Mobile Mechanic in Sacramento

What can a mobile mechanic fix?

Many common jobs can be done wherever the car is parked, as long as there's safe, level space to work. Mobile mechanics often handle:

• Battery testing and replacement
• Starter and alternator replacement
• Brake pad and rotor replacement on many vehicles
• Check engine light diagnosis with a scan tool
• Spark plugs and ignition coils
• Belts, hoses and some cooling system parts
• Oil changes and fluid service
• Pre-purchase inspections of used cars

What needs a repair shop instead?

Some work needs equipment that won't fit in a van. A Smog Check must be done at a station licensed by the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) for Smog Check inspections. Wheel alignments, transmission and major engine work, and jobs that need the car lifted high usually happen at a shop. AC refrigerant work for pay requires EPA Section 609 certification and approved recovery equipment, so ask before booking.

Are mobile mechanics licensed in California?

They must be registered. California requires auto repair dealers to register with BAR, and that includes businesses that do mobile repair. BAR's Write It Right guide says a repair dealer doing mobile automotive repair must give you a copy of its BAR repair dealer sign along with your work order, and BAR's Auto Shop Locator lets you filter registered businesses by mobile repair.

You get the same protections as at a shop: an estimate before work, your authorization before any extra work, and an itemized invoice with the dealer's license number. Look up the business in the DCA license search before the mechanic starts.

Is a mobile mechanic cheaper than a shop?

It depends on the job and the provider. A mobile mechanic can save you a tow and a trip, which matters most when a car won't start. Prices are set by each business, so compare the estimate the same way you would at a shop: parts, labor, any trip fee, and tax. Ask whether parts are new, used or rebuilt; California requires the estimate to say so.

What should I ask a mobile mechanic before booking?

A few questions up front prevent most surprises:

• What's your BAR registration number?
• Will I get an estimate before you start, and will you call me before any extra work?
• How long are parts and labor covered if the repair fails?
• Is there a trip fee, and is it included in the estimate?
• Do you have the tools for my job, such as a scan tool for my make or AC recovery equipment?
• How will you dispose of old oil, coolant and parts? BAR requires any hazardous-waste fee to be itemized.

What if my car won't start in the heat?

Heat is a frequent culprit. AAA says many of its roadside calls involve heat-related battery and tire failures, and that heat can shorten a battery's life from the usual three to five years to as little as two. Signs of a failing battery include a slow start, warning lights, odd smells and corrosion on the terminals. A mobile mechanic can test the battery and charging system where the car sits.

If you're stuck on a freeway shoulder in the heat, AAA advises turning on your hazard lights, staying buckled in with the windows cracked unless you can safely get away from traffic, and calling for help. Call 911 if anyone is in danger.

Frequently asked questions

Available across the Sacramento area

• Sacramento
• Elk Grove
• Roseville
• Folsom
• Citrus Heights
• Rancho Cordova
• Rocklin
• Lincoln
• Davis
• West Sacramento
• Woodland
• El Dorado Hills
• Carmichael
• Fair Oaks
• Orangevale
• Arden-Arcade
• Antelope
• North Highlands
• Granite Bay
• Gold River
• Rio Linda
• Galt
• Auburn
• Cameron Park
• Placerville
• Loomis