Why You Should Trust Your Dealership With Your Auto Repairs

When it comes time for scheduled or, worse yet, surprise auto repairs, many consumers wonder whether they should take their vehicle to an independent mechanic or back to the dealership where they purchased their car.

For a number of important reasons like cost, expertise, and warranty coverage, a dealership is your best bet when it comes to auto repair shops. Now, this is not a knock on independent mechanics and auto body shops. Many times, they have just as much expertise as the dealership, but not necessarily the same equipment to keep up with the ever-increasing cutting-edge technology powering today’s cars, or the access to updated national databases on repairs and recalls.

The choice is ultimately yours, but here are a few reasons why you should trust your dealership with your auto repairs.

The Cost of Auto Repairs Done By Your Dealership

There is a bias against dealerships that the cost of repairs will be infinitely higher than those done at an independent auto body shop. This might account for the fact that an average of seventy percent of consumers take their vehicles to independent mechanics, rather than their dealerships, according to the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. As bias goes, this one is actually true. On average, dealerships do charge more for repairs, however, this is because of their overhead for automotive parts. In the long term, getting your auto repairs done at your dealership is actually a better deal. Let me explain…

When it comes to the cost of service and repairs, independent shops can offer a variety of pricing, with quotes differing from one storefront to the other. These shops are usually easier to find because there is one on just about every corner in most busy towns and cities. Given that they are so conveniently located, you have to be aware of the dime a dozen quality some of them may have. At a dealership, you might pay more, but the prices are regulated by the manufacturer and not left to the whim of the individual business owner. Don’t forget, you do get what you pay for and dealerships are trusted for high-quality service and expertise.

Consider these figures, reported last year by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, which state that the average consumer paid approximately $1,209 for repairs done at a dealership, compared to $903 averaged by those consumers who went to independent shops over the course of a year. So, yes, the numbers come out higher for work done by a dealership, but many consumers think the extra money paid is valuable peace of mind. You know you’ve gone to the experts and can drive away with the confidence that your car has been fixed properly. Unlike, say, a consumer who recently reported that she took her car to an independent mechanic who unfortunately used the wrong oil in her car, resulting in even costlier repairs.

It’s worth the extra money for automotive assurance.

Overhead Equals Inventory and Quicker Repairs

Getting back to the issue of overhead…your dealership will likely have all of the parts needed for the repair readily available that same day. This means the mechanics can get to work right away and return your car to you faster.

An independent shop will not have as vast an inventory, and may not even carry anything required by your car’s particular brand. If they have to order the part or parts, you’ll likely incur additional expenses, not to mention be faced with an unknown wait time. Most of us can’t afford to be without our cars for very long, so a dealership is a safer, more reliable bet when it comes to getting your car fixed and getting you back on the road faster.

And it’s not just the availability of necessary vehicle components. Dealerships have the most cutting-edge equipment and diagnostic tools, when compared to independent shops which might not be lucrative enough to afford the same. When you consider how “smart” cars have become, how much they rely on computers and technology, you’ll likely get better repairs done by a dealership which has the necessary hardware and software to do the job.

Additionally, car dealerships are able to access updates from daily posted bulletins that distribute helpful information about repairs and service.

Don’t Waste Your Warranty – Repair Your Car at the Dealership

This is where many of those consumers, that seventy percent who opt for independent mechanics over dealerships, might be making a big and costly mistake.

In an effort to save a few bucks and avoid repairs done by the dealership, you might actually be negating your warranty entirely. Though you should be aware of what parts are still under warranty, and can easily find out by consulting your vehicle owner’s manual, the dealership will automatically know which parts are covered. So, while an independent shop might generally do a repair for less money, you might find yourself paying out-of-pocket unnecessarily because the dealer wouldn’t have charged you for the part at all. Does this mean then that if you decide to go back to your dealer after getting most of your services and repairs done elsewhere that your warranty is null and void?

Not usually. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975, your dealership has to comply with any existing warranties, unless you have somehow altered the car in a way that automatically voids the warranty. But this generally has nothing to do with service and repairs, however, and more to do with cosmetic or structural changes.

Make sure that you keep track of all service and repair records so that you can prove to your dealership that you have been keeping up with your vehicle’s scheduled maintenance plan, as recommended by the manufacturer.

Finding the Right Mechanic – Your Dealership Experts

No matter where you go to get your car repaired, make sure you check for the blue seal of excellence.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence spokesman, Tony Molla, estimates that approximately 400,000 mechanics across the nation are blue seal certified. This means that they routinely have to pass certain exams and need to be recertified on a regular basis. A blue seal of excellence simply means that the mechanics are keeping up with the times and keeping current with the ever-evolving automotive technologies.

At the end of the day, you should, of course, take your car wherever you feel most comfortable and confident in the staff who will be working on it. Knowing your warranty information will help you understand what you should and should not be charged for with respect to parts. While there are excellent independent automotive mechanics out there, trusting your dealership takes the guesswork out of finding a reliable shop and comes with a service and satisfaction guarantee.

When it comes to the expert maintenance of your car, and your own personal peace of mind, trust your dealership with your auto repairs. Ultimately, it’s money well spent.