Women can also check to see if their repair shop displays an Approved Automobile Repair Services sign. Issued by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), the sign indicates the business meets set standards. A list of approved garages can be found on the CAA website.
Also, an inquiry with the Better Business Bureau will reveal whether any complaints have been made against the garage. While these last two sources don't list repair shops that are specifically welcoming to women, they can help identify the good and weed out the bad.
Sandy Spicer advises car owners to avoid surprises by getting to know their repair shop before anything major goes wrong with their car. "And trust your instincts," she says, "because if you feel comfortable with where you're going for a simple repair, then usually you can feel comfortable about a large repair."
Just like any relationship, success depends on the effort of everyone involved. Even at the most trusted repair shop, women can help make communication easier. They can help by requesting an estimate before any work is done, and asking to be contacted if it looks like the repair will be more than the estimated cost so there are no surprises. If there's an intermittent problem, noting when it happens, at what speed, and in what weather conditions will help the person doing the repairs know where to start.
Women can learn more about their cars simply by asking questions: requesting to see the broken part and taking a look under the hood once the job is finished. Over a lifetime of ownership, those learning opportunities will add up to knowledge and confidence around car repair.
When Nic's first opened, 80% of its customers were women. Spicer estimates it's now 50-50. She believes men also want to feel comfortable asking questions, and with today's sophisticated cars, fewer people know how to repair their own vehicle.
Just as we need to find a doctor, a dentist or a hairstylist that we're comfortable with, we also have to find an auto mechanic whom we trust. It's a matter of building a relationship - and, if you're lucky, it's one that you can maintain for a very long time.
Also, an inquiry with the Better Business Bureau will reveal whether any complaints have been made against the garage. While these last two sources don't list repair shops that are specifically welcoming to women, they can help identify the good and weed out the bad.
Sandy Spicer advises car owners to avoid surprises by getting to know their repair shop before anything major goes wrong with their car. "And trust your instincts," she says, "because if you feel comfortable with where you're going for a simple repair, then usually you can feel comfortable about a large repair."
Just like any relationship, success depends on the effort of everyone involved. Even at the most trusted repair shop, women can help make communication easier. They can help by requesting an estimate before any work is done, and asking to be contacted if it looks like the repair will be more than the estimated cost so there are no surprises. If there's an intermittent problem, noting when it happens, at what speed, and in what weather conditions will help the person doing the repairs know where to start.
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Women can learn more about their cars simply by asking questions: requesting to see the broken part and taking a look under the hood once the job is finished. Over a lifetime of ownership, those learning opportunities will add up to knowledge and confidence around car repair.
When Nic's first opened, 80% of its customers were women. Spicer estimates it's now 50-50. She believes men also want to feel comfortable asking questions, and with today's sophisticated cars, fewer people know how to repair their own vehicle.
Just as we need to find a doctor, a dentist or a hairstylist that we're comfortable with, we also have to find an auto mechanic whom we trust. It's a matter of building a relationship - and, if you're lucky, it's one that you can maintain for a very long time.