Car Servicing: Authorised Dealer Or Local Mechanic?

Regular servicing of your vehicle is a must. Wear and tear will eat away at a car and performance will eventually take a hit. This is why regular car servicing is important, as it is the only surefire way to guarantee the longevity of a machine.

The big question now is: who do you send your car to for servicing?

Authorised dealer or local mechanic?

There are advantages and disadvantages to both options, but before we begin, check if your car is still under warranty. If your warranty is still valid, the choice is a no brainer, go to the dealer! 

It doesn’t matter how far the dealer might be, warranty will cover all your servicing costs, and that is totally worth it.

Dealerships will also be able to secure original replacement parts for a vehicle under warranty. Also, the repairs performed will be handled by experts trained to work on that vehicle.

Servicing at a car dealership

• Qualified mechanics – Authorised car dealers will have qualified mechanics that are well-versed with vehicles of their associated brand. This means that they will generally do a great job at finding and fixing issues.
• Original parts – If you need a component replaced, authorised dealers will likely be able to obtain official original parts, ensuring that your car will run exactly how it is supposed to.
• Specialised diagnostic equipment – These stores often used modern technology to diagnose the problem on the vehicle. That can be vital if your issue has to do with the car’s electronics.
• Better if you want to sell – If you plan on selling your vehicle any time soon, buyers will generally prefer if the car is true to its original form. The best way to maintain this condition is to use authorised dealers for maintenance.
• Customer service – You tend to get a less personal experience at a dealership as you will most likely be talking to a representative instead of the mechanic working on your vehicle.
• Cost – If your vehicle is not under warranty, then servicing and parts authorised dealers can get very pricey.
• Repair time – Repair time at a dealership can vary wildly. Sometimes it may take a day. Sometimes, it can take a week or more. If they need to import a replacement part, then the timeline gets stretched even further.

However, if you choose a local mechanic, you might find an experienced person who’s an expert in their job. They will check out your vehicle, and you will get to talk to the actual mechanic. At a dealership, you will most likely be talking to a representative instead.

Servicing at a local mechanic

• Discuss with an expert – Local mechanics may not specialise in your specific car, but they are still experts at car repair. Not only that, local mechanics will often talk to you directly and are open to discuss what is wrong with your vehicle and what needs to be done to fix it.
• Negotiate prices – Local mechanics are more personal than dealerships. This means you can build a relationship with them. Long-term clients can often haggle for lower prices and can expect discounts.
• Affordable parts – Local mechanics do not have to use branded parts for repairs. This means repairs tend to be cheaper by quite a bit. They might even be able to suggest a range of replacement products from you to choose from.
• Level of expertise differs – If you opt for a local mechanic, be sure to find one that is experienced and knowledgeable, especially those that are familiar with your brand of car. Not all local mechanics can do a great job.
• Can miss deadlines – Local mechanics often give you an estimated time for repair work. However, this estimate is not always accurate. It can be done earlier or later depending on the amount of work the mechanic has.

Ultimately, choosing which palace to send your car to for servicing will depend on your preference. The only exception to this rule is that if you have warranty on your car, then bring it to the dealership. The benefits of free professional servicing for years is just too good to pass up.

If you want to ensure your car is in great condition in order to sell it, then a dealership is probably the better choice. If you want to build rapport with your mechanic and score better deals, then a local mechanic might be for you.