Brake Repair Consider These Things When Finding A Shop

No car owner gets through life without indulging in brake repair from time to time. Few things on an automobile are meant to last forever, and the brakes are not among those few things. Your owner's manual should have a tidbit or two about when to get service, although getting your vehicle regularly serviced should lead to this discovery by a competent mechanic. The question is, then, where to find this competent mechanic. Finding a good shop for all of your car maintenance needs is one of the most gratifying things you can do. Here are some things to consider while looking.

Experience and Longevity
A good brake repair shop will have some history in the area, if not nationwide. There are a few big names in the business. Names you will know in Cincinnati as well as in Tampa. When you go into these nationally recognized chains, you'll know the mechanics there meet a certain minimal standard of service and experience. When you go to a local mechanic with a hand-painted sign above the garage, you can never be sure what you're going to get. There's nothing wrong with the local guy, but you need to be doubly sure about his reputation before you entrust your car to his care.

Price
Don't overpay for brake repair. Parts have a fixed cost, more or less, so there's no reason to pay more for them at one shop than at another shop. Labor, in many ways, is not much different. Good mechanics will rely on a standard price sheet to tell them how much to charge for labor. If you go to a shop that seems more expensive than others in the area, you need to consider why you're paying so much more. If there is a good reason for it (exceedingly good service, a really amazing waiting room, shuttle service, etc.), then so be it. If there isn't, however, couldn't you find something better to do with that money?

Time
Unless you did something really terrible to your braking system, there's no reason why brake repair should take more than a day. If you constantly have to wait several days for your shop to get your car back to you, there are shops that will treat you with a bit more priority. It can be a hassle to have your car in the shop. Finding other methods of transportation, spending money on a rental, and putting friends out are all part of the package. Find a shop that can get your car back to you in a couple of hours.