Maintaining you vehicles today can represent a major investment.   That's why it's financially important that you establish a relationship with a facility that you can trust and have confidence in.  

The most reliable approach is to ask friends, members of any organization that you may belong to, or co-workers, who they use for their automotive repairs.  That's usually the best way to get reliable information about your local repair facilities.  Ask how long they have been with their repair facility and how well they are treated.

Contact your local Better Business Bureau to find out how long the shop has been in operation, how their record has been in handling customer complaints, and other important information in selecting that facility.

When you drive into a facility, use common sense and good judgement.  Does the shop present a credible, professional appearance?  Does the shop look clean and organized?  Do the employees appear to show competence?  Don't be afraid to use your gut feeling.

If you find a facility that you think will be right for you, have them perform a minor repair or periodic maintenance service to see how they operate.  Note whether the final bill matches the estimate, if they keep you informed about the progress of the job, and if the repair was done in a timely manner.  Did they push for more repairs than you felt were necessary?  Did they make honest observations of any possible problems, piont them out and explain them to you?

When you talk to the service writer, is he/she knowledgeable, concerned, listen to you with the indication that they care about you as a person and not a potential profit?  Were all of you questions and concerns addressed to your satisfaction, or did you feel intimidated?  Most good shops are interested in helping you and in forming a long lasting relationship, they want your business.  So tell them what your expectations are from the start and see if theirs are the same.

A good relationship with a repair facility takes some investment of your time and money, and should be done conscientiously, but the effort made can be invaluable in the long run.  The worst thing you can do is run from place to place chasing all the come-ons, specials, and deals. Those never work out well.

But don't just take our word for it. Here's a page that was presented by the Federal Trade Commission, the National Association of Attorneys General and the American Automoble Association.  click here