Here's how to choose between a car dealership and an independent mechanic

Owning a car (or leasing one) means getting your ride serviced and sometimes repaired.

Thus, the eternal question: dealership or independent mechanic.

Each has its pluses and minuses. Dealerships get a bad name - for being expensive and pushing needless service to make money - but the service department of a dealership tends to be up-to-date on your car and in that sense can argue that you get what you pay for.

Indies are often what the real "car guys" endorse, but because they work on a broad range of vehicles, indies can sometimes be digging around to figure out an unfamiliar fix that a dealership could handle more easily.

It's a personal decision. But there are still some tips that can help you choose.