How to find the best car mechanic repair near you
Ellie Dyer-Brown, 2 years ago
5 min read
- Advice
- howto
- repair
- best
WhoCanFixMyCar explains how to find repairs that are affordable and reliable
You’ve got a problem with your car that needs repairing sooner rather than later. You want a garage that’s affordable, trustworthy, and local - but how do you know which one to use?
Here are five quick tips to help you select a garage:
Check customer reviews
Ask what parts they use
Compare prices
Find out if they have any awards
If you worry about being ripped off by a mechanic, you’re not alone. WhoCanFixMyCar exists to help drivers find affordable, reliable car repairs from the best garages across the UK.
Contents:
How to find the best car repair near you using WhoCanFixMyCar
To get quotes, all you need to do is enter your registration number here and provide some information about the problem you’re experiencing or the service you need.
So, once you’ve got quotes, how do you decide which garage to use? Sometimes the final decision comes down to more than just cost.
Top tip: Garages rely on your information to create a quote, so if you’re not sure what’s wrong, it’s best to describe the symptoms and let a mechanic diagnose the problem rather than guessing, as this is likely to lead to an inaccurate estimate.
There are lots of things you can compare on WhoCanFixMyCar, such as:
Location
Jobs completed
Driver reviews
Awards
Location
Each quote comes with information about how far away the garage is, including a map which gives directions explaining how to get there.
Some garages might offer a pick up/drop off service, so it’s worthwhile either sending them a message or calling them to find out.
Rating
Not only can you see how many jobs a garage has carried out through WhoCanFixMyCar, you can also see their average driver rating. All garage reviews are from genuine customers.
Awards
Garages on our platform can earn badges (for example, for excellent customer service) so you can compare the strengths of each one.
About
Don’t forget to read the “about” section which gives you more information about the garage in their own words. This is a great way to get a feel for the atmosphere and customer service on offer.
Chat
At WhoCanFixMyCar, we always recommend contacting the garage or mechanic directly to discuss the details of any work you want carrying out. This gives you the opportunity to ask any questions you have so you can feel more confident when you book.
Watch this video to find out why thousands of drivers use WhoCanFixMyCar
What to do at the garage
Here’s what to do when you take your car in for repairs.
Ask in advance for a written quote which includes parts, labour, and VAT.
When the work has been completed ask for a receipt or invoice that clearly lays out what was done and the parts that were used.
Make sure you get a stamp in your service book if relevant.
Optionally, ask the mechanic to show you what work they did. If something doesn’t feel right, ask another mechanic to check.
Frequently asked questions
How long is reasonable for a car repair?
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 states that any garage has an obligation to carry out repairs within a “reasonable” time frame, but this depends on the type of job that’s being done.
For example, replacing a tyre should take considerably less time than replacing a clutch. For basic repairs you can expect your car to be in and out the same day, but difficult jobs like engine repairs might take a few days.
Before you take your car into the garage it’s a good idea to ask for an estimate of how long the job is likely to take.
Can you make payments on car repairs?
Some garages on WhoCanFixMyCar allow you to pay a bill in installments, rather than all at once, making the process more manageable.
This service is called Payment Assist.
Can a mechanic legally keep your car?
The answer is that it depends. If the mechanic has carried out work on your car and you haven’t yet paid for said work, they can keep your car until the amount that’s due has been paid in full. This is what’s known as a “lien”.
If you take your car without paying you’re at risk of civil proceedings and criminal prosecution.
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