When something goes wrong with your car, you want it fixed, you want it fixed fast, and you want it fixed right!

There are plenty of options out there. You’ve got your dealerships, your independent shops, and then the in-betweeners – chain repair shops. For many folks, it boils down to the dealership or a small independent shop. Chain repair shops generally don’t have the distinct advantages that either the dealer or independent shop can offer, so they fall at the bottom of the list. But what are the pros of having your car, truck, or SUV serviced at the dealership instead of an independent shop?

This isn’t to say that independent mechanics are bad at fixing vehicles. They are often very good at it, and many of them are ex-dealer mechanics.

But your independent shops aren’t specialized in your vehicle. They have to be flexible and work on a wide variety of vehicles. They may not be up to date with technical service bulletins for your car, truck, or SUV. They may not know of common issues, or may not have specific equipment needed to perform certain services.

Dealers, on the other hand, are trained specifically on your brand and model, with most carmakers providing a structured training program. They get re-trained regularly as new models come out and new features are added. They are provided with the most up-to-date solutions, have access to all technical service bulletins for your vehicle, and will have all of the appropriate tools and training to address it right away. They’ll understand your unique vehicle, and potential hidden gremlins and solutions.

How long do you have? Your vehicle is important to your everyday life. You need it back on the road ASAP!

Unfortunately, your small independent corner garage might be super limited in space. Many of these independent shops have limited bays and a very small staff. It could be days to get your vehicle in and looked at!

Dealerships have a roster of qualified technicians and have multiple bays with the same equipment across these bays. They have multiple sets of tools and diagnostic machines, and they have specialized team members for juggling scheduling, parts, ordering, and more. This all adds up to the dealership being able to schedule your vehicle in an upcoming available slot, and know that they have the available labor, tools, and parts to get your car in and out in sometimes a matter of hours!

Cars, trucks, and SUVs are finely-tuned vehicles, and some parts have extremely low tolerances. They have to have the same material composition and the same exact measurements. The best parts for your car are the ones it comes with right off the assembly line, the OEM parts.

Unfortunately, not all independent shops have access to these OEM parts. They may need you to settle for a third-party aftermarket part that might not offer the same durability or performance. Or they may be able to provide you with that OEM part, but at a higher price point because they have to turn a profit on it after buying it from the dealer.

This is a big one – if your vehicle is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, it’s highly likely your repair will be partially or even fully covered under the warranty! Major services are covered on brand new, leased, and even some certified pre-owned vehicles. Why would you pay more to have your neighborhood independent car service take care of it when you’ve paid for that warranty? Take it to the dealer and save your dough! Dealers also often back up their repairs with a warranty on the work – so if the repair doesn’t hold, you can often take your vehicle back for a subsequent repair free of charge.

Your local independent service station shouldn’t be your primary choice when it comes time to repair or service your new or slightly-used car, truck, or SUV. There may be some positives, but in the end, the pros of getting your vehicle serviced at the dealer outweigh them, especially on a relatively new or certified pre-owned vehicle! 

Need help? Schedule a service appointment at Bobby Rahal Toyota today.