No one likes to experience an automotive issue, but when you have a trusted mechanic at a repair shop near your home, you'll feel much more at ease about the car problem. When you're away from home, however — perhaps taking a long trip by car — an automotive problem can be much more stressful. Fortunately, the days of having to stop at the first repair shop you find are over. Thanks to modern-day technology and the fact that you probably have a smartphone, you'll be able to do some research to find the right repair shop for your needs, however, far away from home you are. Here are some tips for doing this research:

See What People Are Saying

One of the best ways to assess an auto repair shop is to see what customers are saying. Once you've used your smartphone to identify some shops that are near where you're experiencing your car trouble, find out how people rate them. Testimonials on the shops' websites can be helpful, but it's also ideal to look for independent reviews. There are several sites that allow customers to rate and comment on their auto repair shops, so take some time to peruse these sites and reviews to help you decide which shop might be the best fit.

Call Ahead To Explain The Issue

It's understandable that the average motorist isn't able to diagnose the issues that he or she experiences, but you may have an idea of your problem based on what your vehicle's display screen is telling you. Additionally, if you explain the symptoms over the phone, a technician should be able to give you an idea of what is going on. It's useful to call a couple shops to explain your predicament, as well as ensure that the shop has the parts in stock. Ideally, you want to pick a repair shop that can get the work done quickly, rather than one that needs to order the specific parts for the job.

Consider Shops With Car Rental Centers

When you talk to a technician over the phone, you should always ask how long the issue will take to fix. If it's just a couple hours, you can wait at the shop or find something to do nearby. However, if the work will be extensive, it's handy if you can choose a repair shop with an on-site car rental center. This way, you can rent a car to get back on the road and continue your trip — and just swing past the repair shop on the way home to pick up your car once it's fixed.

Contact a company like Engel's Auto Service & Towing for more information and assistance. 

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