No one ever enjoys having their car break down. That is, perhaps, the truest statement ever. When your car breaks down, you're left stranded. You may be left on the side of the road or in your own driveway, but the location doesn't matter. What matters is the fact that your day is ruined. Maybe you'll miss that important morning meeting at work. Maybe you'll have to quickly find someone else who can pick your children up from school. Maybe your back seat full of groceries will slowly begin to melt all over your seats.
It's not a fun time, but finding the right mechanic can make it a little easier.
That's where mobile mechanics come in handy.

Advantages of Mobile Mechanics

Many people think of mobile mechanics as those professionals that deal with windscreen repair, glass repair, or mobile detailing. Over the last five or six years, however, they have become more and more popular for other services, including repairing car parts. Some reasons why include:

Reduced Price- While this isn't always the case, many times you can hire a mobile mechanic for 20% to 40% less than a regular mechanic. Why? Without the overhead of a fixed garage, the cost to the business is significantly reduced. These savings are often passed onto you.

A reduced price doesn't mean that you need to worry about the competency of the mobile mechanic, though. As long as you do your homework beforehand, (researching the mechanic thoroughly and asking the right questions,) you can find mechanics that will not only be able to replace your car parts easily and quickly, but will be insured against damages that might occur and offer warranties for their work.

Up-Front Costs- Along with reduced costs, you can also depend on honest up-front costs when you hire the right mobile mechanic. When they arrive on scene, they will first examine your car and determine exactly what has gone wrong and what car parts need to be repaired. Then, they will give you an estimate that includes the cost of labour and the cost of the repair, just like a traditional mechanic would.

Convenience- Let's say for a moment that your Peugeot broke down in your driveway. You aren't sure what Peugeot parts are broken or damaged, but you do know that the car won't start, no matter what you do. If you were to choose a traditional mechanic to take care of this problem, chances are that you'd either have to make arrangements to have the car brought in, which means you'd have to pay for it to be towed to that location. In the end, you'd wind up spending more than you wanted to fix the car.

By hiring a mobile mechanic, you can cut out that towing fee, because they come to you. Whether you've broken down on the side of the motorway or in front of your home, you eliminate the need to pay more to have your car brought to the mechanic. Many breakdowns can be repaired right where your car is.

Increase Your Productivity- When you take your car to a normal mechanic, chances are you will have to sit in the waiting room while the mechanics on staff go through a long queue of customers before they reach your car. This can significantly cut into your personal time. Even if you are able to arrange for the car to be dropped off at the mechanic, you'll still have to make arrangements for someone to pick you up and drop you off when doing so.

With a mobile mechanic, this isn't a problem. While you may not be able to get much done if your car breaks down on the way to work, but if the car is sitting at your home or work, you can continue to do what you need to do while you wait for the car parts to be repaired.

No Standing in Queue- As previously stated, using a traditional mechanic can often mean waiting in long queues. These mechanics typically have a lot of customers waiting for their cars to be seen, and, depending on the amount of time needed for each repair, you could be waiting quite a while for assistance.

This isn't the case when you hire a mobile mechanic. Once they arrive on scene, you don't have to sit and wait for them to finish with other work. They immediately dive into repairing your vehicle, and they don't leave until it's fixed.

Disadvantages of Mobile Mechanics

While there are some fantastic advantages to hiring a mobile mechanic for repairs to car parts, there are some drawbacks as well. The most glaring disadvantage is, of course, the limitations of a mobile mechanic when it comes to certain equipment. Physical mechanic shops have the advantage when it comes to equipment, as they have more space to store said equipment. Mobile mechanics generally have vans and trucks full of high-tech tools, but they typically won't have all the equipment needed for extensive repairs, like complex computer systems or a lift.
In addition, many mobile mechanics work by themselves to reduce prices and payroll. While this is helpful to you on one hand, it can also mean further limitations. One mobile tech may not be able to perform certain repairs that require the help of two individuals.

Overall, hiring mobile mechanics to repair your car parts when you break down can be a convenient and affordable option. Make sure you do your homework first. Mechanics, whether mobile or traditional, should have proper certifications that they can show you upon request. The best technicians will not only have entry-level certifications in vehicle technology, automotive engineering, and vehicle maintenance, but will also further their education and earn certifications in:
  • Advanced automotive diagnostic techniques

  • Automotive diagnostics and management

  • Automotive master technicians

Some mobile mechanics may even take a professional development programme voluntarily to earn their ATA, or Automotive Technician Accreditation.
By evaluating the mechanic's credentials before hiring them to work on your vehicle, you can ensure they know what they are doing and will give you the best results.