Ruiru has no shortage of garages. It also has no shortage of stories about a repair that cost more than the quote, took three times as long, or came back with a new rattle. Choosing well is mostly about asking the right questions early.
1. Can I see the workshop?
Any garage that will not let you walk the floor is telling you something. Look for organisation: parts labelled, tools put away, cars covered and a spray booth that is genuinely a booth rather than a corner of the yard behind a tarpaulin.
2. Will I get the quotation in writing?
A verbal estimate is not a quotation. Ask for parts, labour and an estimated timeline in writing. A garage that lists parts individually is usually a garage that is not hiding margin in a lump sum.
3. Who does the paint?
Many garages do the bodywork and then send the car elsewhere for painting. That middleman adds days and removes accountability. Ask directly whether paint happens on site.
4. What happens if the damage is worse than it looks?
Stripping a panel can reveal rust or hidden accident damage. The right answer is: “We stop, photograph it, call you and quote the extra before continuing.” The wrong answer is: “We just fix it and tell you at the end.”
5. Will I see progress photos?
On a job that runs for a week or more, photos are a reasonable expectation. They also protect both sides — you know what was done, and the garage has a record of the condition on arrival.
6. What is the warranty on the workmanship?
Paint, mechanical repairs and parts each carry different expectations. A garage that can explain the difference clearly is a garage that understands its own work.
7. Do they know your model?
Not every garage suits every vehicle. Ask whether they have worked on your model before, and specifically whether they can source the parts.
A useful last step
Drive past on a normal working day. A busy yard is a good sign — but a yard where nobody is actually working usually is not.