Find a Mechanic Near Me

It may be tempting to carry out your own repair work and regular servicing, after all you can save a few dollars here and there by avoiding paying labour costs, however there’s plenty of risk involved too.

The benefits of using a qualified mechanic to keep your car in tip top shape are many, after all most mechanics will have been plying their trade for many years and have a ton of experience looking after a variety of vehicles.

Here are a few reasons why you should use a local mechanic:

• Warranty on work: If there’s a problem with any work that you get done by a local mechanic then you can expect them to put it right at no cost to you, after all you’re paying them to provide a quality service.
• Service history: When people look at buying a second hand car they are going to be interested in how well it has been looked after and seeing that a mechanic has serviced your vehicle regularly will be comforting.
• Cheaper parts: Usually your local mechanic will have access to purchasing any required parts more cheaply than you can directly, so you’ll save on the price of parts required to repair your vehicle.
• Time saving: Having a mechanic service your car while you’re at work or using a loan car saves you the time and hassle of doing it yourself in the weekend when you could be doing something more interesting.

Besides all of that there’s also the fact that once you’ve found a good local mechanic you’ll have someone you can rely on to service all of your cars without worrying about being ripped off each time.

Furthermore, if you really like the mechanic that you’ve chosen then it can be a great feeling to refer them to your friends and family so that they can reap the benefits of getting their vehicle serviced and repaired locally.

There’s nothing worse than having your vehicle break down just when you need it most and even if you have been doing your best to keep on top of your service schedule, there are some things that can’t be foreseen.

So finding a good local mechanic near you is important to keep you on the road and safe in all seasons. To help find a mechanic that’s right for you, here are a few tips:

• Don’t wait until it’s too late: Start looking for a local mechanic before you actually need one… that means now!

• See advice from friends: Ask your friends or family for their recommendations for a local mechanic (or check out the AA)

• Neatness counts: Look for a well organised shop, with similar vehicles in the parking lot and modern equipment in the service bays

• Service with a smile: Look for a mechanic with courteous staff and technicians that are willing to answer your questions

• Read the fine print: Check policies the mechanic has regarding estimates, diagnostic fees, guarantees and payment methods

• Ask for references: Ask if the mechanic specialises or if it usually handles the type of work you require

• Find a specialist: Sometimes it pays to use a local mechanic who specialises in a particular type of vehicle, rather than a generalist

• Certifications: Look for evidence of qualified technicians, certifications from professional bodies and any advanced training the mechanic has

• Be open and honest: Don’t be afraid to ask the mechanic to explain their work or define technical terms so you understand what’s going on

• After care: Find a mechanic that is interested in looking after you and your vehicle, not someone who is aiming to make as much as possible

And once you find the local mechanic that gives you the best service and takes care of you… Go back for more and refer others! Reward their good service with repeat business and customer loyalty.

A mechanic will offer a range of different services depending on their capabilities and whether or not they have chosen to partner up with other suppliers on specific services.

In most cases you can expect to them to be able to service or repair:

• Engine: At the very least a mechanic should be able to fix common issues with your vehicle’s engine as well as doing basic servicing like oil changes, spark plugs and checking its running as expected.

• Gearbox & drivetrain: Most mechanics will also be able to service and do repairs on your gearbox, axles, driveshafts and other components. More complex issues may need to be solved by a specialist.

• Suspension: It’s pretty common for your local mechanic to be able to resolve issues with suspension components (springs, shocks, bushes) and replace worn parts as required.

• Fuel system: Making sure your fuel pump and fuel system is functioning as expected should be in the capabilities of your local mechanic, as well as changing filters and pipes/cables.

• Exterior/Interior/Electrical: Many mechanics will also be able to help solve minor electrical issues as well as replace exterior or interior parts, although electrical problems can frequently require an expert to resolve.

In addition, some mechanics can offer further services that can save you having to use multiple suppliers, such as:

• Alignment: Ensuring your alignment is correct is important to how your vehicle performs on the road and how long your tyres will last. If it’s not correct you can find yourself replacing tyres more often and/or having issues with direction.

• Tyres: Some mechanics can repair or replace your vehicles tyres in-house rather than needing to use another supplier, this can be convenient when it comes time to replace worn or damaged tyres.

• Warrant of Fitness: Every vehicles needs to be warranted to be used on the road and many mechanics can undertake the required checks and perform any repairs required to ensure your vehicle passes.

• Exhaust systems: While there are speciality exhaust shops around, there are some mechanics who are able to work on exhaust systems in-house, saving you the hassle of going elsewhere if an issue is found.

• Pre-purchase inspections: Many local mechanics will offer a service whereby they will inspect a vehicle you are interested in buying to ensure there are no hidden issues or problems that need fixing.

As you can see there are many things your mechanic may be able to do for you, so don’t be shy about asking whether or not they can take care of your vehicle over and above the usual repairs and servicing you might expect.

It’s not enough to get mechanical work done on your vehicle once and then expect it to continue running perfectly throughout its lifetime, to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape means regular servicing by a local mechanic.

Depending on how many kilometres you are doing and how old the vehicle is will influence what level of service you will need and how often, here are some guidelines for keeping your vehicle in good shape (inspired by the AA).

For petrol or diesel cars, the recommendation is to service them every 6 months or every 10,000 kms travelled (whichever occurs first) and the level of service that you should be doing also varies.

Interim service: Designed for vehicles travelling in excess of 10,000 kms per year, it helps to maintain your vehicle and prevent unexpected faults. It includes oil changes, filter replacement and basic vehicle checks.

Annual service: A more comprehensive service to ensure your vehicle is running smoothly and efficiently. In addition to an oil change, filter replacement and basic checks, the mechanic will also review drive belts, fuel filter and spark plugs in case they need replacing.

Major service: Usually scheduled every 24 months, this would include a comprehensive vehicle check including removing the wheels and checking the function of your brakes (on top of the usual annual/interim service checks).

Of course, some vehicles require more regular servicing and/or speciality services, so it pays to check with your chosen mechanic to see what they recommend or whether or not your vehicle requires any special care.