Where To Take Your Car For Regular Maintenance And Service
No matter what type of car or truck you own, taking it to the service shop for maintenance or repair is essential. Where you take your vehicle to get work done can depend on the work you need and if you have a local service shop that you like to use.
Routine Service
Every vehicle on the road needs routine service from time to time. Things like oil and filter changes, tire rotations, and changing the air filters all extend the car's life, so taking the car into the service shop is essential.
These kinds of service tasks are easily handled by any shop, so find one that is close by and has a good reputation and reviews. Often, if you find a shop that might be a good fit, searching online for information about the shop will turn up some reviews that tell the story of the business.
Specific Repairs
There are some repairs that you may need a dedicated service shop to repair. A transmission that is damaged and not working correctly may be a simple issue with a clogged filter or a linkage issue, and your regular shop may be able to deal with it. Still, you may want to consider taking the car to a transmission shop simply because of their expertise and experience.
There are many systems in your car like that, and sometimes a shop that specializes in those systems is a better fit for repairs. Air conditioning systems require special equipment, brakes can be unique, and a gear set in the differential that is failing may need someone with special training to fix it properly.
In some cases, your local shop will handle this work, but it is important to ask them directly so that you know if you need to take your car to a specialty service shop.
Dealer Service
Some situations require dealer service for your car. If you need a repair that is under warranty, the dealer is often the best place to go. Recalls are also best handled by your local dealer, but if you do not have a dealer near you, you should look for a certified shop to do warranty and recall work on your car. Most manufacturers have multiple ways for you to get this work done, so if you drive an Audi, for example, look for an Audi service shop like Hillside Imports to help you.
If you can't find a shop in your area that does warranty work, call the manufacturer's customer service line, and they may be willing to reimburse you for the work or even work with the garage that you typically use for service.