Car Repair Shops

Automotive repair shops generally fall into one of 3 categories: dealerships, specialty shops and independent, general repair shops.

Dealerships

Dealerships service one or more brands with the support of the manufacturers, and have all of the necessary tools and equipment to perform service and repair on those makes. Any warranty repair will need to be performed at a dealership, but maintenance does not need to be done exclusively at a dealership to keep the warranty in effect. Dealerships typically offer loaner cars and have large waiting areas while repairs are being done, and are also usually in the higher priced labor rates for your area.

Specialty Shops

Specialty shops can be focused on one type of vehicle, one region of manufacture or a particular type of repair. For example, a Volkswagen Bug specialty shop will only work on that model, and they usually are very knowledgeable about them. They may have many good sources for hard-to-find parts and will often be lower priced than a general repair facility, though you may have to be patient and expect the repair to take a bit longer to be completed.

General Independent Repair Shops

Genera shops are typically well-suited for most makes and models that are out of warranty and can also perform service on any vehicle to keep the warranty in effect. Labor prices and skill level of the technicians vary, and a bit of research on your part will pay dividends in the long run. Talk to the service manager/advisor and ask to see the qualifications of the technicians and talk to your friends and colleagues. Often times, these resources can be your best guide.

In the end, whichever type of repair facility you choose, the technicians should be qualified to service your particular vehicle, the shop should be clean and well organized and the service advisor/manager should be able to answer your questions to your satisfaction.