There are some things that all car owners have to do in order to keep up with the health of their car. Things like cleaning the exterior and interior, replacing worn tires, getting an oil change, and having a person or place that services the car every so often. When it comes to the maintenance of your vehicle, it’s extremely important that you give it to someone that you trust so that you know it’s getting the care it deserves. This ensures its upkeep in regards to its working condition and also its retention of money value. A well-kept used car will get you much more money if you decide to sell it down the line. Whether you have a small, local service shop that you bring your car to every six months, or a brand name service center smack dab in the middle of a metropolitan city — all that matters is that you are actually making the time to get it serviced and that you have a place you know and trust.
More specifically, you’re trusting these people with your car’s parts. Service center professionals that work on your car will be removing and replacing the parts of your car to keep it as good as new. The parts of the car make the whole, so you’ve got to be able to trust these guys to be able to adjust your car properly. Who wants to worry about leaving the service shop to find out a day later that the tire pressure is low or the oil still needs to be changed? Nobody. And this is especially true when it comes to parts of your car like headlights, tail lights, and brake lights. These are some of the most important parts of your car, and having them fixed or replaced should be done by someone you trust — someone you know will be able to get the job done with near perfection.
So, who should you trust when it comes to replacing your car’s headlights, among other parts? How should you go about finding someone if you don’t already have a trustworthy shop to get these things done at?
Start local
Our favorite recommendation would be to start your search by exploring the local options. Oftentimes, the best car shops are right around the corner from where you live. There are some service shops that have been around for years and years, and the people working there will treat you and your car with care and loyalty. If you prefer going to the service center offered by the same make of your car (say you drive a Honda and only want to go to a Honda service center), search for the nearest dealership and call to make an appointment to get those headlights looked at. If you are unfamiliar with your locale and its car service centers, take a drive around and see what you find. You may be surprised by finding the perfect place to get your headlights fixed by taking a quick drive around town.
The internet is your friend
If you don’t find what you’re looking for by taking a quick drive around your town or city, turn to the internet. This might even be easier than the first option. Using your favorite search engine (Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc.), type in “car shop” or “headlights fixed” or something of the sort. This takes only a matter of minutes. We all have smartphones, so take out your iPhone, and do a quick internet search. A bunch of local places will pop up, allowing you to go through reviews from past customers. Give different service centers a call and ask them anything you might want to know — especially if they’re able to fix your headlights, tail lights, or brake lights, in addition to the cost. Between online reviews and a quick amount of research on your part, you might just find a forever home for all your car’s needs.
Even if you have a favorite car shop already, ask them where they get their headlight replacements. There are many different online vendors, but some are more affordable and reliable than others. Make sure you trust who you’re getting your car parts from.
The friends and family option
If you don’t fully trust the internet, then do it the old-fashioned way! Ask around town, specifically your friends and family. Most people have cars, and those car owners have to get their cars serviced somewhere. This means that most people have a preferred service center. Ask your friends and family where they go to get their cars serviced or car parts replaced and if they have places they recommend to you. Maybe your uncle has a great place he goes when he needs a headlight replacement every couple years. More often than not, you’ll get multiple recommendations, allowing you to make an informed decision on where to take your car to fix its headlights. Moreover, these places do a whole lot more than just headlights service: you can get your car completely serviced. From oil to tire rotation and so on.
Big name service centers
If all else fails, turn to the names that you hear about all the time. Places like Midas and Pep Boys and Tire Kingdom are located all over the country. They provide a whole plethora of services. So, if you’ve got a headlight that needs replacing, or a tail light crack that needs fixing, look up one of these service centers. They’ve stayed in business for long enough to earn the trust of their customers, and they’re always looking for new ones. It can’t hurt to try!
What is your reaction?
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Finding a great auto shop that you trust can be harder than it seems. Some shops will overcharge you while others will continue recommending more and more work to be done. It makes you wonder if they have your best interest at heart. Once you find a shop who seems consistent, definitely hold on to them.
Good old word of mouth is usually the way to go here. Someone always knows someone.
Body Shops have the most experience in installing a headlight when compared to an everyday mechanic.
Find a local body shop and read the reviews. Take your time to go to the shop and talk to a service writer or technician with the exact service you would like to have done. Ask them what they charge per hour and how many hours it will take to replace the lights. Ask them if they will allow you to bring your own parts or if you have to purchase through them. There are many shops, and its worth the time to talk to each one nearby. You might be surprised how nice and reasonable shops may be once you stop by.
If you have a high end vehicle, make sure you visit a shop that’s familiar them. Many of these vehicles use different lights so it helps if their knowledgeable in what you need.
I couldn’t agree more with finding someone you trust to take care of your car.
If it’s not too intensive, doing it yourself is the best option. There’s so many online tools to help.
After moving out of my home town it took me a while to find a good place to trust with my car. Once I finally found them, I held on tight. I will continue to use them as well as recommend them to my friends and family. That is a very important relationship to keep in my opinion.
This day and age we live off of reviews and the best thing to do is Google or Yelp a place and read a few reviews. Depending on the city you live in you can have lots of options or maybe rarely none. I suggest asking around or doing some research beforehand.
If you have a high end vehicle, make sure you visit a shop that’s familiar with them. Many of these newer models use different lights so it helps if they are knowledgeable in what you need.