5 questions you should ask a mechanic before they work on your car

You want to make sure the technicians who are working on your car are certified to work on the part of your vehicle that is being repaired, Bennett said.

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Understanding the repair shop's hourly labor rate can give you some insight into your total repair costs, Bennett said.

Most repair facilities offer warranties of 12 months or 12,000 miles, Bennett said, though AAA-approved facilities offer warranties of 24 months or 24,000 miles.

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The time it takes to repair a vehicle can vary widely depending on the nature of the work being done, said Karl Brauer, the executive publisher of the automotive shopping and research sites Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book, so it can help to do research ahead of time.