Looking for a nice mechanic is not a trivial or easy thing to do, especially if you don't have extended knowledge on cars. But even if you do consider yourself to be somewhat of a car guru, it's still difficult to determine whether you have chosen the right mechanic for you. There are a lot of mechanics out there, and many of them won't hesitate to rip you off or install a low-quality part. That is why you have to take some things into consideration before you decide what car shop to go into, such as the way it looks externally, its reputation, and of course, the price.

The thing that you can do at home, before you even go out and start checking out various car shops, is check their reputation. You can do that by going online, looking for car forums where a lot of people offer reviews and opinions about their experience with certain mechanics. Also, you can ask your family or friends if they can recommend someone they have tried and are satisfied with their service.

Another simple advice would be to get as many quotes as possible. You should compare prices from different car shops by either going from door to door, or check their websites, if provided.

When looking for a mechanic, try to find one that is certified by the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). It's an institute that tests how competent car repair shops are and gives certifications to those who meet their standards.

Before you leave your car to a mechanic when some serious repair needs to be done, you can try a couple of them by giving them a simple task, such as oil change or changing a flat tire. You'll get a chance to see how they work, how they deal with customers and what their prices are.

The way a car shop looks can give a lot of clues as to what their mechanics are like. It would be ideal if it looks nice and clean, if the employees are neat and wear nice and tidy uniforms, and if the parking lot is clean without debris on each corner, which would mean they don't take very good care of customers' cars.

Meeting your mechanic and talking to them for a couple of minutes can't hurt, either. You can talk about your car and see how much they know about it. Also, you can get a pretty good idea of the mechanic's expertise on certain cars by finding out their age. Older mechanics are more likely to have no troubles with an older model, but will have difficulties with the latest BMW, Porsche or Lexus, that are filled with all sorts of intricate electrical systems and high-tech equipment.