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Some drivers only take their vehicle back to the dealership for service, they believe that dealerships are more qualified to work on their vehicle. Is this really true? The answer is no, but it does depend on what you are looking for and what your priorities are. Here is a rundown of the main differences between dealerships and auto repair shops in Des Moines.

Flexibility – Dealerships only specialize in servicing the make of vehicles they sell. If you buy from a dealership, you can bring it back for regular scheduled maintenance appointments without any problem. On the other hand, you can’t bring other vehicle makes to the dealership to be serviced. This may not be an issue for some, but if your family owns several different brands of vehicles, it can be a nuisance to take them to all different dealerships.

Independent auto repair shops will work on all types of makes and models of vehicles. They carry parts for many different types of vehicles, while dealerships only carry parts for the brand they sell. Auto repair shops make it easy to get all your vehicles serviced at one place.

Personalized Care – You will never come face-to-face with the mechanic who is working on your car at the dealership. Instead, you have to talk to the Service Advisor. This is okay for some, but others prefer to see and talk to the mechanic who works on their vehicle. When you visit an independent auto repair shop, you will probably see the mechanic who is working on your vehicle or at least request to speak to him in person if you’d like.

Affordability – It’s pretty well known that dealerships tend to charge more for some services than independent garages. Independent repair centers don’t have to be loyal to one specific brand, thus offering different brands that have proven to work the same or better at a lower cost. Since repair shops are smaller than dealerships, with less overhead, they are more affordable to operate, thus passing along these savings directly to the customer.

Hilltop Tire Service in Des Moines offers honest auto repair service at affordable prices. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.