Fall is a great time to take care of your car. It gives vehicle owners the opportunity to repair and prepare for the harsher winter ahead. Most people today hire professionals rather than attempt to repair or service their vehicles themselves due to their busy lives and complicated vehicles.
These are some tips for choosing a repair location from the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. (ASE) is a group that certifies and tests automotive technicians.
* Start shopping for a repair facility before you need one.
* Ask your friends and associates for their recommendations and consult local consumer groups.
* Look for a neat, well-organized facility with vehicles in the parking lot equal in value to your own and with modern equipment in the service bays.
* Look for a courteous staff willing to answer all of your questions.
* Ask about policies on repair cost estimates, diagnostic fees, guarantees and acceptable methods of payment.
* Ask whether the repair facility specializes in or frequently handles the kind of repairs you need.
* Look for signs of professionalism in the customer-service area such as civic, community or customer-service awards.
* Look for evidence that technicians are qualified such as trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced coursework and ASE certification.
* Look for the ASE sign.
Founded in 1972, ASE is a non profit, independent organization dedicated improving the quality and repair of automobiles through voluntary testing and certification.
ASE-certified technicians carry the blue and white ASE shoulder emblems and credentials that indicate their areas of certification. The blue and white ASE sign is often displayed by their employers.
Visit this site for more information and additional tips on car care. www.ase.com.
