For people who don’t know much about car engines, a trip to the mechanic can be a very humbling experience. With any luck, the customer has an honest mechanic who does exactly what he says he’s going to do. This is the same kind of mechanic that will only use genuine Toyota parts and accessories on a Toyota and steers clear of off brand parts.

Unfortunately, if you’re new to town or have just lost a mechanic, you may find yourself in hostile, unfamiliar territory. So what’s the best way to find great car repair values in your town?

Computer savvy consumers have a real advantage when it comes to finding goods and services. Localized review sites like Yelp! can provide a very thorough listings of local mechanics. The key to utilizing this type of site is learning when to ignore a reviewer who is clearly nursing an unreasonable grudge against a specific merchant. These sites are especially useful if you have specific questions like, “Does this particular shop always use genuine Toyota accessories?â€

But with a little bit of digging, most people can find exactly the type of mechanic that they are comfortable working with. Just remember to have a little patience and expect a fair amount of trial and error during the process.