If you just got your very first car, or if you are dissatisfied with your current mechanic and want to find another, it's hard to tell one shop from another. Most places offer the same basic services at fairly comparable prices, so how do you choose? Here are 3 keys to selecting the perfect auto repair shop.

1. Ask your friends

If you have one or more friends who drive a car similar to yours, ask him who is mechanic is and if he likes him. There are fewer recommendations more reliable or solid than those we get from people we trust. This is a good place to start, but it's by no means the end of your search.

2. Shop around yourself

Actually go into some of the recommended shops plus a few near where you live or work to get a sense of what they're all about. You may want to try an oil change at one place and a tire rotation service at another. Make a mental or written note about who treated you better and why. Compare prices of parts and hourly rates, and if you like two shops equally these may end up being your determining factors.

3. Check into a shop owner's longevity in the repair business and qualifications. Not only do you want to make sure he and his mechanics are experts at repairing your particular type of vehicle, you also want to make sure everyone is certified and highly trained. Chances are, the longer a shop has been in business under the same owner, the more you can assume that it must be a hit with its clientele.

Having a trusted mechanic you can call in an emergency provides great peace of mind and really, you are hiring an ally on the road: so choose carefully.