Between the rising cost of cars and fuel, driving can be expensive sometimes. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in higher prices for used vehicles as people felt a greater need for private transportation that can take them directly from point A to B.
Meanwhile, after Russia invaded Ukraine in late February 2023, the cost of gas skyrocketed afterwards to over $2 a litre. There could be different explanations for these rising costs, but one thing is not in dispute: driving costs a lot of money.
Keeping your vehicle in great shape is a fantastic way to drive down costs. Trustworthy mechanics who genuinely keep your car in tip-top shape save you money in the short- and long-term, offering repairs for fair prices and preventative maintenance that extends your vehicle’s lifetime.
Here are a few telling signs that indicate that when you drop your car off at the shop, it’s in great hands.
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Comprehensive Maintenance
The best in the industry, like AutoOneService.ca, handle regular maintenance like oil changes, wheel alignments, brakes, and electrical systems quickly and thoroughly. Mechanics should do the routine repairs speedily and with excellent service.
Even when the fix isn’t complicated, it needs to be done properly and promptly, so you can get back and hit the road in no time.
Vintage Vehicles
When a mechanic can service vintage, high-performance machines, you know they’re operating at a high level. Collectors can be as finicky about who they let touch their cars as they are about the cars themselves.
You need a partner that can get you back on the road as soon as possible, where the fun is. Owning a vintage car is thrilling, but not when it’s in the shop.
Your car means the world to you. Whether you have a classic red convertible with old foreign parts or the new Honda Accord, you need to feel confident that the person checking out what’s under the hood knows what they’re doing. It’s easier to trust a mechanic with your vintage baby when you know they handle others routinely, and you’ll feel comfortable entrusting your humble modern vehicle with a shop that services substantially more complicated and expensive vehicles.
One Car or More
Many services get handled differently if there’s a bulk order, and car repair should be no different. Handling all manners of vehicles means having a process for fixing a fleet of vehicles, an occasional requirement for certain businesses.
Whether you need one vehicle repaired or a dozen, the best body shops have protocols to get you there sooner.
Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
Getting the world off fossil fuels has created some innovative vehicles that traditional mechanics can’t necessarily service. Electric and hybrid vehicles are wonderful machines that run on cleaner fuel that is less expensive to buy.
If you have an electric or hybrid vehicle, you may need a specialist to keep it working right. If you can locate a mechanic that handles all manner of electric and hybrid vehicles and ordinary cars taking fuel, it’s a sign that you’re dealing with a pro technician.
Here are some of the best auto electric services mechanics can perform:
- Electrical system diagnostics and repair
- Alternator replacement
- Starter replacement
- Windshield wiper repair
- Power lock repair
- Power antenna repair
- Power steering repair
- Power window repair
- Light bulb repair and replacement
Entrust a mechanic that fixes electric vehicles and non-electric ones alike.
All Things Tires
Maintaining your tire’s alignment and the tread is crucial because, as the band Phish likes to say, the tires are the thing on your car that make contact with the road. They need to be in great shape for your vehicle to hug turns properly and cling to the gravel during slippery conditions.
Some body shops stick to engines and core parts, but it’s better to find one that can handle all things tire-related. The best mechanics offer comprehensive tire services, including:
- Tire sales
- Tire installations
- Tire rotation
- Tire balancing
- Tire replacement
- Wheel alignment
- Tire air pressure checks
- Tire air pressure monitoring system repair and services
No matter what kind of vehicle you drive, it’ll need tires! Look for a mechanic that offers all the above services.
High-Tech Booking
The days of looking up an auto mechanic in the Yellow Pages are over. Most people rely on their phones or the internet to get information, make payments, find services, and more. Auto repair should be no different.
Streamline your car repair by finding a company online with a website that lets you book an appointment. Most of them require basic contact information and a brief outline of the issue with your vehicle requiring repairs.
Car repair can cost money, but if you need to go to the body shop only to find out they’re too busy or don’t have the services required, it will cost you time, too. It’s best to find a shop that allows you to input your preferred service time online and indicate if you’ll be dropping off the vehicle or waiting on site for the repair.
Friendly Service
Auto shops can be an intimidating place because people don’t always understand the nature of their car’s malfunction and worry they could be getting taken for a proverbial ride. Is the mechanic upfront and honest about the nature of the repair, or are they trying to exploit the driver’s ignorance to command a price that’s too high?
The people fixing your car should put you at ease by offering friendly and attentive service. You shouldn’t be uncomfortable, and if you are, trust your gut and go somewhere else.
People need their vehicle for many things, from getting to and from work, picking up groceries, travelling to appointments and visiting friends and family, and more. Saving money on something this fundamental is a great way to spend money on what matters instead of merely trying to keep the engine running. Look for a mechanic that delivers on all the above points, and you’ll spend less money upfront and over the lifetime of your vehicle.
