For any car buyer, understanding automotive service and repairs, including studying a repair shop to fix problems, is tedious and time-consuming.
The repair shop you take your prized possession to mostly depends on your preference of the safety net a car dealership provides vs the cheaper and more flexible option of an independent shop.
Weighing the pros and cons of dealership vs independent options is vital for a responsible car owner to understand pricing, service, and fixing complicated problems at the right service shop complicated problems.
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Book your appointmentCar dealerships give you many options to sell you a car at the best prices and make things easy for you.
Not only do they sell you a car, but they also do many other services. These services include things like low-level centre services, like oil changes that are needed, and things like fluid transmission services and other big issues.
Most dealerships have this kind of work done to sell and represent the brand of manufacturers' parts.
They may also have used parts from junkyards. Dealerships do warranty work with the parts from the brand that they deal with, and the extended warranty services.
A warranty is a big part of a car, where many people feel better using the car alone or going to a good independent shop.
With the fear of being overcharged at the dealership, car owners always try to find a local guy who can do it for cheaper.
There are a number of misconceptions regarding this. For one, a company name offers a lower cost per hour of labour than a dealership, even though they may be more expensive for a typical oil change.
However, that does not mean shop around a bit.
They may be less expensive than some competitors, due to their dedication to providing more advanced training, using more advanced OEM parts, or performing more advanced oil pan installations. Svc. adv. also may recommend replacing an oil pan.
Some dealerships are less expensive than others, but that may be the least expensive way to do the work.
Don't hesitate to get a 2nd opinion from one of the local independents to compare pricing. You may want to wait to see if I can fix the brake pads before you pay the bill.
People generally feel a bit mixed when thinking about car dealerships. For some customers, it is good that they have the backing of the car manufacturers and know that the dealership will be good during the warranty period.
They may feel good about the dealership and feel bad about the local mechanic. People have a tendency to say that since the dealership is a big company, they have good technicians who know how to work on all the cars, and say that they fix cars much faster than the local guys.
However, in the same way, people feel bad about dealerships since they have the right to charge as much as they want and add as many unnecessary repairs as they want to, so people start going to local repair shops.
Local mechanics and people feel like they can trust and like the business more.
The dealerships have a contract with the manufacturer to receive a steady flow of new cars to sell, and can also give them better prices when they purchase cars to sell, having a better price than the local repair shop.
At the end of the day, it can be really good, better than going to the dealership. Just make sure you have a good local mechanic.
Independent garages performing a full suite of services, including those offered by car dealerships, are a good option for car service.
These services may include traditional oil change services and other routine maintenance, such as filter changes and fluid flushes, and may even offer additional services like oil pan change-outs, though some may not.
Also, like dealers, independent shops perform a full range of more complex car repairs, including service on transmissions, clutches, and even diesel engines.
An independent shop tends to employ seasoned techs who can service virtually any make and model.
Many independent garages are also authorised to perform warranty work, and some dealerships can also perform warranty work. Many independent garages have a business model based on customer service.
From the service manager to the tech, service is more personal, and pricing is more transparent, which many prefer to the dealership model.
From junkyard to aftermarket to OEM, parts are sourced from many different suppliers, and the customer may feel like they have more control than if they go to the dealer.
When looking for autoparts, an independent shop may prove more advantageous than a dealer, especially in respect of pricing and service.
While looking to repair a Camry, for instance, one may find that independent garages offer more affordable labour rates compared to the exorbitant pricing used at car dealerships.
This phenomenon is usually caused by independent shops having less overhead expenses due to having a more flexible business model, which in turn means more readily available offers and services than are usually available at dealerships.
Additionally, independent shops often have more trust and a more easy-to-understand billing process to offer, which is commonly attributed to the 'local guy'.
Many backyard car repair specialists do offer a superior service to the large commercial garages.
They understand that having to bring a car in for service is an inconvenience to car buyers and do their best to let car buyers make informed decisions on the service their car needs.
Posting competitive quotes to provide an entire service, such as an oil pan replacement, with the plug repair, ancillary to the main service, included, is a good car repair practice.
Many independent garages have a professional interest in the relationship between the owner of a car and a car mechanic, wherein the garage owner also a mechanic, is on a first-name basis with the clients.
This is especially true for BMW-related services.
On the other hand, the car dealership service advisor may not be as hands-on with the repair process, which may create a disconnect in communication about the needed fuel line repairs.
| Features | Independent Garages | Dealerships |
|---|---|---|
| ---------- | ------------------- | ------------ |
| Pricing | Generally lower and more competitive due to fewer expenses and the parts and liquids needed for maintenance | Prices can be unreasonably high for some of the services offered, and they even justify their prices to their consumers |
| Parts | Besides other, more affordable options, there are used and aftermarket parts | Since dealerships only sell the manufacturer's parts |
| Transparency | Independent garages often give estimates that break down labour and parts costs, so the car owner knows exactly what they are paying for | More likely to focus on selling extra services that they may offer that independent shops don't offer |
| Perception | Reputation and reviews of the service department or independent garage can give insight into high-value services like a BMW. | This definitely influences how people view the choices they have when thinking about a dealership vs an independent shop, especially when it comes to using parts from a junkyard. |
| Service Provider | Pricing Characteristics |
|---|---|
| ----------------- | ------------------------ |
| Car Dealerships | Labour rates and training are specialised in higher rates. |
| Independent Repair Shops | Overhead is lower, giving more competitive pricing at shops |
| Independent Repair Shops | Cheaper parts prices also allow independent garages to offer low-priced aftermarket parts and fluids. |
Repair quality is important when evaluating car dealerships vs independent mechanics. Dealerships frequently advertise their technicians as being the most trained, and even automobile-specific, i.e., “Camry Technicians”.
However, independent shops may have technicians with 10+ years of experience and mastery over all systems of a vehicle.
A quality independent shop may even provide more personal and detail-oriented care to the individual vehicle. Nonetheless, if your vehicle has a new car warranty, it is recommended to use the dealer because they will not void the warranty.
In the end, due to the varying levels of skill and ethics from technician to technician, it will remain a gamble to see if the quality of service is worth the price, regardless of whether it is a dealer or an independent shop.
There are pros and cons when it comes to customer service from independent shops and car dealerships. Car dealerships have a more formal customer service style.
They have service advisors who communicate with the customers and the technicians. Sometimes they even offer loaner cars.
However, some independent repair shops are more focused on the customer relationship, and some even have better customer service than dealerships.
Independent garages tend to have long-term relationships with their customers and are more flexible with communication. Independent shops even allow customers to choose their own parts and labour, which is sometimes a better option.
If you are still considering whether or not to go to an independent shop, a dealership might be a better option if you don't think an independent shop will be able to do the work you are asking. Just keep in mind that there are higher labour rates and a chance of dealer overcharging.
| FACTOR | CONSIDERATIONS |
|---|---|
| -------- | ---------------- |
| WARRANTY | If your car is still under warranty, there are risk trade-offs when trying to evaluate the dealer vs independent shop. If your prior experience with the warranty work was at a dealer, then the trade-offs of working with the warranty work at the dealer vs an independent shop may need to be evaluated to determine if warranty coverage is still going to be relied on. |
| EXPERTISE | A good independent shop can be more versatile than some of the dealers. For example, an independent shop may be able to work on numerous makes and models. In contrast, some dealers may only service individual brands like Honda or Subaru, with all of their technicians working on only those makes. |
| PRICING OVERSIGHT | With warranty work, if you must utilise a specific warranty dealer, then the independent shops provide a warranty shop with more pricing oversight to keep the warranty work pricing more competitive than that of a dealer. In addition, pricing on a warranty workshop may be more favourable than in a car repair shop. |
| OVERALL APPROACH | Ultimately, dealerships and independent shops differ quite a bit in how they do things. Some people like the straightforward ways of working with a dealership, while others like the independent shops because they tend to have a more personable approach. |
When weighing long-term expenses between a car dealership and an independent garage, it means more than just looking at how much a repair costs.
While car dealerships tend to look pricier, because of the larger labour costs, using the dealership for regular service can keep you from potential issues down the road that may get covered by a new car warranty, especially if they check essential things like coolant levels.
An independent shop can charge less, and because of that, they may be able to charge less for routine maintenance like oil changes, filter changes, and fluid flushes.
That said, if you own a car with over 100,000 miles, it can be a gamble to spend money to use an independent shop if it means that some of the warranty is going to be voided.
When it comes to more difficult repairs, you should compare and consider the quality of parts and labour for all the prices you get.
In the end, a combination of dealership service and independent shop service is going to be the best way to go, and stay within a reasonable budget while car shoppers not only get to compare prices for a deal, but also have the best warranty to back up long-term peace of mind.
Reviews and past customer experiences are helpful when considering possible dealer overcharging and the service quality of an independent garage, based on former customer reviews.
Buyers of cars have reviewed dealer overcharging complaints because of service advisors pushing for new parts and overestimating costs and labour.
Complaints are common, but some praise service advisors for their knowledge and ability to get things done because some repairs can be complex. Independently operated repair shops are often seen the other way.
They are often seen as overpriced because of their personalised service, but their repair quality can be lacking.
The other side of the argument states that independent shops offer better service. The concern of low-quality parts and inexperienced mechanics is common.
Reviews and trustworthy recommendations are the best way to assess possible contractor shops. They allow you to assess the differences in costs of labour and parts between contracted dealer shops and independent shops.
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