Choosing between a car dealership and an independent mechanic isn't difficult — here's a guide for the pandemic

Dealership or indie mechanic? The eternal question.Matt Cardy/Stringer/Getty Images

• Dealerships can be expensive, but you shouldn't always avoid them.
• The longer you own your car, the more sense it makes to find your own mechanic.
• DIY-ers will also want to look to indie mechanics.
• In the age of the coronavirus pandemic, both dealership service centers and mechanics are defined as essential, so you can continue to choose between each for your needs.
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Owning a car (or leasing one) means getting your ride serviced and sometimes repaired. Even as the coronavirus pandemic continues to shut down businesses.

Thus, the eternal question: dealership or independent mechanic? Both are considered essential, as people must have operational vehicles.

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.