If you need some work done to your vehicle, you might be tempted to get a mobile mechanic. After all, the convenience of having your car repaired at home or work while you get on with your life without the inconvenience of car drop-offs is very tempting.
Mobile mechanics are on the rise; for the mechanics, the allure of low premises overheads and the freedom to visit clients outweighs the inconvenience of having to travel with a wide array of equipment and basic parts. To help you decide whether to choose a mobile mechanic or local garage, check out this guide.
Mobile mechanics
As the term implies, a mobile mechanic is a qualified mechanic that will come to you instead of you bringing your vehicle to them. Their vans act as their garage and contain most equipment and basic parts, meaning that they can do most repairs and servicing to the same standard and within the same timeframe as garages. The advantage is that there are no other vehicles competing for the mechanics’ attention, so rather than waiting in a queue, your vehicle is dealt with immediately. This means that, while the wait for an appointment may be longer, time without your vehicle is usually much shorter when you use a mobile mechanic than when you use a garage.
Mobile mechanics usually cost about the same as a garage, but there can be some variables. For example, while garages might operate set fees for specific services, mobile mechanics may charge an hourly rate, with call-out fee, travel and parts added into the quote separately. This may end up costing slightly more than a garage, but the convenience of not having to lose time travelling to the garage can often outweigh the cost.
On the flip side, due to the minimal overheads experienced by mobile mechanics, some could be cheaper than a conventional garage, despite their additional travel time and costs. It can be useful to get a couple of quotes from local mechanics to get a local comparison.
Garages
There are some occasions when a garage might be more suitable than a mobile mechanic. Garages can carry out MOTs as they have the equipment required to conduct the statutory tests. For bigger maintenance and repairs and body work, garages are usually the best option; bigger jobs can be very messy and a large, designated work area can make it quicker, easier and cheaper to get the job done.
Whether you choose a local garage or a mobile mechanic depends on a range of factors including the work that needs to be done and the value that you place on convenience. This will often depend on the individual mechanic or garage, so check out the range of local garages and mobile mechanics near you and ask for a couple of quotes before you make a final decision.
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