Mobile car repair is a hot new topic as mobile car repair is something which customers are increasingly looking for. However, this is a case where supply has lagged behind demand: there are very few reputable mobile car repair companies out there.
Most mobile mechanics are simple guys who have been laid off from a shop, throw some of their hand tools in the back of their truck and put an ad on Craigslist which says something like "Mobile Mechanic SAVE $$$$$!!" and has a phone number and nothing else.
Most of these guys demand that you pay up front for parts (probably because they don't have the money themselves, and they certainly don't have commercial credit accounts) and they are generally pretty poor mechanics. I have personally come across a lot of stories of one of these guys coming out, starting a job, and then failing to finish it because they screwed something up and simply walked away.
So who can you trust? Well, if you live in the SF Bay area there is a service called YourMechanic which basically wants to take these guys off Craigslist and use an app to connect you and them... which seems ok... except you are still dealing with mobile mechanics operating without a shop and with no way to complete most major repairs. YourMechanic says "80% of all repairs can be completed on site" - which clearly shows they need a few less developers and a few more mechanics (even one!) on staff. Around the country there are a few other mobile mechanic services, including a number in Texas and Florida, and a new service which launched recently in Boston, The Driveway Doctors which are backed by a full service shop.
The simple truth is that I would not trust someone off Craigslist to fix my car. I would look around, find a shop with good reviews, and go with them. Mobile car repair is a great concept and the supply will expand to meet the demand, and reputable services like Driveway Doctors will emerge around the country, but don't try a craigslist mechanic unless you are really desperate.
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