When you buy a car, you expect it to last you a while. With the amount of time you put into researching new cars, saving money, buying tags and maintaining insurance, you want to get every cent of your money’s worth. Unfortunately cars break down and you need to spend more money getting them back in working condition. Just like insurance is a way to protect your car, there are also a few things you can do to protect your auto repair Clearwater FL.
Warranties
Warranties and contracts are two of the best ways to protect your auto repair investment. Before you get too excited about having your car back, you’ll want to understand what’s included in your warranty and get all of it in writing. Warranties have certain limitations, such as mileage, deductibles and the businesses that are allowed to perform warranty work on your automobile. If you ever find yourself confused about your warranty rights, get in touch with your local consumer protection agency.
Service Contracts
Several automobile dealers and auto repair shops sell service contracts that are offered by independent companies and vehicle manufacturers. Auto repairs in Clearwater FL are protected by a variety of service contracts, some that are negotiable and other that have different prices. If you’re thinking about a service contract, think about the cost of it, the deductible, the repairs being covered, factors necessary to file claim and if you’ll first have to cover the costs of the repair before getting a reimbursement or if the company will take care of the costs directly.
Knowledge
You can also protect your auto repair by arming yourself with knowledge. Ask how the shop charges for repairs. Some charge you based on how much the repair costs and others charge only for labor. Before popping the hood, ask if you’ll be charged for a mechanic to tell you what’s wrong with your automobile. You may not be too keen on the idea of spending money to have your automobile diagnosed by one auto repair shop only to have to pay another shop for the actual cost of the repair. That being said, a shop that only does diagnostic work could offer a more impartial opinion of the repairs you need. When you get your estimate for your auto repair in Clearwater FL, there are a few things you should make sure are included on it, such as necessary parts, what’s being repaired and an estimate of how much the labor will cost. Some states also require repair shops to call the automobile owner before they start any repairs.
Shiftrite Transmission & Auto Service provides reliable auto repair services to help you get back on the road.
