Trent Martin, of Trent’s Auto Repairs and Servicing, crowned Ipswich and Springfield’s best mechanic for 2022

A trusted Ipswich mechanic who has spent years helping drivers understand their cars has been named the best mechanic in the region according to readers of The Queensland Times. Meet the winner and see why he is so successful.

Widely-loved Ipswich mechanic Trent Martin has made a name for himself in the industry as someone who genuinely wants to help his customers understand their cars and how to keep them in fit condition.

He has spent the past five or so years repairing and servicing the region’s vehicles, helping people understand the dos and do nots of car use through social media, and establishing a following of loyal motor-heads.

Now, the generous repairman of Trent’s Auto Repairs and Servicing has been voted by The Queensland Times readers as Ipswich and Springfield’s best mechanic for 2022.

After working in IT for years, and being “too broke” to afford a mechanic, Mr Martin, 29, said his love for working on cars began out of necessity.

“As a kid my parents wanted me to stay away from cars because they didn’t want me hooning around,” he said.

“I got charged a fortune to get my car fixed the first time.

“I was out of money. I couldn’t afford a mechanic.”

He said he felt like an “idiot” after finding out he paid a mechanic more than $300 to do something to his car that he could have done himself for about $40.

“A lot of mechanics do take advantage of people,” he said.

Mr Martin did not want other people to feel like he did after being “ripped off”, so he decided to leave his job in IT, complete an apprenticeship at Toyota, start his own business, and help others for a reasonable price.

He has even able to integrate his IT expertise with his new profession as many of the cars he works on are computer-based and it tends to overlap with his diagnostic work.

Mr Martin said that while his career as a mechanic began specialising in Toyota cars, he now works on “everything and anything”.

His favourite part of the job is helping people who have been stuck with the same issue for a long period of time become unstuck, while saving them money where he can.

“Everyone stresses about money nowadays and if I can help people out I will,” Mr Martin said.

The Ipswich community clearly appreciates his commitment to charging less than the average mechanic, with word of mouth seeing his business grow and customer base extend as far as the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

Mr Martin’s business is currently based at 84 Hall St, Yamanto, after he outgrew and left his smaller shop in November last year.

For more information about the products and services Mr Martin offers, visit his Facebook page here.