How to find a good mechanic: Quick tips for quality car repairs

If you’re like most people, you depend on your car for a lot of things: to get you to and from the grocery store, transport your kids to school, or maybe drive across country to visit family and see the sights. You need it to be in good working order all the time—and when it isn’t, you have a big problem on your hands.

But that vehicle is also a complex machine, so it requires regular maintenance and repairs to operate safely. So unless you’re a skilled DIYer, you’ll need a good auto mechanic or repair shop to properly handle everything it needs.

Finding a competent, honest car technician, however, can be overwhelming. We’ve all heard horror stories about auto mechanics ripping off customers with unnecessary or poorly done repairs. And it’s happening more frequently because new vehicles are rolling computers with delicate electronic controls that can be hard to understand. 

Luckily, with a little prep and the right information, you can learn how to find a good mechanic—and spot the red flags of a bad one. Read on for insider tips on choosing a technician who can keep your car running smoothly.

There are many kinds of mechanics, each with their own skills and specialties. When looking for a good technician, find one with expertise in your car type. 

As entry-level mechanics, maintenance technicians can change oil, air filters, transmission fluid, and tires, and perform other basic tasks. They shouldn’t be performing any complex repairs without direct supervision from an experienced pro. These technicians often work at places that only offer these services, such as quick oil-change shops. 

Maintenance technicians may go by a wide range of titles—such as general service mechanics (GSMs) or lube, oil, and filter (LOF) technicians—but their responsibilities are the same. For regular maintenance, they’ll charge a flat fee that includes labor. A transmission flush, for example, can cost about $125–$250. 

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is a certification program for mechanics who’ve earned at least 1 of 9 automotive repair certifications. 

They include:

Passing a 40-to-50-question test is required for certification in each specific system. Technicians must retake the test every 5 years to maintain this credential. 

ASE-certified mechanics are viewed as experts in their certified fields. They can also handle repairs in areas where they lack certifications. For example, an engine-repair-certified technician can also work on your suspension. 

“An ASE certification in one area only means they have verified expertise in that part of the vehicle, but it doesn’t take away from their ability to competently repair components for which they’re not ASE-certified,” says Justin Cupler, a former ASE-certified technician and auto shop manager.

Any shop that employs ASE-certified technicians should display an ASE sign in their waiting room or on the building. ASE-certified technicians charge for parts plus labor. Part costs vary, and labor can range from $47–215 per hour. 

Looking for a good mechanic who can do it all? ASE master technicians are some of the industry’s best mechanics. Typically the lead mechanics at a shop or dealership, they’ve earned every available auto-repair certification (except light-vehicle diesel engines) and handle the most complex repairs.

ASE master technicians are a rare breed, so finding one can be challenging. More commonly, repair shops employ a handful of ASE-certified technicians across multiple specialties, instead of one master who does it all.

ASE master technicians typically charge the same labor fees as those of any ASE-certified technician: $47–215 per hour, plus parts. 

If you’re wondering how to find a car mechanic who’s also convenient, consider using a mobile technician. Instead of bringing your car to a shop, a mobile technician comes to you. There are a few trade-offs, though. 

First, they only handle basic work, such as brakes, oil changes, or minor suspension repairs. That’s because they can only transport a limited amount of equipment. Second, they’re usually independent contractors, so ask about their insurance coverage for damages. You can verify it by calling their insurance company.

Mobile mechanics typically charge about 30% less than repair shops, putting them at $32.90–150.50 per hour, plus parts.

Specialists are technicians with a specific ASE certification who work exclusively in that field. This might be someone who only rebuilds transmissions, for example, or who only works on BMW vehicles. 

Specialists are the best at their specialty and charge a premium for that expertise. Labor costs are on the higher side for a repair shop, around $100–200 per hour. 

While a specialist may be an expert in one field, they’re also competent general technicians, and can successfully make repairs outside their areas of expertise. 

There are many reasons to hire a mechanic. Type of repairs needed will determine the kind of mechanic you’ll use. 

If your car is relatively new, you’ll mainly need routine maintenance: oil changes, air filter swaps, or installing new windshield wipers. For that, find an auto repair shop with qualified general-maintenance mechanics. 

Make sure a ASE-certified technician is supervising work on your vehicle, because even newer cars can develop issues. It’s best to catch them early, before they turn into bigger problems.

Even if you’re savvy about basic car maintenance—and can save money by doing it yourself—it’s still important to have an ASE-certified technician check your vehicle every 6–12 months. 

No matter how well you maintain your car, the machine will eventually wear down and need repair. When breakdowns happen suddenly, you’re forced to scramble for emergency repairs.  

If this occurs close to home, find out if your local auto shop has trustworthy, ASE-certified technicians on staff to diagnose and repair the problem. If you’re out of town—or your auto repair shop doesn’t use ASE-certified techs—you’ll want to find one quickly to get your vehicle back on the road.

Start your search with word-of-mouth referrals by asking friends and family members in the area who they consider a trustworthy mechanic. Then, consult online reviews to see if other customers share the same sentiments. 

If you have AAA or another roadside assistance program—sometimes provided by your auto manufacturer or credit card company—they can help you find a qualified mechanic nearby, and tow your vehicle if necessary. If you have any doubt about its trustworthiness, verify the repair shop’s ratings online.

An aging car needs extra care to stay in tip-top shape. Once a vehicle reaches 50,000–60,000 miles, more complex repairs—such as timing belt changes or coolant exchanges—can become necessary. These issues are more complicated than a simple air filter or oil change, and are best left to an ASE-certified technician or trained maintenance technician. 

Some minor problems—such as accessory belts wearing out, mild leaks, or electrical faults—may pop up on older vehicles. Having access to a great mechanic who can check failures ensures that your car will get repaired quickly and correctly. 

Again, find a trustworthy auto shop through online reviews and word-of-mouth referrals. There are benefits to keeping the same mechanic throughout the life of your car—for example, they’ll keep your maintenance and repair history in their computer.

Independent repair facilities aren’t the only options for car repairs and maintenance. You can also service your car at a dealership. Although they specialize in repairing the vehicles they sell, most accept all makes and models. 

Here are some pros and cons of choosing a car dealer over an independent mechanic.

Pros of using a dealership:

Despite the stories you may have heard about bad auto shops, most auto repair experts just want to get you back on the road. Here’s how to know if you have a trustworthy, reliable mechanic.

An honest mechanic will review all your vehicle’s issues and answer questions. Because they have nothing to hide, they’re happy to share details that put your mind at ease. Avoid mechanics who offer incomplete answers, or refuse to explain how the repair will resolve the problem. 

Another sign of a trustworthy mechanic: They’ll let you see what’s wrong, and explain why it’s causing issues before starting any repairs. 

You may have heard anecdotes about mechanics who pretend to change out parts, but instead leave the old parts in place. Any reputable mechanic will offer to keep the old parts for your inspection after they complete the repair. 

If there’s no core charge—the fee a shop incurs if it doesn’t return damaged parts to the manufacturer—they should let you keep the old part if requested. 

A good mechanic will also give you options for your repair, including the choice of OEM  or aftermarket parts, which are usually less expensive.

An aftermarket part is designed to fit and function just like the OEM part but is manufactured by a third party. In many cases, it will work just as well as the OEM part. Some may even address a design flaw in an OEM part, because it was designed later.

A good mechanic should advise you of all needed repairs, even those you may not know about. But they’ll also let you know which are needed right away, and which are merely recommended. If you can’t afford to make the recommended ones immediately, or you don’t intend to keep the car, you can put them off.

A great place to start your search for a local mechanic is by talking to friends and family members, especially those with the same type of car as yours. Find out where they take their vehicle and what they think of their mechanic. 

Check customer reviews online, and choose from those with high ratings in areas such as skill, reliability, and honesty. 

Reach out to the mechanic via telephone and explain your needs. See if they seem to understand the problem, and have a plan to test and repair it. In some cases, these shops are too busy to go too deep into diagnostics over the phone, so don’t feel put off if they ask you to come in for an in-person inspection.

If you’re trying out a new mechanic, it’s a good idea to start by going for a minor issue or maintenance visit. If you like the way they handle it, keep them in mind for larger or emergency repairs.

Whether you’re looking for regular maintenance or require emergency repairs on the road, it’s vital to have a trustworthy, competent mechanic. Here’s how finding the right auto shop when they really needed it has helped some Yelpers keep driving.

“I’ve been to a number of mechanics that were friendly and accommodating but in the end, just couldn’t diagnose and repair a car properly,” says Sam D. of Wakefield, Massachusetts. “I recently had a sizable amount of maintenance/repairs performed at [WAR Automotive Technology in Malden]—spark plugs (requiring manifold removal, along with a bunch of other parts to get to the rear plugs), exhaust repair, timing belt, transmission service, water pump.  They are one of the few shops I would trust to complete such a complex job. Also, their price was fair.”

“I had a laundry list of things I needed done on my 2005 Toyota 4Runner,” recalls Rae D. of Evanston, Illinois. [Norm’s Automotive Clinic in Chicago] gave me a great price and communicated fully when there was an additional part that needed replacing. The mechanic also showed me how to change my headlights, so I don’t have to come in to have that done. This was a great experience and will definitely be taking my car there in the future.”

“I’m from way out of town and I had my vehicle stall inexplicably on the last leg of my journey,” says Matt M. of Los Angeles. “On the good advice of some locals I took the vehicle to [EZ Automotive in Santa Barbara]. John worked like mad to find the root of the problem and get it fixed in time for me to make it back home for work, despite a jam-packed schedule, and he did it at a good price too. Cannot recommend highly enough.”

Find an auto mechanic in your area.