Dealer Service Center vs. Local Garage: Where Should You Take Your Car?

Should you take your new Mazda to the Mazda Service Center attached to the dealership you bought it at or to a local garage? You might find there are benefits to both, but only one is going to give you the care and protection needed to ensure your warranty continues to be active and available to you.
You’ll hear many people tell you that your local garage will be much cheaper for car repairs, but when you have a new vehicle with a warranty, there’s only one place to go.

Who Knows Your Car Better?

The team at the local repair shop is trained to diagnose and handle problems on all sorts of vehicles. They don’t specialize, they aren’t factory-certified, and they might not even be true mechanics. Some repair shops will have apprentices working on your vehicle that are not fully certified.
Your dealer service center is staffed by factory-trained technicians that know your vehicle better than others. They specialize in the brand names that are on the sign and have the right tools and techniques to handle your vehicle the right way. This is the team that knows your car better than the other and will understand what you need.

A More Personal Touch

If you’re looking for service that seems more personal, which mechanics you get to know, your local garage is the place to go. Often, you’ll find mechanics at the local shop that you get to know that will also talk to you about what’s going on with your vehicle and let you know what’s needed.
The dealership service center may make you feel more like a number. The people in the front office are friendly enough and will try to answer questions, but you don’t typically get to know your mechanic at the local Mazda Service Center.

Convenience is an Important Factor

When you simply need to have a scheduled maintenance visit completed, you don’t want to take time out of your busy day. This is a place where the dealership has an advantage. Some dealers offer shuttle services, will bring your car to you when the job is done, and allow you to schedule your visit online.
If you’re looking for the place that’s easiest for you to get to, the local garage might stand out for you. They are usually right down the street and not necessarily on the busiest roads in town.

Who Is Going to Protect Your Warranty?

It’s more important than ever that you maintain proper service records to ensure your vehicle continues to be protected by the warranty. This is certainly a place where the dealer service center is going to shine above the local garage. If you take your vehicle to the local Mazda Service Center every time you need a maintenance or repair appointment, all of your records will be in one place. When you visit local garages, you can’t be certain the service records are being kept or entered.

Where Will You get the Best Customer Service?

The dealership service center must meet standards of service and excellence that are set by the manufacturer. That doesn’t mean you’re going to get the best service, but you have an avenue of resolution. If you’re less than satisfied with the service, you can complain to the manufacturer.
When it comes to the service at a local garage, the focus is on making you happy, as it should be. These locations are smaller, have fewer customers, and rely on word of mouth to build a customer base. You might not have an avenue for resolution if you’re dissatisfied, but you’ll tell all of your friends.

Where Should You Go for a Recall Notice?

This is an easy one and another way that your Mazda Service Center stands out above the local garage. Your dealership service department has a network with other dealers to make it easy for you to handle the recall and continue to have complete service records if you move. When you need a recall, the manufacturer is going to assume you will take your vehicle to their branded service location. In fact, when you take a recall to your local garage, there’s a good chance they are going to send you to the dealership for the service needed.

Where Will You Get the Best Parts?

If you take your vehicle to the local garage, they will use either Original Equipment (OE) parts or will use aftermarket parts. The aftermarket items are typically cheaper, but they are often also inferior to the OE parts that should be used.
Your dealership service center will only use OE parts. These parts are measured for the standard of quality needed and engineered to meet the manufacturer’s specifications. In fact, you’ll probably receive a 12-month/12,000-mile warranty on the parts and labor from your dealership service center.

Where Should You Go for Customization?

When you’re outside of your warranty window, you might be thinking of adding some cool items or increasing the performance of your vehicle. This is where your local garage has a distinct advantage and will be ideal for you to get things added that would not have been covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
Some dealers do offer customization options that can be added and allow you to keep your warranty intact. This is the right option if you want to add a few manufacturer-approved items that will give your car the added performance and style you’re looking for.

Which Team has the Best Facilities?

When it comes to the location, tools, and technology offered at a repair center, your Mazda Service Center has a distinct advantage over the local garage. With factory-supported operations that are part of a large dealership network, the resources are present to ensure you can have the most comprehensive work performed on your vehicle at the dealership.
Dealerships often have cleaner, more organized, and better-maintained facilities because of the depth of their resources to ensure they present you with the environment and experience you’re looking for when you need your car cared for.