Choosing the right repair shop for your vehicle
Sometimes called an "extended warranty", a service contract is a promise to perform (or pay for) certain repairs or services. Although technically not a “warranty” as defined by federal law, service contracts may be arranged at any time and always costs extra. Warranties, on the other hand, ONLY come with a new car and are included in the original price. Vehicle service contracts are popularly referred to as "extended auto warranties" or "extended warranties". Use of the term "extended warranty" or "warranty" on this site is intended to refer to vehicle service contracts and not manufacturer's warranties.
So your car has finally succumbed to a breakdown and you're scrambling to find a mechanic who can fix it. There are multiple options in terms of mechanics who can fix your car. Here are some tips to make sure you get a quality repair at a reasonable rate; although if you have an extended warranty, cost won't be an issue.
Drivers who need their car repaired have three options: the dealer, a national repair chain, or an independent mechanic. There are various pros and cons to each of these.
The dealer will most likely charge more for labor than the other repair shops by about 20%. Since labor can account for almost half of a repair bill, that can be a fair amount of money. However, drivers need to consider what type of car they have and make sure that another repair shop can actually get the job done.
Late-model cars come with complex electronic systems. Independent mechanics don't always have the diagnostic systems to get the error codes that an authorized repair shop will. This leads to a trial and error scenario - what might take a mechanic at the dealer one hour with the help of a computer could take an independent mechanic two or three without. That labor cost gets passed down to you.
Still, if you find a mechanic who you trust and can build a relationship with, it's often the best way to go. One benefit of buying an auto warranty from AA Auto Protection is that you can choose your repair shop. This way, you can get your vehicle repaired at the shop you're most comfortable with.
5/28/2010 7:16:10 PM
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