Avoiding Car Repair Ripoffs

Even minor vehicle trouble is enough to send anyone into a state of panic. Car repair specialists have a reputation for being a little dishonest in some instances. And while the majority of mechanics are certainly honest and reliable, it’s important to note that there are still quite a few dirty dogs out there. Fortunately there are ways to weed out the bad and find yourself a quality service center with a solid reputation and a loyal customer base. In years prior, word of mouth was the king of referrals. And while it still holds quite a bit of salt, today more and more drivers are during to user-review and governments sponsored websites to help them avoid the scam shops. In this article we will offer up a few tips to help you find the honest and reliable car repair shop you’ve been searching for.

Step 1 – Get in touch with the Better Business Bureau. There, you can find out whether a business you are interested in has any validated complaints that have recently been filed against them, as well as whether the complaint was ever resolved with the consumer filing the complaint.

Step 2 – Hop online and find yourself a peer-review site. These sites afford users to search for various business types by topic. Once the search is performed, the site will return a variety of results for businesses that have been reviewed the most within that specified category. Here, you can research which companies have a solid reputation in your area, as well as those who could benefit from a little improvement.

Step 3 – Make sure to get a second and third opinion. Choose to go with the first mechanic who provides you with an estimate is a set up for failure. Though the first mechanic may be an honest fellow, taking the time to check with a couple other area shops will help you determine their intentions. If you find that each of the estimates you are provided with are around the same amount, then you’re likely running into a few quality mechanics. However, if you find that the estimates are all a little too high for your liking, there’s no reason why you can’t look into a few additional options.

Step 4 – Look up your warranty information. Even if you happen to own a used vehicle, you may still have coverage. In many cases, car owners will find that a fair amount of warranty coverage still exists.

Step 5 – Contact AAA. If you happen to have a membership, you can receive a free referral. All AAA mechanics are certified, and thus, you can rest easy knowing that the recommendation provided is likely a good one. A membership with AAA will also entitle you to free inspections, returns and estimates. If you find yourself unsatisfied with the service provided by the shop you are recommended, you can contact AAA. They happen to guaranteed to help you resolve any issue you might have with the service you receive.