Why a mobile mechanic makes sense around Newcastle
A spread-out city
Greater Newcastle stretches from Lake Macquarie to Port Stephens and inland to Maitland and Cessnock, and most people get around by car. A mechanic who drives to you saves organising a lift home from a workshop and back again.
Back from a trip, and it won't start
Newcastle Airport is at Williamtown, 27 km from the CBD by road, and people from the southern suburbs drive up to 55 km to get there. RAC WA says a battery will likely need attention if a car sits unused for more than two weeks, so a long holiday can end with a flat one in the car park.
The licence goes with the van
In NSW a mobile repair business needs the same motor vehicle repairer licence as a workshop. Ask for the licence number when the mechanic rings, and check it on the public register.
Mobile mechanic or workshop?
| Mobile mechanic | Workshop | |
|---|---|---|
| Logbook service | Usually yes: RAC WA says its own mobile mechanics do the same logbook items | Yes |
| Wheel rotation and balancing | Needs a hoist, so usually done at a workshop | Yes |
| Flat battery or no-start | Comes to the car | The car has to get there first |
| Pink slip | Only from a mobile AIS provider | Any AIS station |
| Clutch, gearbox or engine rebuild | Usually means moving the car | Yes |
What a mobile mechanic needs from you
A flat, safe spot off the road with room to work around the car. RAA asks for a location that's flat, not on a public roadway, with room for a trolley jack, and that's a fair guide for any mobile job. A sloping driveway or tight street parking can rule out some work, so mention it when you describe the job.
Have the keys, the service book and any warning-light photos ready. If the car shows a code or a light, say which one: it helps the mechanic bring the right parts the first time.
Broken down on the road?
Hazard lights on, and everyone out on the safe side and well back from the traffic. Then ring roadside assistance if you're a member. If anyone is hurt or in danger, call 000. A mobile mechanic is for a car that's parked safely, not one stuck in a live lane.
If it were our car
For a service or a battery we'd go mobile, using the postcode where the car sits during the day. For anything that needs a hoist, we'd ask the mechanic on the phone whether it's a driveway job, so nobody waits on work that can't be finished there.