4 Tips to Choosing the Right Car Workshop in Malaysia

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As a car owner in Malaysia, it can be a good idea to always have a car workshop to fall back on in case of an emergency. But with so many workshops available, just how do you shortlist the right one? Here are some tips to choose the best car workshop for you!

Choosing a car workshop is almost like a rite of passage for most new car owners. It’s like supporting a football team - once you’ve made a choice, you would normally swear by them for the rest of your life.

But there are so many workshops to choose from, in the very many states that one may live in here in Malaysia, so how exactly do you narrow down your options, and come to a conclusion? The points listed below will most certainly help you make a sensible decision!

Family/Friend Referrals

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As with a sports team, many make their decisions based on what their friends or family root for. When it comes to workshops, it’s important to get advice from people you trust. The personal bond will also allow for a more honest and thorough picture of the experience one can get from a particular workshop.

Location, Location, Location!

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Needless to say that your workshop’s location is important. You don’t want to have to travel four hours just to get an oil change. But proximity to your residence isn't the only factor to keep in mind - do consider a workshop located along your most used driving routes. Prioritising this factor also has another, 'hidden' benefit - greater convenience, should something go wrong with your car on your daily commute!

Due Diligence

The internet has made it difficult for service providers to silence the consumer. Add on the fact that Malaysians love ranting about bad experiences on social media and review pages, and you can almost always tell whether a company is decent and ethical. Perform your due diligence and look up what others are saying online about the workshops you’ve narrowed down. Then compare their prices, if the rates are listed.

Google Business is helpful with their rating system and availability of photos which can be contributed by customers as well as the company itself. This will provide you with a better idea and establish an expectation of what you might experience at the workshop.

Do a Test Run

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At the end of the day, you have the power to decide which workshop suits your wants and needs the best. Reviews are a good way to weed out the obvious bad apples, but the only way to really ascertain the quality of a service is to experience it for yourself.

And no, we’re not saying to go get an overhaul five times this month at the different workshops. In fact, considering opting to perform small maintenance items at different workshops the next couple of visits. Strike up a conversation with the mechanics and the owners of the workshop, and see if you’re comfortable with them. Ask about their prices if they weren’t available online. After every workshop visit, determine if it's a workshop you would like to return to or not.

If you follow these tips, you’re should be better able to narrow down your choices. But that doesn't guarantee that you'll end up shortlisting only a singular candidate. Ultimately, you really have to figure out for yourself if a specific workshop best suits what you need it to do. Car ownership isn't always a bed of roses, so it will always pay to have a good rapport with your friendly neighbourhood mechanic to weather through the storms!

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