According to You: What Questions Help You Find the Right Repair Shop

I doubt I'm making a bold statement when I suggest that finding a repair shop for your vehicle can be challenging. Some places are far too pricey for the work they perform, while others don't appreciate customers who see vehicles as more than just mere transportation. This holds true for a classic car, a vintage truck, or even for a cherished daily driver, and readers of this website certainly care to this extent, and want someone who will treat them with the respect they deserve.

Unfortunately we ourselves can't fix everything that fails on classic and modern vehicles. Finding a shop that we can trust for repairs is paramount. It's an easier task when we know the right questions to ask-those that will separate the wheat from the chaff. So let's ask the Hagerty Community how they find someone who can do quality work, perform it at a fair price, and be reasonably accommodating to your schedule. I will add one question to start things off:

Can I buy my own parts?

This is a delicate question for any repair shop for two reasons. The first is the notion that mark up on replacement parts is a significant source of revenue, so someone who brings in their own bits is not the ideal customer. And asking this question can therefore quickly eliminate potential repair shops from your list.

The other, less nefarious reason this question is a concern is because the shop must then trust the customer's judgment. That's not easy, as the customer must provide items that both fit, and are good quality. Just because you can get something for cheap at Rock Auto, Amazon, eBay, etc. doesn't mean it's the right part for your vehicle. (And you must know that a running production change can affect what parts fit on your specific vehicle.) Mistakes are inevitable, but brands with poor reputations often lead to poor quality parts that fail after a few months on the road.

But if you know what you're doing, you make the shop's job easier: they can focus on fixing cars and not waiting for parts. This is especially true if your vehicle is notoriously hard to procure replacement parts, and therefore makes this a win-win for both parties.

Personally speaking, I can find New-Old-Stock parts for my fleet of oddball Lincolns at a fraction of the original asking price on places like eBay. I know what to look for and rarely give my preferred repair shop bad parts and incorrect guidance. But even if I didn't have this experience (or I am too busy to hunt for bits) the mere fact my shop is receptive to my needs adds a level of trust you cannot have with a shop that refuses to accept parts from the customer.

If the shop and the customer are a good match, the mutual satisfaction of both parties might lead to a loyal customer that refers valuable people to the business in the future. But this is only one of many questions to ask, so now let's hear from the Hagerty Community:

What questions do you ask to find the right repair shop for your vehicle?

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