We all have those times when we need to get our cars fixed. No matter whether it’s because of an accident that we were in or simply because there is normal maintenance that needs to be done, our cars are going to have to go into the shop a couple of times during their lifespan – probably even more! However, we are also aware that you’re probably on a pretty tight budget right about now. This means that you can’t afford to spend tons of money on getting your car fixed every time. The good news is that there are plenty of tips that we have for you in getting your car fixed on a budget – it doesn’t have to be all that bad! Keep reading down below to learn more.
Think about going to a shop through AAA or approved by AAA
If you are a member of AAA and are paying membership fees every year, why not take advantage of the services that they offer? One of those service is providing a discount to you if you go to a shop that’s run through AAA or one that is approved by the organization. The discount is going to be dependent in which shop you go to, but this is a great way to save a bit of money that you might not have thought of before!
Ensure that the shop is ASE certified
ASE stands for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, which is a national organization that certifies auto mechanics. These are the guys you should look to when you’re picking out which mechanic to head out to get your repairs done. These are the shops that are going to be of the most high quality and give you the most bang for your buck. Unless you know the shop personally that’s not certified, then make sure to only look for ASE certification.
Check out Yelp for reviews of the shop
One of the best ways that you can check out mechanics and determine how expensive they are is by checking out Yelp. This site has a feature that shows you a general overview of the price that you might pay when going to this auto shop. In addition, you will be able to read through the comments that other people have written, which detail prices they may have paid and what the service was like. When you have this information on your side, you will be able to make the best decision regarding which auto shop to choose for your repairs.
Call or visit before you decide to have the work done there
Whenever you are choosing an auto shop to work with, it’s crucial that you take the time to call or visit before you actually decide to have work done. A lot of people don’t do this, which is surprising because this is the best way that you’re going to tell if they are going to be worth your money.
Check online for recommendations for affordable shops
If you are someone who loves going online to check out businesses, then this is something that you should definitely do for your auto shop. You can do searches on many other sites than just Yelp to see what customers are saying and determine what prices you might be paying.
Remember word-of-mouth
Another big thing you can do in order to tell if there’s a quality auto shop around is by asking around to your friends and family members to check. They are most likely going to have had experience with an auto shop once or twice and will be able to let you know how much this might be costing you.
When it comes to your budget, you most likely are going to have a hard time fitting in an expensive car repair. That’s why it’s a good idea to ensure you know how to find the best mechanic for the job.