Masterwerks :: Maintain Your Dream Car

Maintain Dream Car by Finding Reputable Repair Shop

You’ve just purchased the car of your dreams, but how do you keep it from becoming a nightmare to fix later on? Maintain it properly, and choose a repair shop you can trust before you need emergency repairs.

To be sure you’re getting the best available service and parts, check out the following guidelines, relayed by Steve Handschuh, vice president of the National Automotive Parts Association (NAPA).

He suggests four standards you should look for when you shop for an automotive service center: ASE certification, a trustworthy name, quality parts, and a national warranty program.

Automotive Excellence Certification
“Today’s cars are sophisticated high-tech machines,” Handschuh says. “To protect the investment you have in your automobile, you need a highly skilled professional who is trained to diagnose and make complex repairs. When you see the blue ASE Seal of Excellence displayed on the building, that means the technicians employed there have been certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (NIASE).”

NIASE is a nonprofit, independent organization that has conducted voluntary testing for 21 years. Twice each year, technicians have the opportunity to register to take any one of 21 ASE competency tests in four categories: automobile, truck, collision repair, and engine machinery. There are eight tests in the automobile category alone.

A name you can trust
A good name is one you know and have confidence in as a supplier of automotive parts or service. Choose either a local shop owner who lives and works in the community and is well-respected or a national repair franchise that is widely advertised and widely available throughout the country.

In both cases, you can look for signs that are good indicators of the business’ reputation.

For many consumers, word-of-mouth is the strongest assurance about the quality of a business. Usually, you can have confidence in a repair shop recommended to you by friends, relatives, or co-workers who have had good experiences.

-from Summer Auto Service, a special section produced in its entirety by the advertising department of the Arizona Republic