When you car needs servicing do you take it to the dealership or to an independent mechanic? Please explain.?

Answer 1

The first and and most important part of this answer is to find someone you trust. Dealer or independent - if you can't trust their judgment you will not be happy with their service.

Dealerships usually have the better (more up to date) tooling and service information. They are not usually the quickest way to get your car repaired or the cheapest.

Independents vary greatly, you should check out a few in your area and find out what kinds of services they can handle. Some are just basic maintenance shops and others are outfitted at close to dealer level. They also vary greatly in the time it takes to get your car back. Many smaller repairs you can wait for or get it back in the same day. Some dealers are also starting to take this approach.

Typically if your car is in the warranty period you would want to take it to the dealer for anything that might be warranty work or at the least to a shop that uses certified mechanics and ask if any needed repairs would be covered (Again a matter of trust - most shops will tell you if they think it might be covered).

As the car gets older the independent shops see many more of them and they can usually repair them at the same level as a dealer. An independent might also be cheaper or give a better warranty, but call around and check them out.

Many older cars (10 years or more) are not always welcomed at the dealer but just like the independents I don't want to lump them all in the same basket as each one is different.

Answer 2

For warranty work I take my vehicles to the dealer. Any other specialized work on my SVT Mustang gets done at the dealer. Other than that, I take my vehicles to a independent repair shop. That's just a few minutes from me. They have a good reputation of being above board and competent. Being a dealership is not going to guarantee that. Some repair shops are better than others. Ask around at work and see who is the best. The shop doesn't have to be flashy and fancy. The best repair shop in a village. That I used to live in several yrs ago. Was a junk yard repair shop combo. Kevin was a wizard with cars. Honest and had the attitude. I'm a working person too. His labor rates was half of a dealership. He did have the latest diagnostic test equipment too.

Answer 3

I take it to the dealership since my good friend is the service manager. if there is something that needs to be fixed under warranty he lets me know. My daughter took her car to an independent mechanic and had something fixed that would have been a warranty item so it cost her alot. when the car is under warranty I would definitely go to the dealership

Answer 4

depends on the service. If just tires, brakes, muffler then I go to those basic shops. Same with oil change. But if a check engine light comes on, I need a wheel bearing, differential work, etc....then I only go to the dealership as they have all the codes, books, and specialized tools for the job at hand and have done them many times.

Answer 5

There's no right or wrong way to this, the choice is yours. The dealership tends to be much more expensive which is why most people use independent dealers. You don't lose brownie points for doing so.

Answer 6

Most of the stuff I do myself. Oil and filter changes, tune ups, and simple stuff you can do yourself with some very basic tools. When it comes to warranty work on a new car, it goes to the dealer. I only use the dealer as a last resort otherwise. If there's something I can't tackle on my own, I take the car to a local ASE certified mechanic. Saves a bunch of money over the stealership.

Answer 7

I take my car to an independant mechanic as I trust him not to rip me off plus he is very good and better than any dealer mechanic within 100 miles of here.

Answer 8

personally i go to the dealership because i think that they know about the make and model of my car.

Answer 9

depens on age of car if new dealer if old and out warrenty bring to meck shop