[Brutus2600]

I used to do most of my own car work (that didn't involve tearing apart the engine). My dad had all the tools and the space to do it. Now that my parents have moved across the pacific ocean, I don't have access to those anymore. I do however, have a service manager at the local Honda dealership that I've dealt with for years that I trust. Three Hondas later I've been happy with any work I've had to get done there.

If you can't do the work yourself, I think the key is finding somebody you can trust is either by either trial and error or being referred to somebody by friends/family.