Most mechanics use scare tactics to make you cough up more money. If you’re not careful, routine maintenance on your car could end up costing you an arm and a leg. You don’t have to know how to fix a car but there are things you can do to avoid getting duped by your mechanic. Here are some things your mechanic won’t tell you.
- Ask For Old Parts Back
Always ask for the old parts back after a repair. This confirms whether the mechanic really replaced them and whether they were worn out. Additionally, some insurance companies may ask you to bring back the old parts if you take your car to a different mechanic.
- Ask To See The Problem
Mechanics will try to add and more problems than your car actually has. You have a right to confirm whether the problem is real or not. If you’re not comfortable with their recommendations, you can take your car to another mechanic.
- You Can Change The Oil On Your Own
As a car owner, there are some things you should be able to do on your own. For instance, you can change your own oil. This is usually part of your car maintenance routine. However, if you can do it by yourself, it can save you unnecessary expenses at the garage. Check out tips on How To Maintain Your Car
- Synthetic Oil Costs More
Mechanics will always try to sell you something more expensive than the ordinary product. For instance, they may tell you that synthetic oil is better than regular oil. Though it might be true, they might not tell you that it costs way more than regular oil. As such, you should always ask the price before committing to something.
- Take A Test Drive
Most mechanics won’t tell you if they were unable to fix something. Therefore, it’s up to you to do your due diligence to avoid being double charged. Always take your car for a test drive before leaving the repair shop. Don’t take your mechanic’s word for it lest you end up bringing your car back after a few days.
- Repairs Can Cost Double The Initial Price
Sometimes, the mechanic may encounter an unexpected repair that has to be done. You should always go to the garage expecting to pay slightly more than the initial repair cost. However, a good mechanic will try as much as possible to stick to the estimated price.
- Get A Second Opinion
As mentioned, don’t be quick to agree to everything your mechanic says. Just like a medical diagnosis, try to get a second opinion on your car status. Don’t tell the other mechanic about your first diagnosis and compare notes between the two recommendations.
- Mechanics Guess A Lot
Mechanics have better knowledge about cars but they may not be able to identify the exact problem with your car. As such, they’ll do what they know in hopes that it solves the problem. Additionally, it’s easier for them to just guess than perform the lengthy steps to get a proper diagnosis. You shouldn’t be surprised if the problem persists after you’ve taken your car to the repair shop.
- It Might Take Way Longer To Solve The Problem
Nobody wants to hear that they may have to leave their car at the garage for weeks. As such, your mechanic may not be honest about this. They may also delay repairing your car toto justify the high costs. For an unsuspecting car owner, you may end up paying more and staying without a car for longer than you should.
- All Brakes Are Not Equal
You shouldn’t skimp on parts like brake pads since cheaper ones are likely to break down quicker. Some mechanics may charge for the price of the expensive ones then use cheaper ones. As such, ensure that your mechanic uses high-quality parts even if it means purchasing them yourself.
*Make sure you are there when any parts are being replaced because sometimes even if you have bought quality new parts the mechanics can switch and use older parts or inferior parts and keep your new parts to sell to other customers.
Check out 6 Simple Tips To Keep Your Car Running And Looking Like New.
For the ladies check out these safety tips – Safety Tips For Women Driving Alone, At Night And/Or Long-Distance
