Your vehicle plays a crucial role in your daily life. It gets you to work and shopping, the kids to school, and allows you to take trips, whether short trips in and around Iowa City IA to local entertainment or long road trips to explore new cities and states.Keeping your vehicle safe means finding the right auto repair shop – one that does excellent work and treats you like a person instead of a number.
Tips to Choose the Right Mechanic and Auto Repair Shop in Iowa City IA
When searching for the right “auto repair near me,” recommendations from friends and relatives can be helpful, but remember, everyone’s needs are different.The best way to find great auto repair Iowa City IA is to take several steps:
Check Online Reviews
You can start by checking reviews online for several shops. Make a list of all shops that seem promising.
Narrow it Down by Location and Convenience in Iowa City IA
Cross off any shop that you believe is not convenient to you. Iowa City & Tire Service is conveniently located on Kirkwood Avenue. We are within blocks of Riverfront Crossings Park and shopping. We also have a shuttle service if you need to get to work or get back home.
Check the Shop’s Warranty
Some shops offer a 12-month warranty, and some offer none. We stand behind our work, so we offer a three-year, 36,000-mile nationwide warranty.
Ask About Mechanic Experience
Many shops don’t have their ASE Certification or let the certifications expire. At Iowa City Tire & Service, we have an ASE Master Tech, and all of our tech have ASE Certifications.
Our auto technicians have years of experience under their belts. The shop owner, Andy Miller, brings over 20 years of industry experience, including work at dealerships.
Ask About Tech
Shops without top-of-the-line diagnostic and repair equipment are unable to service newer car models. Technology on cars is always changing, and shop owners have to keep up with the tech by buying new hardware, software and often, new tools.
Iowa City Tire & Service not only keeps up with their certifications, but they also keep up with all of the required technology for today’s vehicles.
Visit the Shop
Once you narrow your choices down to two or three shops, visit the shops. You want to see and evaluate several items:
- Make sure the shop is clean and organized. This shows that the owner and techs pay attention to detail. While there may be tools, air hoses and even spilled oil or antifreeze on the floor while a tech is actively working, empty bays should be clean. The office should be clean, as well as the restrooms.
- The people you interact with should have excellent communication skills.
- The shop should have all of its insurance and licensing in place.
- The shop should be transparent in its pricing. You don’t want any surprises when you receive the bill.
If everything looks great but you can’t decide between two shops, don’t hesitate to ask the shop for references. You can also go back and review online reviews again to help make the decision.
Contact Iowa City Tire & Service
Whether you need an oil change, vehicle repair or preventative maintenance, you want to know your vehicle is in good hands. Andy and the crew are not only knowledgeable and friendly, but they also won’t try to upsell you on repairs you don’t need. We will point out upcoming repairs and let you know if they can wait, though!
To schedule an appointment with Iowa City Tire & Service, please call us at (319) 338-5401. We are conveniently located at 410 Kirkwood Ave., Iowa City IA 52240.
