Automotive Repair Guide

With all the mechanics available on every corner today, where do I find the right Auto Technician that will take car of my car and who is honest?

With your vehicle typically being your second largest investment, you want to be sure to have a trusted auto technician to keep your car running its best.

If you follow these tips of where to find the right auto mechanic, you can have a positive experience the next time your car needs repairs or servicing.

* Look for a mechanic before your car is in need of any repairs. This way you will be prepared when your car begins having problems.

* Ask your friends and family for a referral. Listen as they tell you stories of their past experiences, both those to avoid and those they have had good results with. Ask about the reliability, competence and honesty of the auto technician.

* Ask the auto technician for references and take the time to call them to discuss their experiences. By taking the time to do this you could save yourself a lot of headaches and avoid spending money you don’t need to spend.

* Check with the Better Business Bureau in your area.

* Go on line and check the consumer reports for that particular repair shop. What type of ratings do both the auto technician and repair shop have?

* Compare pricing. Keep in mind that the cheapest repair shop is not always the answer as this may represent the type of job they will do. Cheaper may mean low-end parts and shabby repair service from the auto technician.

* Ask whether the price will be guaranteed should the problem continue after you leave the shop. Ask the length of the guarantee. And also ask what brand of parts the repair shop uses. Research that brand on line and learn the ratings of those parts.

* Check for certifications. The auto technician should be ASE certified (Automotive Service Excellence). What type of continuous training does the technician take to stay on top of the always-changing automotive industry?

* Check the cleanliness of the shop, lobby and bathrooms. Are things orderly or strewn around? Ask for a tour. How do the auto technicians appear? Are they in uniform or old worn out jeans and a torn T-shirt? What is their attitude?

* Be sure the mechanic answers your questions in a clear and understandable way, or did they just rush through their answers to get rid of you. Keep asking questions until you fully understand what is wrong with your vehicle. Have them show you what they are talking about if need be.

* Remember that you can always get a second opinion. Especially when you take your car in for an oil change and the mechanic tells you it’s going to cost you another $800.00 in repairs.

The business of repairing car damage grows as the number of cars grows. This is because of the likelihood of accidents on the road. Thus, if you want a blue-collar job that earns you like a company executive, you may opt to develop yourself from a novice car repairer to a skilled car repairer.

Skilled car damage repairers earn almost four folds of what novice repairer gets. Statistics show that of the 223,000 automotive repairers in 2004, 10% of them, the skilled automotive repairers earn more than $28.45 per hour. This is about four times what the less skilled repairer’s get, which is about $9.42 per hour.

If we then compare it to the median per hour rate of company executives which is about $29.75 per hour, you probably pair enough in take-home money because being in the business of repairing car damage, you do not need to wear a suit and tie, and get stressed to much thinking of how you will run the business. You may also need to worry about the life of all the people in your company. You thus sport a stressful lifestyle, although from a distance, you may look far better than blue-collar workers. You may have the power to command as a company executive but you do not have the coziness of a blue-collar job. You may be more stressed as compared to skilled car damage repairers.

On the other hand, as a skilled car damage repairer, you go to work in noisy body shops with clatters of hammering and whining of power tools. You also will be dirty at the end of the day. You are also working in a condition where there is great possibility of being hurt while repairing car damages.

In addition to this, you will need to have at least 3 to 4 years of hands-on experience in all the paces of automotive repairing before you reach a receive a handsome pay.

Therefore, to ensure that later on, your business of repairing car damages will go up to the level where you will earn like those handsomely dressed company executives, it may help to have yourself certified by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence. Once you are certified as an ASE Master Collision Repair and Refinishing Technician, you may already command your price.

However, before you get this far in your business of car damage repairing, you may need continuing education on the modern and technically advanced quality of cars that manufacturers introduce to the market.

Formal training will help you develop your skills and attending seminars sponsored by automotive manufacturers will keep you at the top of your business.

It may also help to understand the government requirements and that of insurance companies so that you will be able to assist your clients well enough.

Your business might be slapped by the total loss assessment of insurance companies. However, this may be masked by the fact that you can buy these total loss cars, study their parts, and even use some of them for your future repairs. Understanding the requirements and the logic behind these requirements will be able to give you an edge in assisting your customers, whether to have their cars repaired or ask the insurance company for a total loss assessment. Being an authority in all the paces of owning a car may help you in your business as well.

Keeping pace with the modernity of today’s automotive industry will keep your business of repairing car damage such a lucrative business.

You may be dirty at the end of the day, but if you are able to provide for the needs of your family, I think repairing car damage is not such a bad idea.

Start by having formal education on automotive repairing and slowly go up to the being skilled in collision repair, straightening bend bodies, removing dents and replacing crumpled parts. Later on, you will be one of the most sought-after Master Collision Repair and Refinishing Technicians, and a booming business, as well.