For many people, the choice of a suitable car workshop is purely a matter of trust. After all, there are very few drivers who have the expertise of a car mechanic. The assessment of car dealers and garages is therefore often based on gut feeling. The personal must fit. The garage has to be close by and of course the expertise has to be right. Finding a good auto repair shop can easily become a time consuming, nerve-wracking and sometimes expensive gamble.
In this article, we'll bring you closer to some approaches, insights, and thoughts to help with garage evaluation. With this information, you can make an informed evaluation of car dealerships and garages and find a garage that meets your needs.
Garage Classification: Authorized Garage vs. independent garages
The age of your car plays a decisive role in the first step of the evaluation. The newer your vehicle, the more specific the garage needs to be. From the age of five, your car is hardly worth spending a lot of money on spare parts and repairs. With this knowledge, you can derive the first tip for evaluating car dealerships and garages.
Independent garages are a matter of trust
There are a dime a dozen of independent garages. Any master mechanic can open their own garage and get to work. This is where the first garage evaluation often takes place on a personal level. It is important that you get along with the boss and build trust over time. Independent garages are the significantly cheaper alternative to authorized garages. You are not tied to a car brand. General repairs to brakes, exhaust systems, etc. are carried out here. In addition, there are often fewer mechatronics working in independent garages to reduce operating costs. In most cases, repairs do not use expensive original parts, but cheaper car parts from other manufacturers.
Tip: If in doubt, have the origin of the relevant car part confirmed. Or order high quality spare parts directly from Motointegrator. In this way you avoid the installation of inferior spare parts.
Authorized garages: Expensive, but good
Authorized garages are generally tied to one car manufacturer. Everything in these garages is specialized around a particular car brand. The mechatronics are real experts when it comes to the models. They have all the necessary diagnostic equipment and access to fault databases. Even complex repairs are carried out professionally in authorized garages. In addition, all original parts for the cars are available or in any case available very quickly. You will get this service reflected in the bill. Authorized garages are many times more expensive than independent workshops.
When assessing the authorized garages, the first choice is not the expertise and/or the price, but the location.
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Manufacturer's warranty and warranty: Garage assessment factors
What also speaks for an authorized garage is the manufacturer's warranty. In many cases this will lapse if you do not take your new vehicle to an authorized/approved workshop for regular inspection and have it repaired. This warranty is a voluntary service of the manufacturer and may therefore vary in duration, scope and conditions.
Fun fact: Since 2010, the manufacturer's warranty is also guaranteed if you take your car to an independent garage for maintenance and inspection. This is legally established by the European Commission. However, work on your car must be carried out according to the manufacturer's specifications. Have the mechanic assure you of this in writing.
The warranty is a mandatory liability of the manufacturer. It is valid for two years from the date of purchase. In addition, the warranty does not depend on the vehicle type or the manufacturer. It ensures that the seller of the vehicle is liable for defects that the buyer was not aware of before the purchase.
If you don't want to miss the applicable goodwill payments, take your car to an authorized garage just to be safe. Depending on the manufacturer, most warranty obligations expire after four to five years. For the sake of your wallet, after this time, your rating for car dealers and garages should be based more on an independent garage.
Free Garage Valuation: Branch Organization Membership
Another point when evaluating car dealerships and garages is membership of a trade association. The independent garage must therefore meet a number of safety and contractual requirements, but also has certain advantages. For example, if there are discrepancies between you and the garage that is affiliated with the trade association, the Motor Vehicle Disputes Committee can intervene. This body works free of charge and tries to reach an out-of-court settlement of the dispute. The independent garage must comply with the arbitral award. On the other hand, you as a customer can still go to court if you do not agree with the decision of the arbitration committee. However, the arbitration committee can only intervene under certain conditions. Detailed information can be found at the trade association.
Garage overview: save money with Motointegrator
When it comes to choosing an independent garage, you should also listen to your gut feeling when evaluating car dealerships and garages. The personal component is extremely important. Once you get along well with the master mechanic, you will also benefit financially. After consultation, you can, for example, order the necessary parts cheaply online on Motointegrator and have them mounted in the garage.
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