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Depending on what part of the country in
which you live, you may or may not have choices of certified shops
to consider when getting your vehicle repaired. And, as usual, the
definition of "certified shop" certainly can vary from shop to shop
and program to program. Here are a few you might find available in
your area:
MAP - The Motorist Assurance Program
- Their goal is to improve auto repair service by
standardizing vehicle inspections - Uniform Inspection Guidelines.
Customers are given written estimates, including parts, labor and
the total estimate. No work is performed without the customer's
prior approval and a minimum limited warranty is offered. Repair
shops apply for accreditation. They must adhere to certain criteria
such as being legally organized for at least six months, none of the
employees have been convicted by a court of law of criminal offenses
related to fraud in the marketplace within a two year period prior
to seeking accreditation, they abide by the MAP Pledge to Customers
and follow the MAP Standards of Service, and more. An independent
accreditation management firm designated by the MAP Board of
Directors reviews and approves applications. MAP accredited shops
are required to use third-party mediation and arbitration to resolve
disputes between the customer and the company. For a more detailed
description of their program and what criteria the shops must
follow, go to their Web site at www.motorist.org. Presently about 4100 shops
participate in this program nationwide and you can find a shop in
your area on their Web site.
AMERICAN
AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (AAA) - AAA Service Specialists inspect repair facilities for
equipment, competency of technicians, existence of on going training
programs, community reputation, cleanliness and appearance. AAA
approved Auto Repair facilities meet AAA's standards in all areas.
These shops guarantee their work for a minimum of 12 months or
12,000 miles, whichever comes first. Removed parts are returned to
the customer if requested at the time the repair order is written.
Approved Auto Repair facilities will cooperate with AAA to resolve
any AAA member complaints concerning the work they provide. The
facility will adhere to AAA's judgment in any dispute involving a
member. Once again, you can go to their Web site at www.aaa.com and find detailed
information and search for shops in your area.
ALLDATA-CAIS- Alldata is a
leading provider of electronic automotive diagnostic and repair
information to the automotive repair market. CAIS (Certified ALLDATA
Information Shop) certification is a testing system designed to
ensure technicians are educated on ALLDATA products and committed to
keeping the shop on the cutting edge of automotive repair
technology. CAIS exams are structured to assure that technicians
develop expertise with the system they have studied. When 75% of the
shop's technicians attain CAIS certification, it becomes a CAIS
Certified Shop. Two thousand shops participate in this program
nationwide. You can find locale shops on their Web site at www.alldata.com.
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE ASSOCIATION (ASA) - ASA is a not-for-profit trade
association headquartered in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area, and
has over 12,000 members. Since 1951, ASA has been the leading
organization for owners and managers of automotive service
businesses that strive to deliver excellence in service and repairs
to consumers. Members perform mechanical, auto body and transmission
repairs, and can be identified by the red, white and blue ASA sign.
We welcome you to visit our Web site, www.asashop.org for a list of those businesses in your area.
ASE BLUE SEAL OF EXCELLENCE
- The first thing to remember is that ASE does not certify
shops, it certifies technicians. However, it does provide a program
to recognize shops that have a large percentage of certified
professionals as employees. To qualify as a Blue Seal establishment,
a repair business must meet the following criteria: at least 75% of
technicians must be ASE-certified and at least one technician must
be ASE-certified in each area of service offered by the business. To
ensure that professional certification credentials remain current,
ASE reviews the status of each establishment annually. Local shops
can be found on their Web site at www.aseblueseal.org. There are
approximately 959 shops nationwide.
Program Groups - Several of
these names may be familiar to you: NAPA, CARQUEST (Tech-Net), Auto
Pride, Parts Plus, Auto Value (Bumper to Bumper) - all of these
groups offer their installers programs to project a more
professional image. Some include codes of ethics, training for
technicians, extended warranties, scheduled preventative maintenance
to keep track of a vehicle's maintenance history, and more. Each
program is different and can be studied more thoroughly on each of
their Web sites:
If your local repair shop is not
certified does that mean you start hunting for one that is? Not
necessarily. Good repair shops can be found anywhere- with or
without certified programs, with or without certified technicians,
but now you may be armed with a little more information when you
have to make the decision of where to take your vehicle to be
serviced. And knowledge is power. It enables you to ask more
questions. It makes you more aware of all the possibilities. It
gives you options. You can start making educated choices instead of
uneducated guesses. You have the right to expect honest estimates,
fair prices, and quality workmanship. Now you have a few more tools
to work with to go out and find them.
The
businesses listed in Find-a-Shop/Find-a-Store are not under the
control of the Car Care Council and the Car Care Council is not
responsible for the advertising, products or any other materials or
services provided by companies listed in this database. The Car Care
Council provides these listings only as a convenience, and inclusion
of a company does not imply endorsement by the Car Care
Council.
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