The Royal Automobile Association of South Australia (RAA) is an auto club that you can join and then receive services such as emergency breakdown response, vehicle inspection, travel and tour planning, and subsidies for automotive insurance. RAA will also certify and approve certain mechanics and their services, and it's often good to choose an RAA approved repairer for your vehicle when it needs repairs. If you've never thought about using an RAA mechanic for your vehicle, note some advantages they may offer.

1. Guarantee of workmanship

Getting a guarantee from a mechanic can be a challenge, and you may feel awkward asking if they guarantee their work. However, all RAA certified mechanics need to provide a guarantee of the work they do, how long it will last, and so on. 

2. Equipment standards

You don't want a mechanic working under the hood of your car with old tools that don't fit the parts of your car, or worse yet, with homemade tools that don't work as they should and which might actually damage your car's parts. Unfortunately some mechanics use older tools and those that are not meant for your car so they can save money on investing in new tools and equipment. As with a guarantee, you may hesitate to ask about the tools being used in a garage, but RAA certified and approved mechanics must meet certain standards for their equipment and tools so that they're always in good working order and are meant to be used for the type of car you own.

3. Fair pricing policy

RAA approved mechanics must maintain a fair pricing policy with their customers; while you may still want to shop around and compare prices, you can know that an RAA mechanic is not going to "gouge" you on pricing. This is true for both their labor and parts they must use. Knowing you're going to get a fair price at an RAA authorized mechanic can give you peace of mind, and it can also mean saving you on time shopping around for better pricing.

4. Audits

To ensure that RAA authorized mechanics follow all the guidelines set out by the Royal Automobile Association, these mechanics are regularly audited and checked for compliance. You don't need to worry about the last time their tools, pricing, and certifications were inspected and reviewed, as the RAA does this checking during the audit process. You know your car will be in good hands with an RAA approved repairer.

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