Auto Repair Shops vs. Dealers: Which is better?

Is it better to have your vehicle repaired at a shop or have the dealer from which you bought it carry out the necessary repairs? This is certainly a matter of preference as there are pros and cons to each. Let’s discover why you may choose the dealership over the auto repair shop in certain cases – and vice-versa in other instances.

Reasons for Choosing the Dealership over the Repair Shop

  1. A Dealership is more familiar with Your Exact Make and Model

    One of the advantages of going through dealers is the fact that they specialize in your specific make and model more intensely than the shop does. The shop may be familiar with your make and model but they also have to service all makes and models for the most part, and thus their experience on your particular type of vehicle is more limited than the dealer.

  2. Dealerships Have a Higher Incentive to Do the Job Right the First Time

    A dealer has a very expensive reputation to protect. Naturally, they must be aware that if they do a good, thorough job at maintaining your car, you will be likely to return when you are in the market for another new or used vehicle.

    The repair shop only sells repairs, which are valued much lower than an actual vehicle purchase. Therefore, their incentive to bring back a particular customer for repeat business is not as strong. That’s not to say repair shops lack work ethic, but their repair personnel are likely to earn less and potentially be less qualified.

  3. The Client Volume of a Dealership’s Repair Facilities is Lower

    Finally, a dealership has fewer customers than most repair shops. This allots them ample time to truly assess your vehicle with full diagnostics. They can take the time needed on your vehicle without your having to wait weeks for the repairs to be completed. At a repair shop, you are looking at bigger delays – or even worse, they may have to rush through your diagnostics and repairs in order to make time for their higher volume of repair business.

Reasons for Choosing the Repair Shop over the Dealership

  1. The Repair Shop Repairs More Vehicles, More Often

    Although the dealership may have greater familiarity with your specific make and model, the repair shop repairs more vehicles, far more often. That means they are more experienced in general and are more likely to be familiar with a specific problem your vehicle may be suffering from and what solutions have recently been working on a variety of other vehicles.

  2. Repair Shops Specialize in Repair

    A dealership’s main function is not repair. A repair shop is specialized in fixing cars – this is all they do. It is quite often very advantageous to go to someone who is dedicated to one craft versus a jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none situation.

  3. Repair Shops have Competitive Rates

    Dealerships charge an arm and a leg for the same repairs you could get done at a conventional shop, and often don’t do a specifically better job than the shop. The repair shop has to compete with other vehicle repair facilities in terms of price, so their prices stay far lower on the same services you could have done at a dealer.