A body shop should not charge you just to give you a rough estimate on the cost to fix your car’s damages.
Can I ask a mechanic for a quote?
Under California’s Automotive Repair Act, you are entitled to: An estimate –
Before beginning any repairs, the auto shop must provide you with an estimate showing the estimated price for parts and labor and obtain your authorization
.
How many quotes should I get for a car repair?
How should you compare multiple estimates? Getting
three estimates
is generally a good idea because it allows you to get a better average range for the cost of repair. With three estimates, you can throw out the cheapest and most expensive auto repair estimate, then take the estimate in the middle.
Can mechanic charge more than quotes?
Typically, they can charge a LOT more IF you agree to it
. If you do not agree, they should not go forward and do the additional work for the additional charge. If the additional fee is for NO additional work, that is a major concern.
How do you know if your mechanic is ripping you off?
- Scare Tactics.
- Fixing the Body Paint. …
- Replacing the Air Filter. …
- Offering a Free Inspection or Tire Rotation. …
- Additives. …
- Not Grouping Repairs When Calculating Labor. …
- One Fix After Another. …
- Charging Full Price for Remanufactured Parts. …
Do estimates cost money?
Estimates are usually free for small, simple jobs like painting a bathroom
. A contractor will charge for an estimate for complicated, big projects that involve detailed designs and multiple plan revisions, such as building an addition to your home.
What should you not say to a mechanic?
Do mechanics give quotes over the phone?
Most reputable auto repair shops are put in a bind when asked to give a quote over the phone. Many customers tend to be afraid to come into a shop without having an idea of what a repair will cost.
How long can a mechanic legally keep your car to fix?
How long can a mechanic keep my car?
There is no legal limit
to how long a mechanic can keep your car. If you are unsatisfied with your service, you can always take your business elsewhere and try to find another mechanic.
Should I get more than one estimate?
There is a lot of advice out there that says
it’s best to get three or more estimates before deciding which auto body shop will fix your vehicle
. But this isn’t great advice. We recommend that you find a professional shop with experienced personnel and trust them to do the estimate – and the repair work – right.
Do mechanics lie to make more money?
Car mechanics are notorious for lying to their customers in order to gain extra work for things that don’t really need doing or for charging extra for things if they can tell someone doesn’t really know what they are talking about. Sadly, this can lead to people spending lots of money without actually needing to.
Do mechanics have to give you the old parts?
As the owner of the vehicle,
you are entitled to keep any parts that are removed from your car during a service or repair, regardless of their condition.
Can a mechanic keep your car Ontario?
Ontario Auto Repair Laws: What Happens if You Don’t Pay Your Bill.
If you don’t pay your repair bill, then your repair shop has the right to keep your vehicle
. If they give you your vehicle back and you still don’t pay your bill, then they are allowed to register a lien against your vehicle.
Can you negotiate with mechanic?
Most people simply don’t realize
they can negotiate auto repair work
. And while some itemized charges may stand firm (like some parts prices), others have significant wiggle-room (shop mark-ups are often as much as 200% to cover operations).
Should a customer pay for a auto repair that was misdiagnosed?
PSA: If a shop misdiagnoses your car and makes a repair that fails to fix the problem, they’re obligated to correct their mistake. Disclaimer:
You HAVE to request and pay for diagnosis for this to be valid
.
Why do mechanics charge so much?
Also, the cost of becoming a mechanic can be expensive.
Mechanics must put themselves through school and the common practice in the auto industry is for mechanics to supply their own set of tools
. “Every mechanic’s got at least $25,000 in tools that they own. They’ve had to pay for them themselves,” said Larsen.
What is a free estimate?
So it stands to reason that the definition of a “free estimate” when applied to the construction industry would be
an approximate calculation of the cost to complete the project, provided free of charge to the prospective client
.
Is an estimate the same as a quote?
When it’s not possible to work from a standard price list, you have to give a quotation or an estimate instead. The main difference between a quotation and an estimate is that:
a quotation is an agreed fixed price
.
an estimate is approximate price that may change
.
What is an estimate fee?
Estimated Fee means
the fee set out in the Engagement Confirmation which may change according to the actual work undertaken (and Products provided)
.
Is it rude to call a mechanic for an update?
Calling Repeatedly for Updates
As the old adage says, patience is a virtue. More often than not, your mechanic isn’t hiding anything from you; they’re simply busy working on your vehicle or someone else’s.
Calling repeatedly can slow them down and ultimately take longer for you to get your car back
.
Do mechanics make up problems?
Unfortunately,
some honest mechanics will exaggerate a legitimate problem in order to convince a skeptical owner that the problem really does exist
. Even worse, a shady mechanic may point out a problem that doesn’t exist!
Why are car dealership service rip offs?
Dealerships don’t profit on extensive operations like replacing engine blocks, transmissions or other large components
. These require expensive parts, and the mechanics take longer to finish them. So while you pay a lot for these operations, the service department doesn’t make much off them.
What do you say when you call an auto shop?
- Provide information to the mechanic in regards to what you are experiencing and when it happens. …
- Let the mechanic know if you want something in particular checked. …
- Ask for a written quote that includes labour, parts, fluid costs and any additional fees.
