This is what happens when you let your piggy bank go on Pimp My Ride. (There’s an espresso machine and a video game console around back.)
And the good news is, the money-saving advice doesn’t come from me. (As the girl who forgot to put on her emergency brake in a parking lot—more than once—I’m pretty sure I was the first one mechanics were ripping off.) It comes from the trusty kids over at Mint.com. (We talked about them earlier here.)
Here’s a slightly abridged version of their breakdown. (Read the full version here, if you’re feeling ambitious.)
A Reputable Mechanic Should Provide
- ASE or AAA certification, and/or a state license, which is required in many states
- A clean garage, free of empty cans, dirty rags, and old tires
- A friendly, polite staff that communicates well
- Before service: an itemized bill with a written estimate for repair work
- After service: a detailed invoice of work done and parts supplied
Related: Don’t Fall for These Sneaky Marketing Tricks While You’re Shopping
How to Approach a New Mechanic
- Get a recommendation. Ask someone with a similar income level and car if they have a good relationship with their mechanic. Don’t ask a friend who has a car or lifestyle that’s very different from yours.
- Use the owner’s manual. This manual is your most valuable defense tool when visiting the mechanic. You should never, ever walk into a mechanic and say, “I need a tune up.” This is an open invitation to charge you up to $1,000 for miscellaneous unnecessary services. Go by the services in your owner’s manual. Most list the necessary services according to the mileage on your car. Just saying something as simple as “I need my 30,000 mile service,” shows your mechanic you are informed and not someone he can easily take advantage of.
- Get an estimate. Before service, make sure your prospective mechanic gives you a detailed parts-and-labor estimate so you’ll know exactly what he plans to do and what went wrong if you have a post-service failure. Never accept a verbal estimate or a sheet of paper that says something unspecific like, “Fix Car - $800.” Make sure you sign the itemized estimate and walk away with a signed copy.
- Ask questions. Never be afraid of asking questions such as “Do I really need that?” or “I don’t see any symptoms of failure. Is work on that part absolutely necessary right now?” If your mechanic makes a generalization like, “The part is old,” ask for details. Find out if it’s leaking, losing pressure or what the specific problem is. Then ask to see the part. A good mechanic should be able to physically show you the problem with the part on your car or explain it to you by using a removed car part. Similarly, if the price quote sounds expensive, tell the mechanic what you were hoping to spend and ask him if you can get by safely with a less expensive job.
- If you think the job sounds expensive and your car seems to be working fine, get a second opinion.
Check out these 20 ways to live rich on less money!
Common Traps
- Drastic statements like, “We need to tow your car out of here because we don’t want to be responsible for you driving it,” are almost always a scam. If you drove your car into the mechanic with no issues, most likely you can drive it away from any threatening advice without any problems.
- Coolant and power steering flushes are common services some of the larger mechanic chains will propose in order to make money. Check your owner’s manual to see how long your fluid is supposed to last so you know if your mechanic’s suggestion is warranted.
- Do your research before having a catalytic converter or other emissions part repaired. Some of these pieces have a very long factory warranty including free replacement of covered parts.
- A muffler that lasts a lifetime does not exist. Many of the larger companies give you free replacements and make their money on expensive exhaust system repairs.
- The $55 brake pad job is also a scam, nine times out of 10. No shop can make money on a $55 dollar brake pad replacement job. It’s an excuse to suggest the replacement of other parts such as brake rotors when you don’t need them.
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And to avoid landing in the mechanic’s shop in the first place ...
Keep Up on Car Maintenance
- Get regular fluid changes as per your owner’s manual. This includes oil as well as brake, windshield and coolant fluids.
- Replace the air filter when needed or suggested in the owner’s manual.
- Keep tires inflated properly for your safety. Check once a month and before long car trips to make sure your tires have a little bit less than maximum pressure.
I know, I know. It’s a ton of info. But I didn’t want to leave
anything out—it all seems important!
Do you guys ever get the sneaking suspicion you’re being ripped off
by your mechanic? Is anyone badass enough to make repairs herself?
Anyone ever tried to buy a car alone? (I did. Until I
brought my dad, they kept showing me the cup holders and automatic
windows!)
