Breakdown Cover Articles

Finding a Garage to do Repairs - What Questions to Ask

Ask the average person to provide a list of issues that must concern them as we move towards the end of the first decade of the 21st century, and in there along with global warming, World peace and financial stability you might well find finding a reliable, honest garage to do their car repairs.

People live in fear of their car breaking down. Things are tight enough these days for most people and the last thing they need is a major repair involving expensive spare parts and hours of labour eating away at next month's salary well before it hits the bank. Many people, even those who have been car owners for years, have very little idea of what actually happens inside the engine of their car. When something goes wrong, you can see them standing around helplessly in a garage, hoping that the problem will go away by itself, but it never does.

The fact is that you can't prevent a car from needing repairs, especially one that has been on the road for a few years. Engines work hard and eventually start to wear out, and parts need to be replaced. The amount of money you will have to pay on repairs and how break downs occur will depend on how the owner relates to their car. If you have your car serviced on a regular basis, at a garage that you trust, they will be able to alert you when such and such a part is about to wear out and will need replacing. If the part and cost of the repair is not too high, you might decide to do the repair on the spot. Or you might put it off for a few weeks, till you have the time or the money to do the repair, on condition that your garage tells you that the repair can wait.

This is an example of trust between a garage and their customers which should be cherished. This kind of relationship usually, but not always, is found with main dealers. They have too much to lose by "short changing" their customers as well as having the specific experience of dealing with certain car manufacturers, and not just a jack of all trades handling all kinds of makes. They tend to be more expensive, but they earn the difference in by knowing exactly how to take care of your car, its idiosyncrasies as well as being able to diagnose problems and anticipate problems that will happen in the future.

There is no danger that a main dealer will never try to fob used or reconditioned parts, unless you agree, a situation that you will come up against if you service your car in a "jack of all makes" garage. If a car owner is loyal to their garage, then the garage will be loyal to them in return. Once a car gets past a certain age or over a certain mileage, it may not be economical to carry out repairs at a main dealer, and they will understand that.

What is important is to be consistent and work with a garage that you can trust. Do your homework and be prepared. In the long term it will save you a lot of money and inconvenience.

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