Your brakes are the most important piece of safety equipment on your car, so it is important to get brake repair done quickly and correctly. If you have just moved to the area and you do not have a regular mechanic yet, then finding a good mechanic can be hard and stressful. Here is how to turn finding a good mechanic to do your brake repair into less of a hit or miss proposition.

The first option is to go to a major chain that offers brake repair, like Meineke or Midas. Major chains generally have good mechanics on staff, so although you may not get the very best service the area has to offer, choosing a chain is a way to avoid the worst service. Because they have branches everywhere, you are likely to be within a short drive or tow of a shop in the chain if you need additional repairs, and the chains warranty covers followup repairs done at any branch in the country. Also, because major chains usually have large, well stocked shops with plenty of mechanics, you may get your car back in less time than it would have taken a smaller shop. The tradeoff is higher prices.

Your second option is to find a local independent mechanic. Independent mechanics shops may have a longer wait time and may take slightly longer to finish the repairs on your car due to waits for ordered parts. Independent mechanics quality is also more variable than that of the chains: The very best mechanics go to work for themselves, and so do the average mechanics and the very worst. However, a little research will make it far more likely that you will find an excellent independent mechanic.

How do you locate one of the best mechanics? The world needs a central clearinghouse on mechanics, but unfortunately, that day has not yet come. You will need to gather the information on your own. Find friends, family, and coworkers who needed the same kind of brake repair, and get recommendations from them. Look for complaints about the shop online and at the Better Business Bureau. Find out whether the shop is accredited by the American Automobile Association (AAA) and whether the mechanics are all certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Trust your instincts: Is it easy to reach someone who works at the shop, or does the phone ring endlessly? Does the mechanic you speak with sound sincere, or does he or she sound shady or overconfident? If you are not knowledgeable about cars, is the mechanic condescending or respectful?

Get as many data points as you can before you choose a mechanic to do your brake repair. Whether you take your car to an independent shop or to a chain, your life and the lives of everyone around you depends upon the mechanic you pick to repair your brakes.