ONTARIO SMOG CHECK

Look for shops that display various certifications - like an Automotive Service Excellence seal. Certification indicates that some or all of the technicians meet basic standards of knowledge and competence in specific technical areas. Make sure the certifications are current, but remember that certification alone is no guarantee of good or honest work... Before you arrange to have any work performed, ask how the shop prices its work. Some shops charge a flat rate for labor on auto repairs. This published rate is based on an independent or manufacturer's estimate of the time required to complete repairs. Others charge on the basis of the actual time the technician worked on the repair... Ask to see current licenses if state or local law requires repair shops to be licensed or registered such as BAR. Also, your state Attorney General's office or local consumer protection agency may know whether there's a record of complaints about a particular repair shop.