You don’t have to be passive when car troubles start. You want to protect your major investment with a strong knowledge base. Continue reading this article and you’ll learn what it takes to get an automobile repaired.

Make sure that your mechanic is A.S.E certified before you let them work on your car. Mechanics can obtain the ASE certification by taking a test and having more than two years of experience. When a mechanic has this certification, you are ensured that a qualified individual is repairing your car.

Asking around for recommendations is a great opportunity to locate a mechanic you can trust. Speak with others you know to see if they can recommend someone to you. This allows you to ask about the price, quality of work and satisfaction. People will let you know what kind of things they had to deal with and if the person was honest.

Do an online search of reviews about your local automotive repair shop. This will let you know how others feel about the services they provide. Use these reviews to eliminate unreliable mechanics and make a list of mechanic you want to contact to get a quote.

Before paying for repairs done on your car, test drive it to make sure it runs well. If you don’t do this, you may still have an issue after you get it home.

You may want to get your car repaired by a person who does work out of their own garage. If they have auto repair experience they can provide quality work, and they will usually charge you less for labor. The costs will always be much lower.

Wash your car all winter long. Your car may get dirty again quickly, but all that buildup is terrible for your car. In particular, it can cause the car to rust. Best be sure to dry your car before driving so that you won’t let any ice form on your car.

You do not have to have repairs done at the auto dealer. There are great techs everywhere whether there’s a great shop 10 minutes from your house or whether you decide to go to the dealer further away. If someone makes you comfortable, use them.

Some unscrupulous body shops may replace your tires with older ones. They are attempting to make money this way. Mark your tires before you drop your car off. If the marks are gone, talk to the mechanic.

If money is especially tight and you are desperate to get your car repaired, consider contacting the auto repair department of your local vocational school. This will save you money and can give you just as good a job on your car.

Don’t let a mechanic tell you that flushing your engine is routine maintenance. This is an expensive service that is unnecessary unless your car has been neglected, such as not receiving regular oil changes.

If you just bought a car, and you realize there is a problem, get in touch with the manufacturer. There might be a recall issued for the vehicle or the manufacturer will consider issuing a recall if you are not the only person who complains. Many times, the manufacturer will repair it for you.

Now you have a better knowledge of how to deal with car repair issues. You should feel more confident about handling auto repairs after going over these tips. Keep these tips in mind when you see a potential problem occurring.