When it comes to having your vehicle serviced, there are many factors to consider including price, reputation, quality, customer service, and much more. One of the major questions that car owners often ask is whether it is better to use a dealership service department or to go to an independent mechanic when it comes time for auto repair or auto maintenance. Allow our team at DCH Toyota of Oxnard to inform you about what a dealership can offer you that an independent auto shop just can’t.
Genuine parts
Dealerships are part of the car manufacturer’s parts supply line, and therefore the parts that will be fitted to your car are official. If you choose an independent mechanic, they may well be tempted to supply parts that are cheaper because they have been built by other suppliers. Car makers ensure that parts are tested so that they do their job properly. There are many companies around the world that specialize in producing parts that may look the same as the official part but have not been tested to the car maker’s standard. Some mechanics may decide to use these parts rather than the official parts, which could decrease the value of your car.
Special tools and diagnostic machines
Cars are complicated pieces of machinery, and they often need specifically designed tools to use on the vehicle. Some workshops get around this by various means, which can damage the vehicle or the new parts being fitted. More importantly, as cars become more electronically complicated, diagnostic tools such as computer testers are vital for working out what is exactly wrong with a car. In many cases, the car being repaired can only be hooked up to an official diagnostic tool at the dealership. This will detail exactly what is wrong with the car because it lists a series of error codes that can indicate anything from airbag sensor failure to electronically controlled suspension faults.
Resale value
When it comes time to sell the vehicle, a full service and repair history from an official dealership can add more value to your vehicle. The new buyer can see what has been done to the car, but more importantly can see that it has been done properly by factory-trained technicians.
Recall notices
Sometimes a recall and repair notice is issued by the car maker. While most owners are contacted, some who have their cars serviced and repaired outside of the main dealer network may not get the message. An official dealer will know what recall and repair notices have been issued for each vehicle, and often a recall notice is limited to a certain batch of cars built, rather than a general make, model, and year. Official dealers will be able to tell you whether your car has been the subject of a safety recall and repair, while an independent repairer may not.
Peace of mind
Occasionally, you might save some money by going to an independent mechanic to get your car fixed, but you may never know whether it has been fixed properly, and worse, if the same fault occurs again, you may have trouble getting compensation for the faulty fix in the first place. Better to take it to the dealer, where you can rest assured things will be taken care of professionally and correctly the first time.
