Taking your car to the shop can be a nerve-racking experience. The costs associated with repairs, lack of automotive expertise, and relying on a mechanic to take care of everything are pain points for car owners.
There is also the stereotype that mechanics are going to take advantage of you.
Mechanics are aware of this stereotype, and many have taken the time to answer questions online to give tips to wary shop-goers.
We’ve collected tips from mechanics that will help you have a plan the next time you have to take a trip to the shop.
Tip: Ask, ask, ask for recommendations
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Interior of Messy Car Repair Shop — Image by © Helen King/Corbis
“Ask for recommendations, years in business, warranties offered, licenses, and the type of equipment used. Look for a clean garage. A floor cluttered with empty oil cans, worn tires, and dirty rags is a red flag.”
What is more powerful than word of mouth recommendations? You go to someone you trust, and they can give you the skinny on their mechanic. Today, the smorgasbord of online review sites available is another resource you should use. In addition to asking your friends and family, take to the internet and read the reviews. You can bet that people will raise red flags if they’ve had a bad experience at a shop.
Tip: The Job Will Almost Always Cost More Than I Said
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An auto problem is rarely an isolated one.
“Since it’s impossible to know everything that’s wrong with a car prior to working on it, the quote that you receive doesn’t include everything that needs fixing. If a part looks like it’s going to break next month, it’s going to get fixed. Also, there are certain parts that have to be repaired by law. If the part in question is going to cause you to fail an inspection, then it has to be fixed, too. Of course, good mechanics will let you know about the additional charges and work in advance. They will also let you know the consequence if the work is not done.”
via 290autobody
Don’t be surprised if there are other fixes to make. A vehicle is a mechanical system that relies on other parts of the system to work properly. If one part is acting funny, there’s probably another part acting funny too. This is where people feel like they are losing control. Be clear with your mechanic that you want to know about all additional work and cost in advance of the work happening.
Tip: The manufacturer knows best
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Manufacturer’s tend to know more about their own cars than independent mechanics
“Instead of asking for a shop’s 10,000-mile service package, pull out your owner’s manual and point out exactly what you’d like done. Forget about the alternate schedule for heavy-use vehicles, he adds. Though your mechanic may try to convince you otherwise, most drivers just don’t fall into that category, which is for drivers who drive off-road most of the time, or in temperatures below 10 degrees or in excess of 90 degrees.”
Familiarize yourself with your owner’s manual and read the manufacturer’s recommendations on scheduled maintenance so you don’t pay for service your car doesn’t actually need. When you start talking about miles driven in the tens of thousands, the large numbers can seem like something to worry about, but remember, vehicles are meant to withstand that wear. Don’t pony up dough for a service package without referring to your owner’s manual first.
Tip: Learn how to do basic things yourself!
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Learning how to do basic car maintenance can save you trips to the mechanic
“I definitely encourage people to learn on their own how things work, and how to perform basic maintenance. It’s a great way to get to know your vehicle, and it’s just good life knowledge. I hesitate just a bit though. I would also encourage you to have your car inspected once (at least) a year by professionals. It’s easy to miss something small when you’re changing your oil that could leave you stranded at a really bad time. Most repair shops do really cheap, or even free multi-point inspections. (I’m not talking about a Jiffy Lube or tire store, a real shop)”
You can save a lot of time and money by learning how to do just a few things yourself like replacing your air filters, checking your spark plugs or changing your oil. Here is a great Lifehacker article to get you started.
Tip: Don’t forget about your tires
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Don’t neglect common tire maintenance.
“Tires are one of the sneakiest ways to end up spending a lot of money on car maintenance. Not only can worn out tires create a dangerous driving situation, they can also lead to the car getting out of alignment and having more expensive repairs needed. Make sure to rotate your tires along with the recommended schedule and replace them when the tread is gone. Healthy tires make a good foundation for your vehicle to stay safe out on the road and will keep you out of the repair shop.”
Going to the shop for little things will save you from going for the big things. Paying attention to the health of your tires is a little effort that goes a long way. While you may not want to spend more time at the mechanic, being stranded on the side of the highway in the middle of nowhere makes that little shop sound like a Hilton, right?
Our thoughts:
We think it comes down to being educated about your car. A flat rate manual is a good place to start. Flat rate manuals are published every year by organizations like Chilton and Motor. These manuals give the estimates for: an average technician, with average tools, and the average amount of time needed to complete a specific job on a specific vehicle.
Dealers tend to know the most about vehicles they sell, but they can be more expensive. You can find some good independent shops, but they can be just as expensive as the dealer. As our head in-house automotive engineer says, “If you’re shopping for a bargain, you deserve to get ripped off.”
Here’s the bottom line about car maintenance: short-term service visits like oil changes and getting your tires rotated will save you in the long run. Go ahead and invest the money for maintenance and regular check-ups and you’ll have a better chance of avoiding those repairs that end up costing more than the car itself. Also, try to find a mechanic by personal recommendation.
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