Although cars are designed to last longer than they did in the past, the time will likely come when you need to take your car in for repairs. When this is the case, do you take your car to a dealership or to an independent auto service Alexandria VA center? This choice is up to you, but there are many advantages to going with an independent auto service in Alexandria VA center.
The key to this is being prepared before a repair is needed. You don’t want to find yourself broken down on the side of the road and need someone immediately without having any idea of whom to call. Here’s what to look for when choosing an auto service Alexandria VA facility to work on your car.
Call around to local repair shops to ask what professional associations they are members of. Once they provide this information for you, look into what is required to become of a member of each association. This tells you a great deal about the facility and what standards it must live up to. Many associations look at things such as the estimate and how close it was to the actual bill and the appearance of the shop. Narrow down your list based on the information you learn here.
For those shops remaining on the list, stop by and check the facility out. Look to see if it is clean and organized or if parts are lying around. Speak to customers entering and leaving the shop to determine if they are satisfied with the work performed and why they chose this facility or continue to do so. You can learn a great deal when you take this step.
Be sure to look for any certifications displayed on the walls of the shop. If none are displayed, ask what training the technicians have undergone. ASE or manufacturer certifications are well known in the industry and you should be looking for after market training and continuing education credits. Information such as this tells you the facility is dedicated to providing customers with the best repairs possible.
Other steps should also be taken. Consider the equipment in the shop to see if it is up-to-date and check with the BBB to see if any complaints have been lodged against the company. The more you know about a company before proceeding, the happier you will be with the repairs.
