Car Repair Red Flags - Advice on How To Keep Estimates Fairly Priced to Maximize Auto Repair Savings
UBMI Publications
October 11, 2010
More info click here: www.reliantvs.com
Most of the time car repairs are an unexpected occurrence. When they do happen it can be a large unplanned expense that hits the average person hard, especially in these tough economic times. Unfortunately the average person really knows very little about how or why repair shops charge what they charge. Unless you have an expert walking you through your repair, such as one of our experts at Reliant Vehicle Services, it will be difficult to keep your auto repair costs low.
We asked some of our ASE Certified mechanics to provide some red flags for the average person to watch for on their next auto repair estimate to keep the price tag low:
• Lack of specifics – beware if a shop simply says that certain parts have to be replaced, but they don´t say, either verbally or in writing, exactly and specifically what part(s) failed. Remember, many times you do NOT have to replace an entire part to fix a problem. For example, you may just have to replace one small part of a transmission rather than the whole transmission itself. Beware of a shop that simply says "you need a new transmission" without providing specifics as to why. What part inside the transmission failed? Can that part be repaired or replaced on its own?
• Recommendation for replacement of multiple parts – beware of a shop that says you may have a problem with one part but you should replace all the other similar parts. For example – you have noise from the right front of your vehicle and the shop says it´s a problem with your right front ball joint. Then on the estimate you notice recommended replacement of ALL 4 ball joints. This is typically not necessary and is more of a standard upsell tactic.
• Recommendation for replacement of a large number of different parts – beware of a shop that recommends a large number of replacements/repairs, especially when you came in for something rather simple. For example – you take your car in for an oil change and all of a sudden they are saying you have a problem with ball joints, and with your a/c system and with your suspension items and with your emissions components, etc., etc. This is a very common upsell tactic.
• Beware of a shop that says they "won´t work with" this company or that company, especially if they refer to warranty or service contract companies. Typically warranty companies will hold shops to a certain "reasonable" cost level, but some shops do not like that and will refuse to work with such companies. This should be a big red flag to a customer as it should demonstrate to them that the shop wants to charge whatever they want without being questioned about it.
Remembering these few red flags can end up saving you a great deal of money on your next car repair.
Some repair shops are not always as upfront on their repair estimates as we would like them to be. Another option for the average person now is to have one of our expert mechanics at Reliant Vehicle Services review your estimate and guide you through your repair. Our people are expert mechanics and can help save you money, or at the very least assure you that you are being treated fairly. For more information, visit www.reliantvs.com or call 1-888-376-4450.
Most of the time car repairs are an unexpected occurrence. When they do happen it can be a large unplanned expense that hits the average person hard, especially in these tough economic times. Unfortunately the average person really knows very little about how or why repair shops charge what they charge. Unless you have an expert walking you through your repair, such as one of our experts at Reliant Vehicle Services, it will be difficult to keep your auto repair costs low.
We asked some of our ASE Certified mechanics to provide some red flags for the average person to watch for on their next auto repair estimate to keep the price tag low:
• Lack of specifics – beware if a shop simply says that certain parts have to be replaced, but they don´t say, either verbally or in writing, exactly and specifically what part(s) failed. Remember, many times you do NOT have to replace an entire part to fix a problem. For example, you may just have to replace one small part of a transmission rather than the whole transmission itself. Beware of a shop that simply says "you need a new transmission" without providing specifics as to why. What part inside the transmission failed? Can that part be repaired or replaced on its own?
• Recommendation for replacement of multiple parts – beware of a shop that says you may have a problem with one part but you should replace all the other similar parts. For example – you have noise from the right front of your vehicle and the shop says it´s a problem with your right front ball joint. Then on the estimate you notice recommended replacement of ALL 4 ball joints. This is typically not necessary and is more of a standard upsell tactic.
• Recommendation for replacement of a large number of different parts – beware of a shop that recommends a large number of replacements/repairs, especially when you came in for something rather simple. For example – you take your car in for an oil change and all of a sudden they are saying you have a problem with ball joints, and with your a/c system and with your suspension items and with your emissions components, etc., etc. This is a very common upsell tactic.
• Beware of a shop that says they "won´t work with" this company or that company, especially if they refer to warranty or service contract companies. Typically warranty companies will hold shops to a certain "reasonable" cost level, but some shops do not like that and will refuse to work with such companies. This should be a big red flag to a customer as it should demonstrate to them that the shop wants to charge whatever they want without being questioned about it.
Remembering these few red flags can end up saving you a great deal of money on your next car repair.
Some repair shops are not always as upfront on their repair estimates as we would like them to be. Another option for the average person now is to have one of our expert mechanics at Reliant Vehicle Services review your estimate and guide you through your repair. Our people are expert mechanics and can help save you money, or at the very least assure you that you are being treated fairly. For more information, visit www.reliantvs.com or call 1-888-376-4450.
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