Preliminaries

Start shopping for a repair facility before you need one.

Ask friends, coworkers and family members for the names of mechanics that they use.

Be sure to find out about any bad experiences with certain mechanics.

Talk to people who have cars similar to yours, if you are new to an area.

Make sure the mechanic you've chosen services your type of car.

Check with your local consumer organization regarding the reputation of the shop in question.

Check the warranty on the repair work before leaving the car at the shop.

Find out what the shop's hours are.

At the Shop

Check if the parking lot is clean and neat.

Look into the service bays - is the floor clean, or is it cluttered with rags, scattered tools and debris?

Check if the mechanics all have well-kept uniforms.

Check if the displays are neat and informative

Look on the walls inside for certificates showing training courses that their mechanics and associates have been through.

Take a look at mechanic's toolbox, and its condition.

Take your time, and let the mechanic give your vehicle a thorough once-over.

Ask for a full explanation of what is going to be done to the car.

Talk to the mechanic, ask questions and request to see the old parts when they are removed.

When in doubt, go back to the dealership.

Tips

Bring your car into the shop for small stuff like oil changes and brake checks to develop a relationship.

Don't choose a shop based solely on price.

If you have had indications that there is something wrong with your car, be prepared to express these symptoms.

Download or Print this Auto Mechanic Checklist

Get a printable version of this checklist in your preferred format: PDF, Word, Excel, or print directly from your browser.

Who it's for

This Auto Mechanic Checklist is for teams that want consistent execution, less rework, and clear ownership.

Standardize quality - run the same Auto Mechanic steps every time, regardless of who executes
Save time - reuse a proven Auto Mechanic workflow instead of rebuilding processes from scratch
Improve accountability - assign owners and see what's done vs. what's pending
Onboard faster - use the Auto Mechanic checklist as the SOP and training guide
Coordinate across roles - handoffs are clear and everyone works from the same source of truth

How to use this Auto Mechanic Checklist:

Start by saving it - save as a Template if you'll reuse it, or as a Checklist if it's a one-off project.
Customize it once for your workflow - remove what doesn't apply and add your team-specific steps.
Assign ownership and execute - set owners/due dates where needed and track completion as work happens.
Reuse without rebuilding - when Auto Mechanic comes up again, start from your saved version and run it with clear ownership.

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