OnRamp Repair Shop Guide
PART 2: What to expect from a repair shop
So, your vehicle needs repair or service, you’ve found a shop, here’s what you should expect:
1. You’ll need to drop your vehicle off
Other than an oil change, tires, or battery replacement, there’s hardly any repairs that are done “while you wait.” So plan on dropping your vehicle off at the shop.
It’s better to do it earlier in the week rather than later when they have a lot more cars in line.
It’s better to do it early in the morning shortly after they open rather than later in the day when they’re probably already full for the rest of the day.
Many shops will have a free shuttle service that can give you a free ride home or to work. But call them first to make sure the shuttle is available on the day and for the route that you need.
If you need to drop your car off after work hours or on a weekend, most shops will have a “drop box” with envelopes where you can fill out your contact details and vehicle details, seal up your keys, and put it through a mail slot or into a lockbox. Once they’re open again, they’ll contact you and get to work on your car.
If your car isn’t drivable, isn’t safe, or won’t start, then get it towed to the shop. The tow truck driver will turn over the keys to the shop when they drop it off – you don’t have to go with them.
2. Expect it to take more than one day… maybe many days
How long the shop has your vehicle will depend on many factors: how busy they are, how complex the problem is, how long it takes to get parts (which can be very long these days), how long the repair itself takes, and whether or not any additional problems arise after the original repair, which can frequently happen, especially on older vehicles. What you don’t want to do is rush a mechanic. You would not rush a surgeon operating on your leg. You would give him or her all the time needed to do the job right. Treat your mechanic the same way.
So, it can take a while. The key is that no matter how long it takes, the shop should stay in frequent contact with you. That’s their responsibility, and it’s a red flag if they ghost you for days. But as long as they communicate frequently and are open and honest about what’s going on, give them the time they need to do the job right.
3. There will be a fee for them to diagnose your vehicle
Some people mistakenly assume that you only pay for the repairs themselves – so you owe nothing unless the car is repaired. No, you pay for the diagnostic as well. When you go to the doctor, you pay for his or her time whether or not any medicine is prescribed or any procedures are done. You’re paying for their expertise. Same with a mechanic. The time it takes him or her to properly diagnose your vehicle and figure out exactly what it needs – you have to pay for that time and for that inspection report on top of what you’ll pay for any parts or repairs that you authorize the shop to do.