When mechanics work on your car, it’s usually expected for you to sit in the waiting room with a cold paper cup of coffee. It’s a rite of passage of sorts for new drivers, but things have ...

“Gauging a repair shop’s quality is tricky, and its size and cleanliness can only tell you so much about it,” says John Ibbotson, chief mechanic at Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center.

A car expert went viral on TikTok after exposing why there’s a dearth of car mechanics, which one report linked to the result of more people attending four-year colleges instead of trade schools.

Which is the best bet when you need your car fixed: a local mechanic, a dealership or an auto chain like Jiffy Lube? Here is what auto experts had to say. If you’re looking for someone to repair ...