magazines to read? Even better, are there toys and games so your kids can stay busy? 

5. Do they employ a person-to-person adviser?

Let’s face it. The average auto mechanic isn’t trained in customer service. Even if they were, most mechanics are too busy working on cars to return a phone call. That’s why auto shops need a person-to-person adviser (PPA). PPA’s are like the concierge in hotels, except for drivers at the auto shop. The PPA should call and ask for permission before any major repairs are done to your vehicle. If they can translate auto-ease into English, give them bonus points. 

Teach your friends how to find a good mechanic in 1 click.

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