Every place I went to before I moved to my new area told me I needed 4 motor mounts. I was going to live with the rattling but it was really getting on my nerves so I started looking for a reputable local shop over a nation chain. The first place in my new area quoted me $750 for all four motor mounts over the phone. Since that was what the mexican place quoted me the day before I moved (but couldn't get done because the parts weren't in stock), I figured I had found a good local place that wasn't going to over charge. When I took it in, they spent 8 hours not looking at it and then told me I only needed 2 motor mounts and it would cost $850. Besides the price jump, they tried to charge me for a diagnostic I didn't ask for so I decided to look for a less shady acting shop. I called a different place, but they wouldn't quote me over the phone. I had to bring it in for a free inspection. Then they told me it would be $1000 for 2 motor mounts. They said the other two were still good.
I was expecting to need 4 motor mounts. I don't know what's true anymore about how many motor mounts I actually need, but the prices I'm being quoted for only 2 motor mounts at local shops are on par with what the national chain would charge. Why am I bothering looking for a local shop if they all still charge just as much and I won't have the peace of mind of being able to go to any other branch nation wide if I need warranty work?
Keep looking until you find an honest mechanic that wants the job and your future business.
Like anything else, independent shops vary a lot in terms of their level of honesty and ability. In general chain shops tend to be worse but there are sometimes exceptions. In my experience though few people have good outcomes in such places. Some are more notorious than others. (AAMCO, Midas, and Pep Boys are among the worst.) Chains don't pay very well so good mechanics don't tend to stay very long.
In some areas a good independent shop can be difficult to find. Personal referrals from satisfied customers are the best guide but if you're new to the area that can be problematical. Ask around with any people you do know. A general guide is the good ones tend to have a lot of work queued up. You didn't give us make, model, and year but if your screen name indicates that, it's a very old vehicle and I'd think after 26 years all the mounts would be ripe for replacement.
