Choose your garage, service point wisely
Choosing the right garage will give a car owner some degree of satisfaction. PHOTO BY RACHEL MABALA.
Driving a well maintained car is every driver’s pride. It give a feeling of satisfaction to know your car is in good shape.
But drivers tend to move from one garage to another looking for cheaper options obliviousof looming danger.
Garage-hopping has the potential to lead you into poor choices, impulsive or uninformed decisions, which according to Ali Rahaman of Kiwa Auto Spares, prevents a driver from tracking the car’s service and repair history.
The driver, he says, should stick to a particular garage to track the car’s service history as well as creating a relationship with technicians.
“Get the best garage where you are assured of quality services. It is also important that you create a relationship with the mechanics because it is hard for them to do a bad job if they know you,” Rahaman says. However, all this should be done under certain precautions:
Certification
According to Rahaman, certification is and should be an important aspect for any driver looking for a service point or garage because it is almost impossible that certified garages employ unqualified mechanics.
“Automotive certification shows that the primary technicians take pride to continuously inform themselves, which puts your car in the right hands,” he says.
Automotive Service Excellence, according to Rahaman, is the main certification programme for car technicians and every driver should ensure the garage he uses is certified by relevant authorities.
Convenience
One of the most important aspects of any driver is being able to supervise their car repairs and maintenance. Therefore you should be mindful of convenience every time you choose a garage.
“You should consider a garage that is within a short distance or near your office or home,” says Sarajj Ssemakula, a driver.
Seek honesty
According to Rahaman, some mechanics are never honest and will lie about the car’s condition.
Such mechanics, he says, put you and your car in danger, which calls for a choice of a garage where “technicians will tell you the real problem and how you can rectify it”.
Up-to-date technology
Vehicles and technology are continuously evolving, therefore, mechanics must be on top of these changes to meet customer expectations.
Guaranteed work
A good garage will always be sure of its work therefore they will not have a problem in regard to giving you a guarantee.
This, according to Sirajj Ssemakula, not only creates trust but cements the relationship between a driver and the garage.
“Check their [garage] warranty policy because they vary from one garage to another,” he says.
Does the garage show concern for you and your car?
According to Ssemakula, a good garage is one where staff members consider your safety with paramount concern.
“They should be able to listen to your concerns, communicate their diagnosis plan, repair or service your car in order to ease your worries,” he says.
Ssemakula believes that you should not feel intimidated or scared to ask questions, because such questions will bring out what you want your mechanic to do.
