So you’ve been looking into purchasing a used car for quite some time now. Maybe you don’t have the money to buy new, or your parents insist that buying new is best. Either way, you might not know what you’re getting yourself in to. Used cars can offer a variety of benefits as long as you are a smart shopper. And with an estimated 3.3 used cars sold for every new car sold in the U.S., more people are opting for used.
Typically, buyers will pay slightly less to insure pre owned vehicles than a new version of the same model. Not only that, but depreciation flattens out after a car’s second year, which means it’s more cost effective to purchase used.
Once you’ve made the decision to buy used and have purchased the vehicle, it’s time to face the fact that you will most likely have it in the shop more frequently than you would if you had purchased a new car. Because of this, it is best to find a great auto mechanic shop that has experience in working with used cars.
If the car is your first vehicle ever purchased and it is your first time going to an auto repair shop, it is best to ask these common auto service questions:
- Do they have an ASE certification? Ask an auto tech whether or not they have an Automotive Service Excellence, which ensures quality service. The ASE seeks to improve quality of service repair and requires technicians to undergo constant certification classes.
- What type of payment policies do they offer? As long as you’re asking a bunch of auto service questions, add this important one to the list — it may end up saving you money in the long run. Understand their labor rates, warranties, and payment policies. Any auto tech who can’t give an up-front estimate of how much the work will cost isn’t worth your time.
- Do they have references available? The best auto repair shops will have references to hand out on demand. It can’t hurt to also ask around or consult Angie’s list about how their service and pricing is compared to other shops in the area.
- Will they provide a write-up of what work was done? This is so crucial to have on file throughout the entire time you own the vehicle in order to keep track of what needed repairs. Too often people will get parts repaired, such as their breaks, at one place that has a lifetime guarantee, but will then get them repaired somewhere else and end up wasting money. Instead, a write-up will keep you organized and you can see the costs and charges all in one place.
There may be other auto service questions to ask, but these four are crucial to inquire about when you step into a new auto repair shop for the first time.
