Benefits of Servicing your Vehicle at a Dealership

Regularly scheduled maintenance plays a critical role in keeping your vehicle running strong. If you’re like most vehicle owners, then chances are you’ve thought about taking yours to the local repair shop or perhaps even a larger franchise repair center. However, having your vehicle serviced at a dealership offers plenty of benefits and opportunities that you won’t get from independent repair shop.

Advanced Facilities with the Latest Equipment

One perk of taking your vehicle to a dealership for service is having access to a state-of-the-art facility. Dealership service centers tend to be bigger than your average independent garage, with more service bays for prompt service and faster turnaround times. These facilities also house all of the advanced service tools and diagnostic equipment essential for quickly and accurately troubleshooting and repairing your vehicle. This includes specialized equipment that privately owned repair shops are less likely to have on hand.

Having more space for service also means there’s room for specialty services you might not find at an independent repair shop. These include “express lane” services for routine things like oil changes and filter replacements. Some dealerships also have on-site collision repair that handles everything from paintless dent removal to major body repairs.

Factory-Trained and Certified Technicians

Independent mechanics are highly skilled and well-versed in most auto repairs, but they’re usually not specialists. Few devote themselves to servicing a single brand of vehicle and even fewer are trained directly by the manufacturer. When there’s an issue that requires deep, extensive knowledge of your vehicle, you’re better off at a dealership.

Having your vehicle serviced at a dealership means getting service from a factory-trained and certified technician that knows your vehicle inside and out. Dealership technicians specialize in a single brand or a brand group, which means they’ll have extensive knowledge about your specific make and model that independent mechanics may not have. Dealership technicians also undergo rigorous training while staying abreast of the latest advances in repair technology for your vehicle.

Needless to say, factory trained technicians offer the best opportunity for keeping your vehicle running as the manufacturer intended.

Service with OEM Parts

If you take your vehicle to a local garage, the mechanics there may use aftermarket parts instead of the factory-original parts your vehicle came with. While some third-party parts meet or surpass the quality of the originals, others can have minor variations that make them harder to install and more likely to fail over time.

With Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts, you won’t have to worry about the fit, finish and overall quality of those components – and neither will the technician. Every OEM part is an exact replica of the parts your vehicle currently uses. That’s why dealership service technicians use only OEM parts for their repairs.

Effortless Warranty Repair

Every new vehicle and many used and certified pre-owned vehicles come with a warranty, whether it’s a factory warranty straight from the manufacturer or warranty coverage provided courtesy of the dealership. Either way, you want to be certain that nothing will stand in your way whenever your vehicle needs to be repaired under warranty.

Having warranty service done at a dealership gives you greater peace of mind about the work being performed. Best of all, the dealership will stand behind its work with warranty coverage of its own, ensuring a quick and stress-free fix in the event the same issues reappear.

Up-to-Date Service Bulletin and Recall Info

If your vehicle is affected by a recall or service bulletin, then chances are your independent mechanic may not be aware of that information. With so many different makes and models to service, it’s easy for recall and service bulletin information to go unnoticed. In contrast, a dealership will always have up-to-date information about your vehicle, including any minor or major recalls that require prompt service.

Absolute Customer Satisfaction

Happy customers are the best customers, as far as dealerships are concerned. So, it’s no wonder customer satisfaction is a top goal among dealers. Whether it’s providing a welcoming environment for new and long-time customers, friendly staff interactions, ample amenities including clean restrooms and complementary drinks and snacks, or convenient perks like free shuttle service or available rentals, most dealers will go above and beyond to satisfy customers. After all, a completely satisfied customer not only turns into a repeat customer, but they’ll also spread the word about the dealership among friends, family and coworkers.