Auto Repair in Austin: Complete Guide to Selecting The Best Auto Mechanic
Auto mechanics in Austin aren’t in short supply, so how do you know if the person working under your hood is doing the work they’re supposed to? We asked our ASE-certified master mechanics what they themselves would look for if they were shopping around for a high quality auto repair shop in Austin and received great feedback that you can apply to your search.
We’ll cover everything you need to know to find the best auto mechanic to work on your Austin vehicle.
Top Marks: ASE Certification
The very first thing you should look for in a competent auto mechanic is that each and every technician who might be working in or around your vehicle is certified by the ASE. ASE stands for Automotive Service Excellence and it is basically the equivalent of a master’s degree in automotive repair and service.
Technicians who are ASE-certified have put in the time and completed the required training to pass a rigorous and exhaustive exam that covers everything a skilled mechanic needs to know in order to service vehicles to the highest standard.
At Lamb’s Tire and Auto, we’re proud to say we exclusively employ ASE-certified professionals to work on our customers’ vehicles.
Only Uses the Highest Quality Parts and Products
You want to make sure that any auto repair shop you go to is using the best parts and products, specified for your exact make and model. There are plenty of shops out there that cut corners and use bargain products, or even rebuilt or salvaged parts in their auto repairs.
At Lamb’s, we only use premium Valvoline motor oils and brand new, out-of-the-box OEM parts made to match your vehicle’s specs perfectly. Higher quality parts and products translate to exceptional longevity and high performance over the long haul for your vehicle.
Provides a Wide Range of Services in a Single Location
An auto repair shop in Austin that’s worth its weight is going to be able to provide many different services all under one roof. Diversity of experience providing an expert level of care is what keeps our technicians at the top of their game.
Just as important, having the ability to get absolutely everything your vehicle needs to have done all in one place means less trips, less hassle, and less of an inconvenience for our customers.
Some of the different auto repairs you should see at a full-service auto shop include:
- Oil Changes: The lifeblood of your vehicle requires a quality change every 3,000 miles.
- Brake Repairs: Critical for safety, your brakes need to be serviced and replaced correctly.
- Car Battery Replacements: Providing the power to move, car batteries need to be tested, serviced, and repaired by certified pros.
- Car AC Repairs: The heat is no joke in Austin, so your car AC has to work. We handle everything from vehicle AC recharges to full system replacements.
- Texas State Inspection Annual Certifications: This inspection is mandated by the Texas Department of Public Safety and requires a safety and/or emissions test regularly. We’re able to provide this important service because our auto service center is certified by the state.
- Transmission Repairs: Grinding gears can mean larger issues, let our team diagnose and repair manual or automatic transmissions quickly and professionally.
- General Tune-Ups: We do everything required to keep your vehicle running at its best. General tune-ups are a great opportunity for our ASE-certified pros to check out everything under the hood.
- Tire Repair and Replacement: It is absolutely necessary to get from A to B and the team at Lamb’s Tire provides expert tire repair services, as well as new tire sales and installation.
- Preventative Maintenance: Taking care of small issues before they become bigger ones requires a proactive approach to vehicle maintenance. From oil changes to changing filters, our team will put together a smart game plan for helping your vehicle run better, longer.
- Wheel Alignments: Perfect alignment takes perfect measurements and adjustments, which our team can provide quickly and accurately.
- And so much more!
Customers know when they drop off their car with us, our ASE-certified pros will find and fix whatever the underlying issues are with precision and a professional efficiency born from years of experience. This level of trust is what defines who we are and what we do.
From a check engine light to replacing brakes and everything in between, whatever service your vehicle requires, the professionals at Lamb’s can get you back up and running again in no time.
Has the Ability to Do Tire Service
Tires are very critical towards the operability of your vehicle, yet a lot of repair shops don’t offer new tire sales and installation. Arguably worse, is a tire shop that doesn’t offer alignment service, making you have to make two stops, wait in two different waiting rooms, and waste your day just to get something that should always be done at the same time. Alignments are absolutely necessary whenever you get new tires or you can start prematurely wearing them out from the second you drive away from the auto shop.
While we can’t answer for other shops, the team at Lamb’s Tire & Auto knows tires inside and out. We use this knowledge (and some really cool advanced equipment) to perform a number of different safe and efficient tire repairs.
Our helpful techs can also run you through your options for new tires and can install, balance, and perform an alignment all in a single visit. Having these all taken care of from the very start, helps you get the best performance and longevity out of your new tires.
Get More Bang For Your Buck with Car Repair Discounts
Everybody likes saving a little dough whenever they can, yet some auto shops get a little tricky when it comes to specials and promotions. They might only have certain days that deals are valid, quick expiration dates, and other ways that they instill an advertising trick called “scarcity”. A great example of scarcity would be, “Hurry, 15% off this week only,” or “Our limited number of specials are going fast,” to entice customers to act immediately.
At Lamb’s Tire and Auto, we believe our customers deserve an easier way to access great prices all the time, so we built an entire webpage just for Lamb’s tire coupons. Find all the specials, deals, and promos we have running and check back often because these change throughout the year.
Auto Service That Goes the Extra Mile, Literally
A really awesome perk that you won’t see at a whole lot of auto shops in Austin is a free vehicle pick up and drop off service. With Lamb’s free concierge, we can pick up vehicles located within three miles of our car repair facilities, perform whatever work is required, and return the vehicle back to the original location. We respect that our customers probably have enough going on in their day, so offer our free concierge to make taking your car in for service one less thing you have to do.
Book a Time for Auto Repair in Austin
The last item on the agenda is a pretty simple one, but one that means a lot to each and every one of us. It doesn’t hurt our feelings to know that not many people out there don’t enjoy sitting in our waiting rooms, no matter how clean and well-appointed they may be. That’s why we created a way to book an appointment online. Find a time that actually works with your schedule and only show up when we’re ready to get to your vehicle. Go ahead and schedule your auto service in Austin now.
Auto Repair Guide FAQ
What is the most common auto repair?
Your vehicle’s brakes endure normal wear and tear every time you drive. That is why you will usually have to have brake repair work done multiple times over the life of your vehicle. Including regular brake checks in your vehicle’s preventative maintenance routine can help extend their life and catch small issues early before they can turn into larger, much more expensive repair needs.
How do you shop around for an auto repair shop?
- Ask for recommendations from others that you trust: This is a great starting point when looking for a good auto mechanic. Your friends and family can be a great source of genuine insight and information. This is especially true if any of these people frequently use one particular auto repair shop for routine maintenance and repairs.
- Read online reviews: Look through the online reviews from other customers for the auto repair shop you are considering. This unbiased feedback can give you a good idea of the local reputation of a shop. Make sure to read the location’s Google or Yelp reviews, which cannot be filtered by the business, to get an uncensored idea. Look at both positive and negative reviews before making your decision on an auto repair shop.
- Compare local prices for the specific car repair you need: It’s always a good idea to get an estimated price range of the repair work you need to have done before taking your vehicle to an auto repair shop. Remember, selecting an auto mechanic solely based on price wouldn’t be a wise strategy. If an auto shop’s prices are higher compared to others in the area, take the time to find out why. It could be because they offer top-notch services to their customers.
Alternatively, you also want to be skeptical of an auto repair shop whose prices seem too good to be true. In many instances, shops like these have proven to be unreliable or unethical, and you may have to pay more than you were originally quoted. - Check the experience and certification of the shop’s mechanics: It is imperative to use an expert mechanic. Checking into their experience and certification will help ensure you do just that. The best auto repair shops will only employ Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Master Technician-certified mechanics.
Some other indications and certifications of experience to look for in the customer service area of the shop can include the Motorist Assurance Program (MAP), American Automobile Association (AAA), etc. - Ask about their warranties: Be sure to ask about the shop’s warranties. A good car repair shop will stand behind the quality of its service and the parts that are used. A clear red flag to look elsewhere is if the shop does not offer any guarantees on their services.
- Make sure the shop’s location and hours are convenient: The convenience of an auto shop is an important factor to consider. This applies to several things. First, make sure that you can easily get to the location. If it’s close, you won’t have to worry about paying extra for pickup or drop-off, and you can check on progress more easily.
You also want to make sure that the auto shop’s hours are convenient for you. Even the best auto repair shop may not be worth the hassle if their hours make it hard for you to bring your vehicle in.
Is car maintenance the same as repair?
In many cases, properly keeping up with auto maintenance services will prevent a need for repair in the future. Maintenance services include oil changes, brake pad replacement, tire rotation and balancing, alignments, etc.
When a repair is needed, a part has malfunctioned or become worn to the point where it needs to be replaced to maintain your vehicle’s performance.
How do I choose a good car mechanic?
- The mechanic is ASE-certified: This will ensure that the mechanic has put in significant time training in auto repair and maintenance and passed the exam that verifies they have the knowledge and skills to provide high-quality service.
- Only high-quality parts and products are used: When a shop uses premium oils, fluids, and OEM parts, you can be confident that they will match your vehicle’s specs/needs perfectly and give you the performance and longevity you expect.
- Offers a full range of maintenance and repair services: You should be able to go to the mechanic for all of the auto services you need under one roof, including tire services. When the shop is truly a one-stop shop for all your vehicle’s needs, it can save you time and money.
How do I know exactly what’s wrong with my car?
The second part of determining exactly what may be happening with your vehicle involves engine diagnostic testing at the auto repair shop. When you bring your vehicle in, the mechanic can hook up a computerized diagnostic scanning tool to your vehicle’s onboard computer. This tool will read any error codes that may be present and, along with the information you provide about how your vehicle has been performing, the mechanic can pinpoint exactly where the issue is. They can then determine the car repair service needed to properly correct the problem and get you back on the road.
What preventative car maintenance do I actually need?
The first place to look to answer the question of exactly what service your vehicle needs and when is your owner’s manual from the vehicle manufacturer. This will tell you the recommended service schedule, so you know how to maintain your vehicle properly.
In general, the parts that should be included in your vehicle’s routine will include:
- Engine oil: Clean oil helps keep your engine properly lubricated, protected, and running smoothly. Depending on the type of oil (conventional versus synthetic), an oil change service should be done between every 3,000 and 10,000 miles.
- Filters: This includes your oil, fuel, and air filters. All of these dramatically impact the performance of your vehicle.
- Fluids: The proper operation of your vehicle heavily relies on the quality of your transmission fluid, brake fluid, coolant, and power steering fluid. So, these must be checked on a regular basis and replaced as needed to prevent costly damage. Power steering fluid lasts the longest out of all your vehicle’s fluids.
- Brake pads (or shoes) and rotors: If you notice loud/unusual noises, such as squealing when stopping, it’s time to inspect your brake system.
- Battery: A properly functioning battery is essential to your vehicle going anywhere. You will occasionally need to replace your vehicle’s battery. Most batteries last roughly three years. Keep in mind that outside temperature, long periods of non-use, and battery age all affect a battery’s life span.
- Belts and hoses: These items experience some of the most wear and tear and should be frequently inspected for cracks, leaks, or other damage.
