More than one time in a lifecycle of your car, you would have to bring it to dealership, independent garage or service station for car maintenance or repair. When that time comes, be sure that you could communicate your issues and demands clearly, if you don’t want to pay extra for problems that properly don’t even exist at all.
Philkotse has gathered 6 simple tips so that you can avoid getting ripped off on your next auto repair.
1. Get to know your car
You need to make sure that you know all the basic information of the car (such as model, mileage, and service history). If you don't have a good memory, keep the previous repair bills for later reference.
You need to make sure that you know all the basic information of the car
2. Read the original document of the car thoroughly
The manufacturer is the one who understands the car best, so there would be nowhere else better to look for useful instructions for your vehicle’s maintenance, replacement and inspection. The more you know how your car works, the less risks you get ripped off by your auto mechanic.
The more you know how your car works, the less risk you get ripped off
3. Show your confidence as coming to garage
When you give an impression to the mechanic that you have knowledge of the car, they will have to think twice before giving any unnecessary repairs for your car.
4. Always require a preliminary inspection before repair
Never forget to ask the mechanic for a preliminary inspection and list of replacement parts before actually having your car repaired. You need to know in advance what they are going to do with your car so as to decide if you really want them to do so.
Mechanics Ripping People Off
5. Have a general idea of how much it might cost before going to the auto repair shop
When you take your car to a first-time repair service, you will probably be fooled by some of their tricks. It will be better if you can refer to your friends, relatives, and colleagues for a reliable shop and ask them in advance for an estimated price. And if you do not have much experience, it'll be a smart decision to go to authorized dealership with fixed quotation, however, of course, the price is certainly proportional to the reliability.
It will be better if you can refer to your friends, relatives, and colleagues for a reliable shop
6. DIY auto repair for some simple bugs
In fact, there are some car problems that you could have it done by yourself with simple tools like windshield wipers, air filter replacement or oil change to reduce expenses. However if you are not confident of your ‘technical skills’, don’t ever try it.
There are actually some car problems that you could have it done by yourself with some simple tools to reduce expenses
>>> Click here to see 8 basic car maintenance tips every driver needs to know
