When your car has a problem or simply needs a tune-up, you may find yourself wondering whether it's better to go to a general mechanic or to take your car back to the dealership. There are actually several advantages to taking your car to the dealership that can save you time, money, and hassle. This guide will explain four reasons why you should consider returning to your dealership when your car needs service.

Warranty Advantages

If you purchased your car within the last three years, or you haven't surpassed 36,000 miles, your car's needs may be covered by a warranty. You can call your dealership and ask what kind of warranty your vehicle came with, or check the paperwork they gave you when you bought it. If your car is under warranty, these warranties often cover general maintenance, tune-ups, and more. Some car companies have even started to offer tire rotations and free oil changes for a set period after you buy your car, so make sure you're not missing out on these free offers.

Dealers Are Specialists

Car mechanics are generally well-trained, but they're also well-trained generally, meaning that auto mechanics at generic shops have to work on every make and model of car under the sun. Your mechanic at a dealership is trained to specialize in your make of car, meaning that they're far more familiar with the ins and outs of your engine, electronics system, and so on.

They'll be able to finish the job in less time, because chances are they'll understand the problem and what needs to be done in order to fix it, rather than researching it beforehand. This means less hours worked, which will save you money.

Getting Parts Quickly

One of the most common hassles you can experience at a general car shop is finding out that they don't have the part your car needs in stock. They'll generally have to order it from the manufacturer, have it shipped, and you could end up waiting several days before the job even begins.

Dealership shops tend to have the most common parts for their brand of vehicles already in-stock. In the rare instances where they don't, they can also call up nearby dealerships and find out if they have the part that's needed, and have it sent over. Instead of waiting days for service to even begin, your car will be worked on right away.

Equipped for Your Car's Computer

Finally, many auto mechanics at general shops aren't equipped to handle the computers in cars these days. For example, if your check engine light has come on, they may not have the equipment needed to access the computer and find out why the light is on. While you could still have them look at your car, a full diagnostic could take hours, and there's no guarantee that they'll find the problem that's triggered the warning light.

Your dealership is set to hook up your car to their own computers and find out what's set off the light, and what needs to be done to fix it.

Taking your car to the dealership it came from, or another dealership of the same company can save you time and money. They're well-versed in your car's system, and are ready to do the work in a fraction of the time it might take at another car shop. Go to websites to find Ford dealerships.

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