College Students: Don't Forget About Auto Maintenance

College bound? Here is yet another element to add to your checklist before to ward off campus this fall: a vehicle's health study.

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) recommends that you ensure that your vehicle is in good condition. Unless you're a dedicated do-it-yourself, you want to find a reputable business to take care of maintenance and service for you.

ASE, a nonprofit organization that tests and certifies automotive technicians, offers the following tips on selecting workshop.

* Start shopping for a repair shop before you need one.

* Ask your friends and colleagues for recommendations or consult local consumer groups.

* Arrange for transportation in advance so you will not feel forced to choose a business based on its location.

* Look for a neat, well-organized facility, with vehicles in the parking lot equal in value to your own and modern equipment in service areas.

* Look for a courteous staff, with a service consultant willing to answer all your questions.

* Check the store's policy regarding estimated repair costs, diagnostic fees, guarantees and acceptable methods of payment.

* Ask if the shop specializes or if it usually handles your type of repair work.

* Look for signs of professionalism in the customer service area such as civic, community or customer prices.

* Look for signs of skilled technicians, as vocational diplomas, certificates of advanced course work and certification by ASE.

* Look for the ASE sign. ASE-certified technicians wear blue and white ASE shoulder insignia and carry credentials of their exact areas of certification. Their employers often display the ASE sign.