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Sant Automotive • 8720 Watson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63119 • (314) 849-2900
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Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Is it Better to Go to a "Dealer" for Car Repair Service?
Is It Better to Go to the Dealership for Maintenance?
Short answer? No.
Long answer? Still no — but let’s explain why.
Many drivers assume the dealership is the “safest” place to maintain their vehicle. After all, that’s where they bought it. But once the paperwork is signed and the free coffee wears off, reality sets in. Dealerships typically have longer wait times, higher labor rates, and customer satisfaction scores that often pale in comparison to well-run independent repair shops.
Why the higher cost? Dealerships carry massive overhead — giant showrooms, sales commissions, corporate branding — and that expense shows up on your invoice. Independent shops, on the other hand, focus on one thing: servicing and repairing vehicles. No marble floors required.
There’s also the warranty myth. Many drivers believe they must return to the dealership to maintain their factory warranty. Not true. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prohibits illegal “tie-in” sales provisions. That means a manufacturer cannot require you to service your vehicle at the dealership to keep your warranty intact. As long as maintenance is performed properly and documented, you’re covered.
And here’s something the commercials don’t mention: when you hear “factory trained automotive technicians,” that doesn’t always mean the person performing your oil change or brake service has decades of experience. In many dealerships, routine maintenance is handled by entry-level “helpers” or lube techs. Independent shops are far more likely to have seasoned technicians performing or overseeing your service.
Now, if you’d like to relive the exact feeling you had when you first drove your vehicle off the lot — that moment when your bank account suddenly felt much lighter — then by all means, head back to the dealership.
But if you prefer personal service, shorter waits, experienced technicians, and better value, your local independent shop is the better road to travel.
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Sant Automotive • 8720 Watson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63119 • (314) 849-2900
Online Appointments
Click below to pick a time that works for you.
Schedule an AppointmentPrefer phone? Call (314) 849-2900.
What Do You Call a Person Who Works on Motor Vehicles?
What Do You Call a Person Who Repairs Motor Vehicles?
Great question. The official, polished, diploma-framed-on-the-wall answer is: Automotive Technician.
It sounds refined. Professional. Like someone who owns a torque wrench with a retirement plan.
“Technician” reflects the modern reality of the job. Today’s vehicles are rolling computers. We plug into scan tools, interpret data streams, diagnose network communication faults, and reprogram modules. There are oscilloscopes involved. Sometimes there are acronyms that require other acronyms. It’s high-tech stuff.
But if we’re being honest?
Auto Mechanic is probably more accurate.
Because at the end of the day, someone still has to break loose rusted bolts, wrestle control arms into submission, and explain why that “little noise” requires three hours of labor. There is grease involved. There are busted knuckles. There are moments of staring at an engine bay in silence while reconsidering life choices.
So yes, Automotive Technician is correct.
Auto Mechanic is honest.
Both are acceptable.
You could also just use our first names. “Hey Rick,” works beautifully. “Chris, can you listen to this?” is perfectly fine. We respond well to coffee, too.
One thing, however, especially since we’re based in South St. Louis County: please do not use the term “Hoosier.” Even if the technician actually is from Indiana. Around here, that word means something entirely different — and it is not a professional credential.
So call us Automotive Technicians.
Call us Auto Mechanics.
Call us by our names.
Just don’t call us late for a brake job.
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Sant Automotive • 8720 Watson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63119 • (314) 849-2900
Online Appointments
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Schedule an AppointmentPrefer phone? Call (314) 849-2900.
How Much is a Routine Car Check Up?
Sant Automotive – How Much Is a Routine Car Check Up?
It’s one of the most common questions we hear: “How much is a routine car check up?” The honest answer? It depends on what you mean by “check up.”
If you’re thinking of a comprehensive service, that’s essentially the same thing as a used car vehicle inspection. This is the top-to-bottom, leave-no-bolt-unturned evaluation. We inspect suspension, steering, brakes, fluids, leaks, tires, undercarriage, and scan the vehicle’s onboard computers. It’s ideal if you just bought a vehicle, are preparing to sell one, or simply want a deep dive into overall condition. That service typically runs about $175.
However, most drivers really mean something simpler when they ask about a routine check up.
For many vehicles, a routine check up is basically your 5,000-mile service. At Sant Automotive, that includes a full synthetic Mobil Super™ Synthetic oil change, tire rotation, fluid top-off, and a thorough courtesy inspection. We’re looking for early signs of wear, leaks, brake concerns, or anything that might turn into a larger car repair down the road. That service typically costs around $100, depending on engine oil capacity and the price of the oil filter.
Here’s the part that saves you money long term: consistency.
Returning to Sant Automotive is the best way to track your car maintenance needs. Because we carefully document vehicle condition and service history at every visit, we’re building a living timeline of your vehicle’s health. That means we already know what was done, what’s wearing normally, and what to keep an eye on next time.
When you maintain that relationship, a separate $175 comprehensive inspection often becomes unnecessary — because we’ve been watching your vehicle all along.
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Sant Automotive • 8720 Watson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63119 • (314) 849-2900
Online Appointments
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Schedule an AppointmentPrefer phone? Call (314) 849-2900.
Emissions Inspections Near Me
If you live in Webster Groves, Affton, or Crestwood, you’ve probably experienced the classic Missouri moment: you’re feeling productive, head to renew your plates… and suddenly someone asks, “Do you have your emissions inspection?” Record scratch.
Missouri Emissions Inspections: What’s Required
In the St. Louis area, most gasoline-powered vehicles 1996 and newer (under 8,501 pounds GVWR) require an emissions inspection every two years for registration renewal. Diesel vehicles, motorcycles, brand-new vehicles (for their first few years), and vehicles older than 1995 are typically exempt.
In short, if your car is old enough to vote but young enough to have an OBD-II port, it probably needs testing.
What Happens During the Test?
For 1996 and newer vehicles, the process is refreshingly simple. We connect to your vehicle’s onboard diagnostics system, check for emissions-related fault codes and confirm that all required monitors are “ready.” No treadmills. No dramatic tailpipe sniffer scenes. Just your car telling us whether it’s behaving itself.
If your check engine light is on, however, that’s your vehicle waving a little red flag that says, “Not today.”
Book Online (Because Life Is Short)
Need your inspection? Skip the search engine spiral. Clicking this link is much faster than typing “emissions inspection near me” into Google, scrolling through ads, and guessing who’s actually open.
👉 Book Your Missouri Emissions Inspection Online
A few clicks, you’re scheduled, and you can move on with your day. Clean air, valid plates, zero DMV drama.
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Sant Automotive • 8720 Watson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63119 • (314) 849-2900
Online Appointments
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Schedule an AppointmentPrefer phone? Call (314) 849-2900.
Is Missouri Eliminating Safety Inspections, Why?
If you’ve been anywhere near a radio, repair shop, or coffee counter lately, you’ve probably heard that the Missouri General Assembly is considering ending Missouri’s vehicle safety inspection program. Yep — the little $12 sticker that’s been riding shotgun with you for decades may be headed for the history books.
Let’s talk about that $12 fee.
It hasn’t changed since… well… since Big Macs were closer to the dollar menu than the gourmet sandwich category. Today, you can barely get a Big Mac meal for the price of two Missouri inspections. In fact, depending on where you order, one Big Mac alone can cost about half (or more) of the entire state inspection.
Now here’s where it gets interesting.
Economists would tell you that fixing the price of a service below the cost of producing it tends to create scarcity. In plain English: if you cap the price too low, fewer people are excited about offering it. Imagine telling a barber he can only charge 75¢ for a haircut — suddenly everyone needs a trim and nobody wants to cut hair.
The $12 inspection fee doesn’t exactly scream “profit center.” It barely covers technician time, administrative costs, equipment, liability, and the joy of explaining why your brake pads are whispering sweet nothings to your rotors.
So is the inspection program flawed? Maybe. Is it underpriced? Absolutely.
At Sant Automotive, we believe in safety — and we also believe inspections shouldn’t cost less than lunch.
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Sant Automotive • 8720 Watson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63119 • (314) 849-2900
Online Appointments
Click below to pick a time that works for you.
Schedule an AppointmentPrefer phone? Call (314) 849-2900.
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