Avoiding Auto Repair Scams

The best way to avoid auto repair rip-offs is to be prepared. Knowing how your vehicle works and how to identify common car problems is a good beginning. It's also important to know how to select a good technician, the kinds of questions to ask, and your consumer rights. If your car ever needs major auto repairs it shouldn't automatically mean that you must clean out your bank account. We have developed a guide to saving money on major car repairs.

How to Choose a Repair Shop

What should I look for when choosing a repair shop?

Ask for recommendations from friends, family, and other people you trust. Look for an auto repair shop before you need one to avoid being rushed into a last-minute decision.
Ask to see current licenses if your state requires repair shops to be licensed or registered. Also, your state Attorney General may know whether there's a record of complaints about a particular repair shop.
Make sure the shop will honor your extended warranty.

How to Find the Right Technician

Is one technician better than another?

Look for shops that display various certifications - like an Automotive Service Excellence seal. Certification indicates that the technicians meet basic standards competence in specific technical areas. Make sure the certifications are current, but remember that certification alone is no guarantee of good or honest work. ASE Certification

Repair Charges

If you need expensive or complicated repairs, or if you have questions about recommended work, consider getting a second opinion.

Find out if there will be a diagnostic charge if you decide to have the work performed elsewhere.

Shops that do only diagnostic work and do not sell parts or repairs will give you an objective opinion about which repairs you need.

Ask for a written estimate.

What should a written estimate include?

It should identify the condition to be repaired, the parts needed, and the anticipated labor charge. Make sure you get a signed copy.
It should state that the shop will contact you for approval before they do any work exceeding a specified amount of time or money. State law may require this.

What should I know about the parts to be repaired or replaced?

Parts are classified as:

New - Made to original manufacturer's specifications, either by the vehicle manufacturer or an independent auoto parts company.
Remanufactured, rebuilt and reconditioned Parts have been restored to a sound working condition. Many manufacturers offer a warranty covering replacement parts, but not the labor to install them.
Salvage - These are used parts taken from another vehicle after a crash or other totaled event. Salvage parts may be the only source for certain items but they are seldom guaranteed.

What do I need after the work is done?

Get a repair order describing the work done. It should list each repair, parts supplied, the cost of each part, labor charges, and the vehicle's odometer reading Ask for all replaced parts.

Preventive Maintenance

Many parts on your vehicle are interrelated. Ignoring maintenance can lead to trouble

What maintenance guidelines should I follow ?

Follow the manufacturer's maintenance schedule in your owner's manual for your type of driving.

A great way to avoid scams is have your car covered by an automotive extended warranty . The warranty company will help you spot any scams and the repairs are paid for by them and not coming out of your pocket.

I recommend telling the technician to save your old parts so you can inspect them after the work is finished. This way you know the parts were replaced and the mechanic didn't just charge you for phantom parts. Also with the repair order in hand call some local at part stores and ask what list price is for the parts listed on the repair order if they quote a list price around what you were charged then you were not ripped off. Remember list price is not what it would cost you to buy the part if you did the work yourself! Also make sure you are getting quotes for the same part the best way to do this is use the part numbers on the repair order. The reason for using part numbers is some vehicles have many different versions of the same part an example being brake pads you can have premium with an lifetime warranty and bargain version that you have no warranty at all. You will feel real bad if you accuse the mechanic of ripping you off because you got a list price for brake pads of $20.00 and he charged $35.00 but to find out you priced the bargain pads and he used the premium. I would also like to point out a problem with auto repair shops like Sears. When I was attending auto repair school I worked as an auto installer at Sears the money at the time was great for the employee working for Sears but it was not a good place to have your car repaired. This was around 1989 and Sears paid many fines for their business practices at the time but you should still keep a watchful eye out if having your car repaired at Sears. Sears was paying us at the time an hourly rate plus a commission on every repair we did. For example 4 new tires paid us $4.00 and a battery replacement was $1.00 so the more repairs we could talk a person into the bigger are paycheck. I remember some techs would put such a load on a customers battery that it wouldn't pass a load test let alone start the car again. They would call Mr. or Mrs. customer into the shop and perform the test in front of them again of course it would fail then in the next breath say "we have a great battery just for you only $69,99!" That wasn't all the service advisers were offered Caribbean cruises or Disney land trips just for selling a set amount of repairs. I don't know about you but if I was told my family could receive an all expense paid trip to see Mickey mouse I might sell a few extra repairs! If you find a good mechanic try and them an honest one will save you a lot of money in car repairs over the years.

As an added bonus to all my visitor's I will answer any auto repair questions you may have?

I am an ASE Certified Master Car and Truck Technician and would be happy to help you repair your car yourself or if you believe you are being scammed send me a description of the repairs your mechanic is saying you need and I will help you try and spot auto repair scams.

Car Secrets Revealed is a very good book for spotting repair scams and tips on getting the most for your dollar I highly recommend it to everyone!