| By :
Nick Messe
Many people think their vehicles have to be serviced at an official dealership in order to maintain their factory warranty. This is an urban myth that is believed By many car owners. Unfortunately even some so called experts believe this and provide it as a reason for people to choose dealers over independent auto care centers. Needless to say this is a myth that dealerships are happy exists, and might even help to maintain. However, the truth is that as long as you have a record of service & maintenance history your factory warranty is safe. This does not mean you should never take your car to a dealership. Even though the hourly rate is higher at these auto care centers there may be personal reasons why you choose to do so. They tend to employ only the best technicians and guarantee all the parts used on your vehicle are OEM. However the same can be the case for an independent auto shop. What is important is to make sure the auto care center, whether a dealership or an independent shop, is a good one. These tips should help. Shop around for a good mechanic before you actually need one. You can start by trying out a few places for your basic car maintenance and this will be a good test for how good they will be for you when you have serious repair to deal with. Looking for a good shop when your car has broken down is not the smartest idea. You might even avoid serious repairs if you keep on top of your car's maintenance. Ask the auto care center for references and check up on them. Some of you may feel embarrassed to ask for references. You shouldn't be afraid to ask for these. After all, doctors are willing to offer references to new patients, so mechanics shouldn't have a problem. If yours does, well maybe you shouldn't choose them after all. Contact your local Better Business Bureau and check the rating of your auto care center. They might also be able to provide a list of their best performing members. Ask what kind of warranty they provide on their work. It pays to look for shops that provide a national warranty program. This way the parts and labor of any repairs will be covered for a year of 12,000 miles. This will give you much needed peace of mind. Choose a auto care center that has the right equipment to do the job. Most cars on the road now use computer controlled systems to control the fuel efficiency, reduce pollution. Only care centers that are equipped with the latest computer diagnostic equipment can guarantee a quick and efficient service. Next, check for qualifications. You want to make sure your mechanics have the right qualifications. A good guideline is to make sure your auto care center employs technicians that are certified by the ASE. The good thing about this certificate is that technicians have to take training and testing every 5 years to keep the certificate valid. This provides some assurance that your mechanic has kept up to date with his training.
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