Most mechanics are honest, but as is the case with any profession, there are some unscrupulous individuals who will bend the truth to fatten their wallets. Because of these bad actors, many consumers are skeptical about bringing their car to a repair shop.
And for a good reason. If your mechanic is dishonest, there are various ways they could be ripping you off, and you’d never even know it.
If you’re visiting an auto repair shop, you probably don’t know cars from bumper to bumper (or maybe you don’t know cars at all). Dishonest repair shops might take advantage of your limited knowledge by ripping you off in one or more of the following ways.
At most dealerships and independent shops, employees are encouraged to look for items they can upsell to customers. For example, while your vehicle is in for an oil change, the mechanic might notice a leaking radiator hose that the service advisor will try to sell you.
In general, upselling isn’t a problem, as long as the recommended repairs or services are legitimate. After all, if your mechanic spots a problem with your car, you’ll want to know about it.
But when a shop tries to upsell unnecessary work, that’s a different story. Shady repair facilities often try to pitch services—such as flushes that the vehicle manufacturer doesn’t recommend—or repairs that aren’t needed.
Another way a repair facility can rip you off is by overcharging for repairs. Nearly every job has a standardized labor time (known as a “book time”), which shops can access through online databases. The book time is generally regarded within the industry as the amount of time a customer should be charged for a particular repair.
Some repair shops disregard or alter the book time, though, in an attempt to overcharge customers for labor. As a result, you could, for example, end up paying for five hours of labor when the job only takes two hours.
Dishonest shops can also charge you too much for parts. Of course, all repair facilities mark up their parts to some degree, but there’s a difference between making an honest profit and gouging customers.
Unfortunately, some shops don’t have the desire (or the skills) to diagnose a vehicle properly. Instead, these so-called “parts changers” take their best guess at what’s wrong with your vehicle—and if they’re incorrect, they still stick you with the repair bill.
Because cars (especially modern ones) are difficult to diagnose, no mechanic will hit the nail on the head every time. But when a shop doesn’t bother to troubleshoot your vehicle properly, that’s a rip-off in its own right.
Perhaps the most significant rip-off is when a repair shop charges for work they didn’t even complete. For example, they might tell you they changed your spark plugs or air filter without actually replacing any parts—and you’ll have no clue the work wasn’t completed.
Do you have a sneaking suspicion that your mechanic is ripping you off? If so, you might want to consider doing the following:
Here are some of the things you can do when a body shop rips you off:
Assessing the situation means taking a step back and determining whether the body shop ripped you off or if the shop naturally charges higher than usual for all its services.
Ask help from someone who’s more knowledgeable about these things or go to another repair shop for a second opinion.
Contact the business and talk to them professionally about the situation. After all, you’re still dealing with humans who could’ve made an honest mistake during the entire process.
If they did, you can have your money refunded or ask the shop about other options you can take to make things right.
The last thing you can do is reach out to consumer protection agencies, like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or your state Attorney General’s Office. These agencies can help you remedy the situation, although the entire process will require paperwork on hand to support your case.
If you paid with your credit card, you can contact the company to dispute the charge. Just be sure to have the receipts to support your position.
The easiest thing to do to avoid getting ripped off is to do your research. Being knowledgeable about the process of certain parts and repairs means you’re less likely to fall for scams. You also won’t fall easily for high-sounding words.
Similarly, you could always visit a trusted mechanic, whether it’s a personal friend of yours or a family friend who’s been around for years. In addition to not getting ripped off, you may even get discounts.
Another way to avoid getting ripped off is to select a shop with a good reputation, such as those that you can find using CarParts.com’s expert installation service. All of the repair facilities within our network have undergone an extensive screening process, so you know you’re getting honest service—every time.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.