# Car owners: Have you used a "mobile mechanic"?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-owners-have-you-used-a-mobile-mechanic/730792
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [September 12, 2015, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-owners-have-you-used-a-mobile-mechanic/730792 "2015-09-12T12:32:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@birchtree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/birchtree)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2015, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-owners-have-you-used-a-mobile-mechanic/730792/1 "2015-09-12T12:32:27Z")
We’re having a family discussion:
Should we tow a disabled car [bad brakes] to repair shop, or call a mobile mechanic to work here at home?–the problem-car is garaged and we can roll it out to the driveway where there’s room to work.
Always thinking in terms of “what if something goes wrong,” I say tow car to repair shop so you can return if there’s a problem after repair.
If there’s a problem after a mobile mechanic’s work, they could easily blow you off if you contact them and suggest they return to fix their error(s).
In a emergency, like a road-side breakdown, I’d take a chance on mobile mechanic; but this isn’t an emergency, though we’d like to fix the car soon.
What do you think? Any experiences w/mobile mechanics?
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### Author:  [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2015, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-owners-have-you-used-a-mobile-mechanic/730792/2 "2015-09-12T17:29:55Z")
I’m not saying this is _always_ the case, but at least IME the mobile mechanic thing is often a way for enthusiastic backyard mechanics to work as a mechanic without doing all the work of actually opening a shop. You know, trifling little things like business licenses, professional certifications, insurance, complete tool sets, and the like. I’m sure there actually are legit mobile mechanics out there, you just have to be a little wary.
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2015, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-owners-have-you-used-a-mobile-mechanic/730792/3 "2015-09-12T22:50:16Z")
My brother used to do this in Boston. But I don’t know if everyone is as good as him. I’d ask for references, and make sure the person had some experience in a real garage or dealer before going it alone.
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### Author:  [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2015, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-owners-have-you-used-a-mobile-mechanic/730792/4 "2015-09-13T00:04:03Z")
What kind of car are we talking about here? Brake work, although the most critical system on the car, is usually really simple. Someone with a minimum of mechanical ability can change out pads. rotors, etc pretty easily.
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### Author:  [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-owners-have-you-used-a-mobile-mechanic/730792/5 "2015-09-13T01:11:35Z")
A lot of businesses with vehicle fleets use such services. There are guys that are not hacks doing it, many of them also have garages. My father used to use a mobile mechanic for his vehicles, I’m considering finding someone as well. The guy my father used stopped offering mobile service and only works out of his shop now.
It’s certainly a convience to just call up and have oil changes and brakes done just by letting a vehicle sit in the lot for a day. Takes away the hassle of shuffling apprentices to get a vehicle to a garage.
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### Author:  [@birchtree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/birchtree)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2015, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-owners-have-you-used-a-mobile-mechanic/730792/6 "2015-09-14T16:06:34Z")
Good info, thx–
What I’m not clear on:
When I think “shop” I see cars on lifts, giving mechanics easy access to underside+wheels.
Do mobile mechanics typically have those portable lifts-on-wheels to easily jack up car?
What types of repairs require the car to be lifted?
Also: what about “flushing” the brakes+brake lines, and cooling system? Can mobile mechanics do those kinds of things?
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### Author:  [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2015, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-owners-have-you-used-a-mobile-mechanic/730792/7 "2015-09-14T16:42:28Z")
There aren’t really any repairs that absolutely require a lift. It just makes jobs that involve getting under the car or taking wheels off a lot faster and safer than doing it with a floor jack and jackstands. Easier on the knees too.
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### Author:  [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-owners-have-you-used-a-mobile-mechanic/730792/8 "2015-09-14T16:59:08Z")
They normally just use a floor jack or tire ramps if they are doing oil changes. What they are willing to do will vary a lot with make and model. They normally just advertise breaks and oil changes as those don’t require they have a ton of tools and parts to do. It is not equivalent to a full shop as when they are out on the road the don’t want to get stuck waiting on parts, it’s not like the have the option of moving on to another car while they wait.
There is very little that can’t be done in a driveway. However it can be considerable more time consuming and expensive to do some projects outside a shop.
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### Author:  [@Nefario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefario)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2015, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-owners-have-you-used-a-mobile-mechanic/730792/9 "2015-09-14T17:16:31Z")
> [@birchtree](#):
>
> Should we tow a disabled car [bad brakes] to repair shop, or call a mobile mechanic to work here at home?–the problem-car is garaged and we can roll it out to the driveway where there’s room to work.
Kinda away from your question but do you _have to_ tow the car? How 'bout taking it real easy on the back streets to a shop at 10 PM? “Bad brakes” can be anything from poor stopping from speed (probably drivable) to hearing metal/metal (still drivable) to having a broken fluid line in which case it really should be on a lift to do the work. Brake work is much easier and faster and cheaper if you’re not kneeling on the ground.
Mobile mechanics seem to be sort of a boutique busine$$. I’m sure one could give you an opinion and a price but they may charge for any house call.