How to feel less anxious about going to the mechanic

Feeling anxious about car servicing or repairs? Here’s how to feel more confident when you hand over the keys.

Maybe you've had a bad experience in the past, felt intimidated or paid more than you had to. Perhaps you don't know anything about cars, and the subject makes you tighten up.

Whatever the reason, the simple act of booking your car in for a service may feel like an anxious task. But it doesn’t have to be stressful. Here’s how to feel more in control and prepared for your next visit.

Drop the shame

Your car is important to you and it's natural to feel unsettled by the prospect of major costs and/or inconvenience. But like many things, save that worry for if and when you need to. Most car servicing goes to plan – and if you do end up having to grapple with some real issues, back yourself. Ask questions if something doesn’t make sense.

Find a mechanic you trust

If your anxiety stems from negative or indifferent experiences, finding a mechanic you connect with could ease that feeling. Reviews will tell you about the quality of a mechanic's work, communication skills, customer service and value, so do your research before you book.

Don’t be hesitant to ask around, too, as you likely already know someone with a good one. Ask friends, colleagues or neighbours for a recommendation.

Understand the basics to feel more confident

If your anxiety is rooted in a lack of knowledge, educating yourself can make discussing the inner workings of your car less stressful. While cars are complex, in many ways they're like us and thinking of them this way can help you understand how they operate. Along with what your mechanic is explaining to you:

• They have brains: the electronic control unit or ECU; once just to control the engine, but today a vast number control many functions.
• They have nervous systems: in this case, sensors that report to the ECUs (the brain).
• They breathe air via their induction system.
• They need food: fuel, which is sprayed into cylinders via fuel injectors, mixed with air from the induction system, compressed and then ignited, releasing its energy.
• They have a waste tract: the exhaust system.
• They have a system to cool themselves down: not sweating but a radiator, which cools liquid coolant pumped through the engine.

Reduce the stress of unexpected costs

One of the easier things to worry about with servicing is the cost. If you drive a new or near-new car that falls under a capped-price servicing regime, understanding the plan is an easy way to always know what's coming over the horizon and keep the financial anxiety down.

Tapping into this kind of certainty is harder with an older car. However, if you study the servicing section of your owner's manual, you can determine the scale of each service (i.e. major or minor) – and whether you might need to keep some extra cash aside.

Record the symptoms

You can feel or hear an issue, yet it refuses to show itself to the mechanic, only to struggle explaining it later. But there's an easy way to avoid this angst – just keep a notebook in your car. For example, if an issue arises, pull over (when safe) and write down what you feel, the date, time, source/location of the sound, and how long into the drive the issue occurred. It'll make that conversation easier and the mechanic's job easier, too.

Never miss a service

Putting off a service only increases the chances of a more costly, anxiety-inducing experience the next time around. Sticking to your car maintenance schedule and you'll be minimising the odds of real drama – and the mental anguish.

Learning a little more about your car and building a routine around car maintenance can make a difference in the long term – not just for your vehicle, but for your confidence too.

_Disclaimer
^{Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.}