Ways to Avoid Auto Repair Shop Rip-offs

Choose the Right Shop
 
Consumers have three basic choices when it comes to taking a car in for repair. You can go to the dealer, find a department or chain-store franchise like Sears or Meineke, or try an independent mechanic at a service station. Where you should go depends on what type of repair you need. But watch out: Mechanics in each type of repair shop will try to convince you that they are the best ones for the job.

New Car Dealers Warranty work should go to the dealer. That's where you'll find some of the best-trained mechanics for complicated jobs such as electric, chassis, fuel injection and engine work. But if your car isn't under warranty and you're paying for the repairs, you should think twice about having your dealer do the repair. Why? Dealers charge more, perhaps $5 to $10 an hour more for labor and a steep premium for factory parts at a dealership.

Department Store Chains — Common repairs and services such as brakes, tires, batteries, mufflers and oil changes — don't demand highly paid mechanics. If you don't have a mechanic you rely on, think of these as commodities, and go shopping for a good price at a convenient location. With mufflers, for instance, it's nearly impossible for dealers or independents to compete with chains. In suburban Detroit, Roy O'Brien Ford charges about $245 for a new muffler and exhaust system. Midas does it for $105. Be sure, however, to go to a chain that specializes in the repair you need. You probably don't want a brake-shop mechanic fiddling with your transmission, no matter how much he assures you that he can do the job.

Independent Shops — A mechanic you trust is worth a lot to you. So if you find an independent you're happy with, start there for routine stuff. Even if he charges a little more, the peace of mind is probably worth it. But beware: Independent mechanics may or may not know how to do more complicated repairs. Automobiles have become incredibly sophisticated in the past 10 years.

Dealers, on the other hand, are required by most manufacturers to buy such equipment. And their technicians are more likely to be trained in these complicated repairs. If you don't drive an American car, check out the so-called specialty shops that focus on only one or two foreign makes. Mechanics at these outfits are often as well or better trained than those at the dealer and they usually charge less.

Look Out for Unnecessary Repairs

In the late 70s the Department of Transportation found that 53% of the costs associated with auto repair were unnecessary. At the time, that translated into a $26.5 billion loss to consumers. Unfortunately, things haven't gotten much better since. Consumer activist Ralph Nader estimates that because the industry has grown so much, the total loss has jumped to $60 billion.

These fake repairs are the result of fraud. Some scam mechanics, for instance, have been known to plunk a seltzer tablet into a battery cell, causing it to boil over.

Crooked mechanics have been known to squirt oil on your shock absorber to make you think the seal is broken. Then there are the simple, everyday affronts such as the gas station attendant who doesn't push the dipstick all the way down when checking the oil, prompting you to buy an extra quart.

Being paid on commission is often at the heart of a repairman's urge to cheat you. This is what got Sears into so much trouble, when California accused the department-store chain of selling unnecessary auto repairs and service. Sears has changed its compensation system, but some other department stores have not followed suit Most often, however, "unnecessary repairs are really a matter of incompetence. When a repair baffles a semi-skilled mechanic, he will probably keep replacing suspect parts until the problem finally is solved. Many of the parts replaced have nothing to do with the problem, but you may wind up paying for them anyway.

Ask to see any old parts. Some states even require mechanics to give you any parts they have removed from your car unless the warranty requires they be sent back to the manufacturer. Check Your Mechanic's Certification.The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence certifies mechanics in eight specialties, including brakes, electrical systems, engines, and heating and air conditioning. Although auto mechanics must have two years of experience and pass an extensive standardized exam to become certified, an ASE sticker in your repair shop's window is no guarantee that the work will be done well.

Most repair shops hire both certified and uncertified mechanics. And only 20% of ASE mechanics are certified in all eight specialties. That means that when you bring your car in to fix an oil leak, a mechanic certified in air conditioning may be doing the work. He's certified all right, but not in what you need. Be sure to ask who is going to do the work on your car and what areas that person is certified in. You might also check to see when the certification expires. Mechanics are supposed to go in for a refresher course every five years, but the ASE can't make them take down their stickers if they fail to do so.

In addition, look for repair shops that are endorsed by the American Automobile Association. These facilities must meet rigorous standards and guarantee their work for AAA members. Also, AAA will arbitrate any disputes between its members and approved shops.

Get a Second Opinion

Most shops are looking to make sure that they can get as many repairs in their bays as possible. It's difficult to fully trust even a trustworthy mechanic. One solution to this problem might be to pay $30 or $40 to have your car checked at a diagnostic center that is not affiliated with a repair shop. A good bet would be one of the shops operated by the AAA. They have no reason to recommend unnecessary repairs. And you'll be armed with important information about your car's condition before you start negotiating with mechanics.

 If you feel the mechanic has wronged you, you can certainly take action. First, be sure to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and the attorney general's office so other consumers who check might benefit from your bad luck. Then, depending on the state you live in, you can get even more aggressive. In California, for instance, the Bureau of Automotive Repair mediates or investigates each complaint it receives. To check if your state has a similar agency, contact your state highway department. Finally, if the AAA endorses your garage, be sure to contact the organization. If your complaint is egregious enough, or joined by others, the garage may lose the AAA's seal of approval.