Do you feel comfortable taking your car to a dealership for maintenance? This is seen by some as the optimal solution. Some people think it’s the worst thing you can do for your car’s upkeep, but others disagree.
Consider the benefits and drawbacks of dealer service if you’re on the fence about whether or not to make the trip.
Advantages
- If you take your car in for service to a dealership, the mechanics who work on it have received manufacturer-specific training and have extensive expertise with vehicles like yours. This allows them to identify issues that might be missed by others. Obviously, some models and makes are plagued by the same issues everywhere. A dealer expert will be aware of this and will be able to solve the problem quickly and without any troubleshooting on your part.
- Car dealerships typically have the most cutting-edge tools available. The manufacturer provides start-up assistance for their service department and gives them first dibs on any brand-new products. Also, car lots tend to be larger than mom-and-pop stores. As a result, they’ll be able to expand their staff and get to work on your car sooner rather than later. Nobody likes having to wait around for a long time simply to get their oil changed.
- All of the work done by our dealership is guaranteed. To some extent, this is the biggest perk of taking your car to a dealer for repairs. First and foremost, if your vehicle is still covered by its manufacturer’s warranty, you probably won’t have to pay anything. Moreover, the dealer will cover the cost of any necessary repairs and routine maintenance. Your dealer would gladly take your car back for free if the service they provided was not up to your standards or if you experience any issues with it after it has been returned to you.
Disadvantages
- In this system, you are nothing more than a number. Car lots see thousands of customers annually and work on tens of thousands of vehicles. Most of the time, you will be forgotten in the sea of people. On the other hand, if you develop a rapport with a local mechanic, you might be able to obtain more individualized attention every time you bring your vehicle in for maintenance.
- Service at a dealership will be more expensive. Generally speaking, this is correct. A dealership’s labor rates are likely to be higher than those of a local repair shop or national franchise. DIY projects almost always end up costing less than hiring someone else to perform them because you’re only paying for the materials instead of the labor. In addition, this complements the prior argument. Many times, you may negotiate far better prices and terms with a trustworthy local technician than you would with a faceless vehicle dealership.
The Alternatives
There are alternatives to taking your car to the dealership for maintenance if you don’t want to:
- Self-reliant repairman. It used to be simpler to locate a nearby establishment selling what you needed, but nowadays, all you need to do is keep your eyes out and ask around for recommendations.
- Stores belonging to a chain. Midas, Meineke, and Pennzoil are three of the best-known.
- Get your hands dirty and handle it on your own. If you have some mechanical knowledge, you can save money by doing the work on your automobile yourself instead of taking it to the dealership. This can save you tons of money! A friend who works as a mechanic could be willing to share some of his knowledge with you.
