What to Look For in a Good Local Mechanic

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what to look for in a good local mechanic

As people, we put a lot of faith in our mechanics, and the cars they service. Driving a vehicle is a process with innumerable moving parts, all of which have to be in perfect working order for your vehicle to do the things you expect it to do when you expect it to do them. It should be no surprise then that many car owners are very selective when choosing the mechanic that they put their faith in. 

Luckily, here in Melbourne, the world of mechanics is highly competitive, so you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to finding the right one for you. With that said, it’s still important to make sure that you are looking out for green flags to ensure that you’re getting a reliable mechanic that you can truly put your trust in. So, today, we’re going to look at a few ways in which you can make sure your mechanic is giving you the best service possible.

Has the Mechanic Been Recommended By Others?

Word of mouth can be an incredibly powerful tool for businesses, services, and yes, potential customers. Knowing that people who have used a service would recommend it offers you a great insight into how one mechanic fares when compared to others in the area. For example, if you’re looking up a mechanic in Bundaberg and you see two different mechanic services, one filled with glowing reviews and the other with none at all, which are you going to trust more? We as humans love to share insights, and when a group has very positive things to say about a particular service, you know that they’re likely worth trying out.

Does the Mechanic Have Relevant Qualifications With Your Vehicle?

Whilst we often think of all mechanics being able to service all vehicles, this is absolutely not the case. Rather, with the complexities that go into a vehicle being able to run optimally, many specialisations and fields within the mechanic industry, and if you have a particular vehicle requirement, it’s important to ensure that your chosen mechanic will actually be able to provide the service you need. This will be obvious for those that are driving heavy-load vehicles and specialised industrial machinery, but even 4WD vehicles will have their own specific needs when it comes to being serviced.

Is Your Mechanic Being Transparent?

When it comes to a service as expensive and essential as working with a mechanic, you want to know exactly what is happening to your vehicle and why. This may seem obvious, but it’s far from a given. Unscrupulous mechanics adding in hidden and mysterious fees has essentially become a cliche, and unfortunately, it’s for good reasons that are not exclusive to the field.

In any industry that works with complex systems that aren’t going to be fully understood by your average person, there is a risk for those looking to make a little extra money to add on unnecessary services once the vehicle is already in their care. This is why it’s important to make sure that your mechanic is open with you about your vehicle and what you can expect to pay.

Does Your Mechanic Have a Good Warranty Policy?

With any repair work, there is a small chance that the service won’t quite fix the issue it was intended to. In cases like this, many mechanics will have a particular warranty guarantee to make sure that you’re protected against illegitimate repairs or services that simply do not fulfil their obligations. Most mechanics will have these warranty details on their website, but if you’re worried about their process or need more information on what is offered in these rare cases, a good mechanic will be able to reassure you and explain their guarantee in a way that is more clear.

For more information on car service warranty policies in Victoria, you should consider reading through the Victorian Car Services & Repairs Consumer Affairs page.


Finding the right mechanic can mean a lifelong relationship, especially if you can find a good local family-owned mechanic in your area. So, whilst that little extra research may take some time, it’s definitely worth it in the long term.

Mick Pacholli

Mick created TAGG - The Alternative Gig Guide in 1979 with Helmut Katterl, the world's first real Street Magazine. He had been involved with his fathers publishing business, Toorak Times and associated publications since 1972.  Mick was also involved in Melbourne's music scene for a number of years opening venues, discovering and managing bands and providing information and support for the industry. Mick has also created a number of local festivals and is involved in not for profit and supporting local charities.        

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