6 Ways to Avoid Getting Ripped Off at the Auto Repair Shop

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1) Ask questions...lots of them! If the shop or mechanic seems to get annoyed at you asking questions then go somewhere else. You need to find a repair shop that will happily answer all of your questions and explain every step of the process to your satisfaction. If they can’t or won’t do that then you would be better off finding one that will. If you are comfortable with the whole repair process then you won’t have to be stressed out the whole time your car is in the shop. Along with that, be aware of any mechanic or service advisor that tries to scare you into getting work done on your car. If they carefully explain to you why it is important to get specific work done without trying to be dramatic, that is a sign of a skilled mechanic. People who try to scare you into getting work done are probably trying to pad their paycheck.

2) Look for certifications. While it doesn’t necessarily mean that they aren’t a good mechanic, ASE certifications are the standard in the industry and if they don’t have them, I would not be taking my car there. Any good mechanic who has some experience and knows what they are doing will have multiple ASE certifications.

3) Always get a written estimate. Always! If you have it in writing then it is not likely that a shop will surprise you with charges that you didn’t know about. If they do then you can remind them of the estimate. Any good shop will call you if there is any changes that need to be made to the estimate and if there are then you need to get an updated written estimate. Be sure that you give a phone number where you can be reached whenever they need to call you. If your mechanic has to play phone tag with you for half the day it will take time away from working on your car. It puts the repair shop in a bad position when they have given you a time estimate, yet they have to wait a long period of time to even get ahold of you.

4) Ask about their warranty and make sure to get it in writing. Any good shop will have at least a 1 year/100,000 mile warranty on their work. Usually it will be printed on the invoice, but if it’s not be sure to get it in writing somehow.

5) Use the internet. If a mechanic gives you a diagnosis, even if you think they are probably right, go online and do some searches related to your car and that diagnosis. See what people are saying about it, get an idea of what might be included in repairs and the costs that might be incurred and see if what you find matches up with what the mechanic has told you. One word of caution though; be sure you are visiting good, reputable websites.

6) Don’t be afraid to ask to see your car. Look at it and what needs to be done, or what is in the middle of being done to it. If the mechanic is worth your money they will take you to your car and show you and explain exactly what they are doing and why they are doing it. Be sure to ask the service advisor what the policy is on customers seeing their car while it is being repaired before you agree to have them work on it.. Ask to see the old parts and see where the new parts have been installed if possible. Also, ask them to explain and show you (if possible) what was wrong with their old parts. Most mechanics like to show customers what is going on with their car and why. If they don’t then they may be hiding something.

A few other things to remember: If a mechanic tells you that your car needs any type of fluid flush or change every set number of miles, just go to your owners manual and check to see if that’s what it says. Owners manuals have a maintenance schedule that will tell you exactly what needs to be done to your car and at what mileage. If a service advisor or technician tries to tell you that it’s “normal” or “OK” for your check engine light to be on, he’s not telling the truth. If the check engine light is on it means that your vehicle's computer has found a problem in one of the systems that it monitors. It needs to be diagnosed and repaired. While it is true that not all check engine light problems need to be repaired right away, you should at least get it diagnosed so that you know if it is something that needs to be done right away or something that can wait. If you aren’t confident in the repair shop or if it’s a shop you’ve never been to it may be a good idea to get a second opinion. When you go to another repair shop for their diagnosis don’t tell them what the original diagnosis was or how much the estimate was. Have your mechanic drive the car with you before they begin work. If you are having a hard time describing the problem to them they take a quick drive with them so they can see or hear first hand what the problem is. Also after the work is done drive it around the block or a little further just to make sure the problem is gone. Plan for this time when you leave to pick up your car. That way if the vehicle doesn’t seem to be fixed properly you can take it right back and explain or just have them go for a test drive with you.

Steve Porter is a former ASE certified Master Automotive Technician. He is the founder/owner of http://www.myautorepairadvice.com/