CarMD.com has found that the majority of adults taking their vehicles to a repair shop feel that these facilities are trustworthy, some good news for the industry.
CarMD's recent survey, conducted online by Harris Interactive®, showed that 65 percent of U.S. adults who have ever owned/leased a vehicle feel that auto mechanics and repair facilities are trustworthy. The survey also found that 43 percent of those who have ever used an auto mechanic/repair facility have a local mechanic they’ve trusted for years.
Conversely, of those U.S. adults who have ever put off automotive maintenance/repairs, 11 percent did so because they didn’t have a mechanic/repair facility they trust.
“We are pleasantly surprised with these survey results, having long believed that increased awareness, education and improved technology have helped drivers become more in tune with their vehicles and those who repair them,” says Art Jacobsen, director of business development for CarMD.com Corp. “We have released this survey to commend the automotive repair industry on its progress and to educate consumers and about how CarMD’s products and information will lead to even more trust. Our data is really a living knowledgebase that is continuously learning and improving based on the best practices input of these professionals.”
While the survey found that most adults find auto repair facilities/mechanics to be trustworthy, the industry can always make improvements. Thirty percent of adults who have ever owned/leased a vehicle felt auto mechanic/repair facilities are somewhat untrustworthy, and 6 percent felt they are very untrustworthy.
Other survey findings:
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Those ages 55 adn older who have ever owned/leased a vehicle (73 percent ) are most likely to feel that auto mechanic/repair facilities are very/somewhat trustworthy compared to 56 percent of those ages 18-34 and 63 percent of those ages 35-54.
• Nearly half (48 percent ) of those who have ever used an auto mechanic/repair facility find mechanics/repair facilities through word of mouth from friends and family.
- One-quarter (26 percent) of those who have ever used an auto mechanic/repair facility report they always go to the dealership for maintenance and repairs.
- Over four in 10 of those who have ever used an auto mechanic/repair facility (43 percent) have a local mechanic/repair facility that they’ve trusted for years.
“We believe these scores can be improved by sharing tools and information with consumers so they can know what’s going on with their vehicle. It’s great to see so many drivers have mechanics they can trust, but if you’ve just moved to a new city or find yourself far from home with car problems, you may not have that positive relationship established yet,” says Jacobsen. “In these instances, CarMD provides peace of mind and more detailed information. The CarMD handheld device even lists a toll-free number on the back of the tool so customers can plug the tool into their car and talk with an ASE Certified technician to determine the severity of the problem.”
CarMD.com Corp. distributes the CarMD® Vehicle Health System, which gives drivers a quick way to analyze their vehicle’s health from home and detect hidden problems. When a problem is found, CarMD lets them know what the problem is, what they need to do to fix it and how much they should expect to pay for repairs.
Most CarMD customers opt to have repairs made for them by a professional mechanics, the company states. CarMD encourages its customers to have repairs made by a mechanic they trust, and recommends drivers look for the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Blue Seal logo. The company will debut its repair shop referral program later this year.
For more information, visit http://www.carmd.com.
