Countless employees have experience this stressful financial emergency—when the car breaks down in the middle of a work week and deadlines or meetings are schedule the following day. It is really an employee’s worst nightmare! For those without a budget for emergency car repairs, they could always get a cash til payday loan via online. The application process takes just a few minutes and they can get the needed cash in no time. But other than the sudden car repairs, the second worst nightmare people experience is unwittingly getting con men and incompetents in dealing with their ailing vehicles. Some would even suggest that taking their cars to a mechanic is like visiting a dentist—one knows it could be painful in the end! People are always on the lookout for honest, competent, and service-oriented freelance mechanics (those putting ads on newspapers, community directories, store bulletins, and the like) or established repair shops. So, whether one is on the road when the car broke down or just moved in to a new neighborhood, there are some important things to remember on how to get a good mechanic or repair shop.

Get recommendations or friendly advice. It is good to ask around for the best mechanic or repair shop and compare notes. People who use their cars to get to and from work need to keep their vehicles in tiptop shape. They should get in the habit of asking neighbors, friends, and co-workers for the best and the worst repair shops and check it out for themselves. When traveling, good sources of recommendations are the local police, motel clerks, or even waiters.

Inspect the equipment. Working on today’s high-tech cars calls for, not just a different set of skills for the mechanic, but also sophisticated equipment like engine analyzers and scan tools. These gadgets can be connected to the car engine’s computer to exactly locate the problem and make so high-tech troubleshooting. In addition, a full-service car repair shop must have a complete set of hand tools for each technician. On the other hand, frequent drivers are advised to invest on car tools for quick repairs on the road. A set may cost a few hundred dollars but the worthwhile expense could be covered by a small instant payday loan.

Look out for cheats. Automatic transmissions are the favorite cheats of scrupulous roadside mechanics and repair shops. Usually, the average driver knows little of how this mix of clutches, gears, passages, and seals work. Another kind of rip-off would be advertised specials that seem too good to be true—and these are usually that. Some are bait-and-switch ads to lure people in for low-cost maintenance, but once the cars are in, other work would be suggested.

The next time people find themselves in need of car repairs, they better scout for an honest and competent mechanic or repair shop. And when they do find one, stick with that service even if it costs a bit more to save them from stress.