Should I Go To An Auto Repair Shop or Dealership?

Owning a car gives you the convenience and flexibility to go where you want, when you want.  It can be a big part of your personal freedom. However, vehicles are machines and machines need routine maintenance and the occasional repair. Unless you’re mechanically inclined and can do the work yourself, you have two choices.  Take the car or truck to a local repair shop or to your car dealership. Well, which is best? There are several considerations to take into account in making this decision.

Dealership vs. Independent Repair Shops

Typically, the safest choice when your car needs maintenance or a repair will be the dealership. The mechanics at the dealership will be factory trained specifically for the brand of car you own and will have access to the most up to date diagnostic equipment, tools, and technical information from the manufacturer.

Independent mechanics typically have much lower overhead than a dealership and can offer lower rates for the particular job. This can be especially true as your car gets older and the original manufacturer’s warranty expires. Also, as your car gets older, the repairs may tend to be more expensive, so using an independent mechanic can provide significant savings.

Personal Touch

At a dealership, you will likely interface with a service advisor who will write up the work order and then assign it to a technician who will perform the work.  It would be very unusual at a dealership to speak directly to the mechanic working on your car.

In contrast, at an independent shop, you can deal directly with the shop owner or the mechanic who’s going to work on your car. Many times, it will be the same person.  If you are a repeat customer, the independent shop owner or mechanic will become more familiar with you and your car each time you come in.

OEM Parts vs Aftermarket Parts

A few years ago, there was an amusing commercial for chicken sandwiches with the tag line, “Parts is parts!”.  That may be true for chicken, but not for automobiles.  At a dealership, the repairs to your vehicle will be completed using original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts. OEM automotive components are the official, genuine parts produced directly by your vehicle’s maker. These are the best parts for your car and are engineered and produced specifically for your car.

An independent shop will sometimes use OEM parts, but more often, they will use aftermarket parts. These parts can sometimes be of lower quality that the OEM parts, but they are usually significantly less expensive. However, your independent shop or mechanic will, at your request, use OEM parts, typically purchased from a local dealership’s parts department. While these parts will usually be more expensive, the labor rates at the independent shop may still provide you with savings over the dealership.

Location

Your choice of where to have your car repaired can be dictated by the physical location of your nearest dealership. If you live in a remote area, an independent shop may be the smart choice for repairs. If your vehicle is still covered under the original warranty, an independent garage can also honor the same warranty.

If your vehicle has a valid manufacturer’s warranty though, it’s probably best to use the dealership. When your car goes beyond the warranty period, it may be much more convenient and less expensive to use an independent shop. On the other hand, the service departments in most dealerships offer conveniences not typically found at an independent shop.  Dealerships will have a customer lounge with comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi, coffee, and they may offer rideshare or shuttle rides to your home or business when you drop off your car.

So, the decision as to which is better, the dealership or an independent shop, is not always clear. Some customers will only trust the dealership while others will swear allegiance to their favorite independent mechanic. Relationship, location, quality of parts, warranties, or convenience can all play a part in your decision, as the final choice is yours.

For over 50 Years V&H Automotive has been serving Marshfield and Central Wisconsin with New Ford, Lincoln, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and RAM Trucks. Our service department is manned by factory trained mechanics who have the most up to date technical information about your vehicle and use only original manufacturer’s parts. From Wausau to Wisconsin Rapids, or Stevens Point to Medford – we’re a short drive from anywhere for friendly service and very competitive pricing. If you have any automotive needs, check out our website or contact us at 715-387-2545. Better yet, stop in for a visit!

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