5 Valuable Questions Before Your Next Car Repair

September 28, 2018

Most mechanics are honest, these questions will help you make sure!

These days, keeping a car in good repair requires a skilled professional. Do you just take your car to the nearest garage and hope you'll get the appropriate service you're paying for? A little research and diligence on your part can ensure your not walking into a potential automotive disaster. Here are some of the important things you should be asking about before or during a car repair appointment. Ask about Your Mechanic's Credentials Getting a personal reference to a good mechanic is important, but so is seeing who has legitimate and official credentials in the industry. In particular, you want to see if they have certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, also known as ASE. This means they have proven their skills, and are tested regularly to stay current. Ask for an Estimate A good professional will let you get an estimate before you commit to getting any work done. It's only fair for you to find out what the problem is and how much it will cost, even if it means the mechanic spends time with your car without getting paid. Ask What are My Options? Many car problems can have more than one solution, and a good mechanic will outline each one rather than just present you with the one that makes them the most money. Take advantage of this discussion to weigh the pros and cons of each choice. Ideally, the mechanic will respect your choice and not pressure you to spend more than necessary. On the other hand, they may recommend one particular option because it is genuinely better for the car. Ask Are there Warranties? A good professional will stand behind their work, and an official warranty or guarantee shows that. These can be very different from one shop to another, with no specific standard or format you should be looking for. There can be guarantees for the parts or the service, or for both. If you do get a warranty, save all the paperwork. It makes it much easier to go back and discuss issues if you have the details and documentation with you. When it comes to insuring your car we are ready for your questions! Give us a call today 607-324-7500.

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Auto Rates and Finger Prints: Both are Unique to You!

By Jeff Ryan • April 7, 2026

Factors You Can’t Easily Control These factors are built into your profile, but still play a major role: Your location: Claim trends, traffic, and weather patterns where you principally drive. Your age and driving experience: Especially for younger drivers. Other drivers in your household: Their age and driving history. The vehicle you own: Unique to the Year, Make, Model, and Sub-model’s damageability and cost of parts/labor. These factors significantly influence price differences, but they don’t tell the whole story. Factors You Can Control This is where habits and wise decisions can make a real difference: Your driving habits: Minimizing tickets and accidents can have a direct impact. Your coverage choices: Liability limits, deductibles, and optional coverages can vary widely. Your insurance consistency: Avoiding lapses in coverage. Your annual mileage: How much and how often you drive. Discount opportunities: Bundling, pay-in-full, NYS defensive driving course. Your Insurance Score (Yes—You Can Influence It) Insurance companies use a credit-based insurance score as part of their rating process. While it’s based on financial behaviors, it is not permanent—and it can be improved over time. Simple habits like: Paying bills on time Reducing outstanding debt Avoiding excessive credit inquiries… can positively impact your score—and in turn, your insurance rates. Your insurance score is under your control and a worthy mid to long-term project in and of itself. For more information on what you can do to positively influence your score, see: Great 8 Tip #8 - What's Credit Got to Do with Insurance? How Can I Improve My Auto Insurance Score Why Comparing Rates Doesn’t Work When someone says, “I only pay…” , the uniqueness of their fingerprint is missing. What are their: Deductibles Driving history Insurance score Household profile Coverage limits: what they may be giving up in terms of protection. Price without context can be misleading and discouraging.