At some point in time your classic car will need a repair, hopefully not a restoration, and the work is a bit beyond your skills as a DIY mechanic. So, we have a few tips to avoid repair shop cheats or even the local garage from taking advantage.
Auto repair problems make up the largest group of consumer complaints. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that consumers lose tens of billions of dollars each year due to faulty or unnecessary car repairs.
While most repair shops are honest, undercover car repair stings find dishonest auto mechanics and shops in most areas of the country.
It is very easy for an unethical mechanic to convince car owners that unnecessary repairs are needed because the average person does not know much about their cars. People often have no idea they have been ripped off by repair shop cheats.
This makes proving auto repair fraud difficult. Even those that suspect they have been scammed do not know what to do to make their case.
A trip to the mechanic is inevitable for any classic car owner, so it is important to make sure you are not getting cheated by yours and paying more money than you need to for a service. If you do not have extensive knowledge about car maintenance and want to make sure you mechanic isn’t up charging you for maintenance or giving you service you do not need, check out this list:
The Never-Ending Repair
Since most auto-repair shops charge in terms of labor, you must assess whether the repair job is really going to last if your mechanic says it will. For example, fixing an alternator can take either 2 hours or 6 hours, based on the actual issue. You can ask around in different repair shops to make sure you got the right estimate.
The Scare Attempt
If a mechanic inspects your car and utters something like “Jeez, I wouldn’t drive this car anywhere” with a frightening tone, you have been warned. This tactic is applied to pressurize you into leaving your car with them and paying more money for a longer service. If this happens to you, take a second opinion, and see if the issue is as bad as they say.
The Fishy Terms
If you hear words like “whole”, “full”, or “entire”, take them as red flags. A dishonest mechanic may use such terms to indicate a costly repair job.
The Unnamed Issue
Many people cannot differ between a radiator and alternator. Unfortunately, unreliable mechanics exploit such lack of knowledge. They may try to make you feel overwhelmed by saying things like “You won’t get it; it is too complicated.” As someone who is paying for a repair job, you have the right to know what exactly is wrong with your car, so get that explanation.
Discounts
If a mechanic tries to promote a discount or a limited time offer, something is amiss. For instance, a lot of times mechanics encourage you to top off all your fluids, although they are not needed in the first place. Be aware of your upkeep and what you don’t need to get done.
Emotional Play
Make sure that you are not bullied into using a mechanic’s service. Sometimes, they emotionally coerce you with a warning about potentially hurting your loved ones and family if you do not get a certain repair. If you get someone who tries to get personal, stay away.
Use of Brand-Naming
If you are unaware of car-related brands, a dishonest mechanic can try to rip you off by presenting certain car parts as higher quality than they are. When you are dealing with purchasing new parts or even after-market replacement parts, make sure to ask around or do a quick google search before committing.
Unnecessary Repairs
Some mechanics try to tinker with other components of your car and “fix” it. Thus, after the repair job, they also charge you with this new repair. If you ask questions they may try and tell you that it had a preexisting problem that needed to be fixed and they, did it as a favor.
Regardless, it can make you feel trapped in that payment. Make sure the service you want is the only service they are doing.
Refusal to Show the Old Parts
If a mechanic tries to offer excuses when you ask him to show your old, supposedly broken part, it is possible that there was never anything wrong with it in the first place. This is a sign that they are untrustworthy.
Finally
Unfortunately, there is no full proof method to avoid be taken by an automotive shop, but these tips to avoid repair shop cheats can help. Surveying shops for your classic car restoration is more complex since the money involved is much greater but see our other posts to get some helpful hints to guide you thru that process.
