Have you ever been to a mechanic and wondered about the price you were quoted or the amount you paid because it seemed too high based on prior trips to the mechanic? Have you ever wondered why when your husband takes a car to the garage the prices seem much better than when you do? Ever get different quotes from different mechanics for the same thing?
Naturally it is quite understandable that there can/will be some difference in quotes from different mechanics. One may have a slightly lower labor rate than the other. One may use better quality parts. One may use a cheaper parts distributor. It isn’t all based on the mechanic either. Maybe your friend had the same issue in their car but your car manufacturer didn’t consider repairs and to do the same job half your engine needs to come out, with half your savings account.
So yes! prices can vary but when your mechanic charges you $300-$500 more for a job than other places a red flag immediately goes up as that is a huge difference and not your typical pocket change.
Here at MSN Autos, they post a nice article called “10 Tips to Avoid Auto Repair Rip-Offs“. It is definitely a worthwhile read and may stop that mechanic from trying to squeeze a few extra bucks out of your pocket.
In summary the 10 tips are:
- Get everything in writing: What is to be done, what is included and how much it will all cost. Eliminate wiggle room and make sure it includes everything needed. Always ask how much it is going to be for the complete job including any extras.
- Don’t be Oversold: If you take your car in for one repair, don’t let them sell you on a long list of repairs. Get a second opinion.
- Get on a Schedule: Follow your manufacturer’s recommended schedult
- Follow Recommedations: If your mechanic tells you anything other than the manufacturer states, beware. Whip out the owner’s manual on them.
- Communicate Clearly: Make sure the mechanic understands what you need done and that he explains what exactly he will be doing.
- Go for a Drive: If it is something that happens in certain scenarios take your mechanic for a drive to show them. A good mechanic will gladly go to hear that odd noise at 32.5mph in hot weather only.
- Get to know your mechanic: One good way to keep from getting scammed is to find a shop you trust and go there, even for routine maintenance
- Avoid tow troubles: A good shop works with a towing company meaning no money out of pocket when you need towed.
- Try them out: Try the shops out, the most convenient isn’t always the best. Start with a small job to see how they treat you, if its clean, if the mechanics are certified etc…
- Look for signs: Is the shop AAA certified? Look around for a sign that says AAA-approved auto repair.
- Get a guarantee: A good mechanic will stand behind his work so ask for a guarantee and get it in writing and find out what it covers. For a newer car it may be worth paying a little extra at a dealership for the big jobs so if something goes wrong you can hit any dealership anywhere.
Apparently MSN can’t count. They say 10 tips, but I counted 11. Then again that one really isn’t much of a tip.
If you run into a problem with a shop try and work it out. An honest mechanic will make it right. If it doesn’t work out then you can report them to the Better Business Bureau. Also if you are a AAA member and the shop is AAA approved, the association will step in on your behalf sending their own ASE Master Technicians to inspect.
Tags: auto repairs, rip-offs, save money, tips
