SUMMARY: Today's busy schedules leave little time for do-it-yourself auto repairs; besides, today's high-tech vehicles are no place for amateurs - so finding a good automotive repair facility is important if you want to protect your automotive investment. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), a nonprofit organization that tests and certifies the competence of automotive-repair technicians, offers the following tips on finding a good repair shop.

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If you are looking for the highest rated local auto repair center there is only one place to look. Yes the above will help you find some locations. However it wont help you see full reputations of the locations. I was looking for auto repair Atlanta and couldn't find what I was looking for on that site. I found this site and it made it easy to find the highest rated local auto repair center near me. I even found a the highest rated repair center in some tiny city in Alaska. (Removed hyperlinks - not allowed, TG 11/11/2008)

(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Nov 11, 2008, 10:36 PM)

I've hired ASE Master Techs in the past that weren't, well, I was surprised. I've learned that there is no substitute for experience. I've also learned that most anyone can read a book and pass a test. So, I don't hold the ASE testing too high. I do have a couple of ASE certified techs, but I didn't hire them because of the certifications. Sure, it means that they know the 'basics' and the 'theories', but..... We have a shop in our area that is always rated "the best". Well, they are definitely the best when it comes to taking your money. They have beautiful shops. All the latest equipment. And, cash registers that work extremely well. They are flat rate shops (I pay strictly by the hour...no commission, no incentive) so the techs sell or they don't eat. We've recently had two vehicles towed in that "needed transmissions". Both were plugged fuel filters causing engine mgmt. problems which, in-turn, caused shifting problems. Had one that 'they' were trying to sell an engine. Had two bad spark plug wires. All three came from that "Best shop" chain. Check with the BBB. Ask friends. Relatives. Sure, watch for the ASE, but don't hold too much stock in that rating. You want to find a shop that takes care of it's customers. Not one that will charge you every time you come in...even if it's a comeback.
Loren
SW WA