If you are like us and drive your car until the wheels fall off, then you know how important it is to have a reliable car mechanic. Just thinking about a visit to the mechanic is enough to strike fear into the heart of any car owner. You may think you’re taking your car to the shop for a tiny, insignificant thing and then find out that there’s a real problem with your car. Before you know it, you’re spending hundreds of dollars to fix something you didn’t even know was broken.

To make matters worse, unless you’re mechanically-inclined, you may not even be sure what was wrong with your car. Sure, the mechanic said you had a problem, but do you know that there was a problem? And how do you know that your mechanic will have you back on the road as quickly as possible? Finding a reliable mechanic can be the answer to all of your concerns.

Finding a good mechanic is easy if you know where to look. You just need to do a little research to find a mechanic that will meet your needs and will work with your pocketbook. Here are a few suggestions to get your started on your search:

Ask your friends about their mechanic. Odds are they all have an opinion. Some may have a love/hate relationship with theirs, while others may have a more positive outlook. Find out what they like and don’t like about their mechanic to decide if you’re ready to try him out.

Check out neighborhood bulletin boards. These bulletin boards can be a great way to find an unfiltered opinion, especially if you’re new to an area. If you can’t find a thread related to this topic, don’t be bashful about starting one just for this. Chances are you’ll find plenty of people willing to share about their experiences.

Take a mechanic on a trial run. Before you totally entrust the well-being of your trusty car to a total stranger, take your potential mechanic’s shop on a test drive. Make an appointment for some routine maintenance to facilitate your research. Then, while your car is being looked after, take a look around the shop. Is it clean? Are the employees nice to you? With a relatively small investment of time and money, you’ll be able to make certain that this is the mechanic for you.