There are over 280,000 auto mechanics in the US, so how do you ensure that you get the best possible one for your car repairs?
If you care about your vehicle, you know how important regular maintenance and prompt repairs are. A good car mechanic will use their training and expertise to diagnose issues, give you an honest quote, and promptly make the repairs to get you back on the road.
Not every auto mechanic is created equally, however, and a lot of it comes down to certification. In this post, we’re going to make sure you find an ASE-certified auto mechanic by telling you what to look for and what to avoid.
Don’t hand over your vehicle to just anyone. Keep reading, and you’ll get the best car repair for your baby.
What Is an ASE Certification?
An ASE certification is issued by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. In order to obtain one of these certifications, a mechanic needs to demonstrate their expertise in a comprehensive exam.
The exam can only be taken after the mechanic has two years of training under their belt. Another option is to complete a 2-year degree in auto repair with one year of on-the-job training.
To hold on to an ASE certification, the mechanic has to retake the exam every five years. This ensures that they’re up-to-date on the latest auto technology.
Having an ASE certification guarantees a certain level of excellence when you take your car in for repairs. If they don’t have it, you just don’t know what you’re getting.
Check Their Website for Credentials
The first place you can look for an ASE certification is on the auto shop’s website. If its mechanics are ASE certified, they’ll probably display that on one or more sections of the site.
For instance, you can meet our team on this page, where you can easily see that our owner/manager Mark Ritchie, and service manager Roger Buchanan, are both ASE-certified with decades of auto repair experience.
Look For the Blue Seal of Excellence
The best car repair shops that have ASE-certified mechanics will display the ASE sign directly in the shop for customers to see. Any auto repair service that has at least one certified technician is permitted to display the logo.
If at least 75% of a shop’s technicians are certified, and a certified technician covers each area of the shop, they’re allowed to display the ASE “Blue Seal of Excellence.” Members of this program receive a plaque with the company name, the date of certification, as well as the ASE logo for display in the shop.
Contact ASE Directly
If you find a shop that is claiming to be ASE certified but you see no proof of certification, you can always contact ASE directly. The institute’s aim is to ensure great service for drivers all over the country, so just give them the name of the technician, and they’ll let you know if he/she is certified.
Getting the Best Auto Mechanic in Fredericksburg, VA
If you’re a driver in Fredericksburg, VA, it’s always in your best interest to locate an ASE-certified auto mechanic. At Express Auto Service, not only are our technicians ASE-certified, but we have an amazing reputation in the community.
Our goal is to give you the best possible car repair service, so get in touch ASAP to tell us what’s wrong with your vehicle.