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Dealer garage vs. The Independent Garage - Which is the better choice? Car repairs bring a lot of questions. One common query is garage choice: whether to take a vehicle to the dealership or the shop down the street for repairs. It's not an easy question to answer; there are many pros and cons to both options. Some of the things to consider are the quality of the service, the expertise of the technicians and, of course, the price. The type of shop you choose to go to will depend largely on what type of service is important to you. If you value a personal relationship, a smaller independent garage is probably the best choice for you. You'll have direct communication with your mechanics, and they'll get to know you and your car. This allows them to detail your repairs, anticipate future problems, and make informed recommendations. If speed and efficiency are what you look for in repair service, a dealer garage is your best option. With multiple bays and a large staff of technicians, they can offer quick, hassle-free service. Many dealerships even offer customer service perks like loaner cars or shuttles. Of course, good service also includes qualified technicians. Dealership technicians are trained by the manufacturer and typically only work on your vehicle model. If your car is a newer model, a dealer garage will have the technology on hand to fix electrical and computer issues. However, if your car is older or has after-market parts, an independent shop mechanic may have a wider knowledge base to draw from. Most independent techs are A.S.E. certified and keep up-to-date with the latest technology. Finally, cost is a consideration when deciding who to take your car to. The fact is, if your vehicle is under warranty or has a service plan, taking it back to the dealer garage is the $mart choice. If it’s not warrantied, an independent garage can offer after-market and rebuilt parts at lower prices. These often add up to significant savings for the customer. Both options have pros and cons when it comes to service, technician qualifications and pricing, but hopefully this information answers some of your questions. Information provided courtesy of 
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Garage Choice, dealer garage, independent garage,
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