Third Party Mechanic vs. Dealer Mechanic

So, I am about to take you to a place where we have all been. Your vehicle is broken down; something has stopped working properly, something that you have no idea how to fix. Maybe it is the carburetor, maybe it is the engine, maybe it is the distributor, maybe it is just the air conditioning. Whatever the case, if you do not have a personal mechanic yet, then you have likely found yourself wondering, "How do I choose a mechanic?" More importantly, in the battle of a third party mechanic vs. a dealer mechanic, which one is better? Which one will benefit you the most? Which one will cost less, for that matter? Well, I am here to share the secrets and the wisdom with you, my mobile, driving friends. Just follow me on down to the next paragraph here.

Naturally, if you talk to a third party mechanic – that is, the guy at your local shop – then he is going to tell you that you will do better by bringing your vehicle to him. And, just as naturally, if you call your dealer, he will tell you that your best bet is to bring your vehicle "home," so to speak, so the folks who know that particular model inside and out can make it like new again. With such dissenting opinions, it is really hard to know where to turn, and you definitely do not want to take any chances with your vehicle. After all, it is your mode of transportation. You depend on it, you want it to run the way it should run – and you do not want it to break your bank account in the bargain.

Fortunately, there are definite pros and cons with each choice. In the end, it will really be up to you to decide. So, what are the benefits of going to a third part mechanic? Well, first of all, it will probably be cheaper. In fact, your work will typically be a whopping third of the price of the same work done at a dealer garage. Furthermore, there is also the convenience factor to consider. Your local mechanic is going to have a garage much closer to your home and you likely will not have to worry about how to get your vehicle there or when you get it back. As to the disadvantages of a third party mechanic, well, sometimes they just do not have the necessary equipment to take care of newer vehicles. Most of them have a lot of stuff that somehow syncs into computers – do not ask me for specifics, guys, I have no clue myself. The point is, while local mechanics do have these computers, not all of them are high tech enough to show all the problems your vehicle may have. All the problem spots may not show up on theirs. Then, too, you are not guaranteed a vehicle to drive while yours is being fixed.

As far as dealer mechanics go, the pros are pretty obvious. For one thing, you are getting people who know your vehicle implicitly. They know exactly what they are doing and there are likely very few problems that they will not be able to fix. They will often be able to correctly diagnose your vehicle's problem right away. As well, many of them will be able to offer you a rental vehicle or spare car to drive while yours is in the shop. As well, there is a larger amount of technicians and mechanics, meaning that your vehicle can come back sooner. On the downside, though, dealer mechanics typically charge much more money. Plus, if the closest dealership is still far away, then that can be a serious inconvenience.