A recent survey by AAA found two out of three U.S. drivers do not trust auto repair shops, citing overcharges, recommendations for unnecessary services and poor past experiences.
The auto club group released a press release advising motorists to find a trusted mechanic.
AAA suggests that drivers do their homework.
- Look for a repair shop before issues occur. They recommend their AAA Approved Auto Repair facility near you website at AAA.com/autorepair.
- Research potential repair shops and find out how long they have bee in business. Also, how they deal with consumer complaints. (The Better Business Bureau, State Department of Consumer Affairs or Attorney General's office).
- Visit the auto repair shop for a minor job such as an oil change or tire rotation.
- Check for certification by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
One of the repair shops we found on the Approved Auto Repair site was Christian Brothers Automotive in Tampa.
"We even let customers come back to the shop and show them," said franchise owner Jason Benintendi.
Benintendi said the franchise store is a faith-based company that led him to open a location off Race Track Road in Tampa, "I believe being faith based all my qualities that we've had since our childhood to provide a great service for our customers, they'll see the nice difference."
To help your wallet, Benintendi and his service team recommend reading your vehicle manual. The manual will help breakdown maintenance schedules, how to fix different pieces and how to maintain your car correctly.
For more information on the automotive repair shop, click here.
