Choosing the Right Auto Repair Shop 101

We’ve been talking about auto repair rip-off avoidance in the past as a better option compared to having the need to fight off a rip-off after it has occurred. And, I’ve also stressed out several times how important finding a good shop is—it’s still the best way to have a good auto repair experience and avoid repair problems.

Here, we take a look again at the things you need to consider when looking for a good shop to entrust your car to:

1. Certification

Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is a basic seal or certification that you need to look into when it comes to the mechanics handling your car. If you’re looking at the entire shop, check out for the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence, a proof that at least 75% of the techs working in the shop have ASE certification. Next week, we’ll look at a list of certifications that you can look into as proof of a shop’s excellence and reliability.

2. Record

When it comes to shop records, the Better Business Bureau is an institution that can help you. Whereas the certifications mentioned above will give you proof of excellence and skills, institutions like the BBB will tend to provide you with a complete picture that considers the overall attitude of shop mechanics. Any complaint about the shop, you will find here.

3. Specialty

We’ve already talked about skills and attitude, now let’s move on to expertise. I remember mentioning once that auto repair shops are not know-it-all. Even the most general shop will have shortcomings in terms of the automotive systems that they can handle. So, if you have a car problem that requires specialty, choose the shop that can deal with the problem well.

With these three things in mind, you’ll be a step ahead in your search for the right auto repair shop.

Coolant Flushes: How Necessary? How Often?

Next to an oil change, a coolant flush is probably one of the most commonly offered services in an auto repair shop. And, it is one service that sometimes lends itself as a tool for a rip-off.

For one, many shops charge a very high rate for a coolant flush. I’ve heard of a shop that charges around $115 for the said service, saying that the job consumes a lot of time to finish. In reality, it’s a pretty simple job that even average car drivers can easily accomplish on their own. Of course, you just have to be careful in handling the coolant.

In other instances, some shops would recommend the service even if it’s not yet time to flush the coolant. They’ll look at your car and inspect it according to the problem that you mention, and just tell you that you also need new coolant. As a car owner, it’s your responsibility to know when the correct interval for changing coolant in your vehicle is. The absence of knowledge can easily lead you to take on the suggestion of your mechanic even if it’s not yet really time for a coolant flush.

Aside from the knowledge of the correct coolant interval in your car, you also need to be familiar with the type of coolant that is in your vehicle. There’s a new “breed” of coolant nowadays that requires a longer time to flush, unlike the usual ethylene glycol. If you have the coolant whose change interval is 100,000 miles, you will need less frequent coolant flushes. Check out the information in your car manual to learn more about the correct flushing interval. This knowledge can help you save a lot on car maintenance and automotive services while also making you less prone to automotive rip offs.

The Secrets Surrounding Auto Repair Shop Work Set Up

Money is the driving force behind all (or most) of the auto repair rip-offs taking place today. And sad to say, many auto repair shops are even promoting an environment that makes rip-offs one of the easiest options for its technicians and mechanics.

Most of us are familiar with the flat rate, a paying system that demands consumers to pay according to the number of hours that the book says, regardless of the actual number of hours consumed in the repair. Although this is reasonable (after all, a good, experienced, and fast-working mechanic deserves a good pay), it is often abused by mechanics who want to earn more, rushing the work, which results in poor repair.

And, with some (or most) shops requiring quota from their technicians, these individuals are even more tempted to rush the job just so they would reach their target and not get in trouble with their boss. In many instances, the said quota doesn’t consider the skills of the technicians—it stands the same whether the tech is skilled or not. So, woe to the customer who is assigned a technician who is unskilled, and whose only hope at meeting the quota is to rush the work even though the result becomes poor.

If you think these are serious enough, then wait until you hear this one more. I’ve heard about a shop that offers incentives on its mechanics for selling a service that sells low on usual days. While this may be valid, this system led to mechanics misleading customers into believing that their car needs the said service even when it really doesn’t—all for the sake of the incentive that was being offered by the shop.

You see, some of the practices mentioned above are actually implemented not for the purpose of ripping off car owners. However, they create an environment that gives way to the latter. And while we cannot control these, all we can do is be careful.

The Effects of Auto Repair Rip Off: More than Just the Expense

Auto repair rip offs leave a bad taste in the mouth for many reasons, foremost of which is the ballooning cost that these demand from car owners. But, while the focus has always been on unnecessary and huge repair expenses, there are actually more to these illegal practices. Other than the money you spend for nothing, there are other crucial concerns. Check these out:

1. Safety

Shoddy automotive work can mean premature part damage, non-functioning components, and unexpected system failure—and all these can lead to accidents. If the rip off had been done on a repair involving a crucial system like the brakes or the steering assembly, you’ll never know what might happen while you’re driving on a busy highway.

2. Convenience

Poor repair would almost always result in the failure of the part or assembly involved, and this would just mean the need to return to the shop, or to another repair facility—wasting your time, effort, and energy. If you’re going on a long travel, the sudden breakdown of the parts would mean a lot of trouble for you.

3. Trauma and stress

Most individuals who have experienced an auto repair rip-off become traumatized after the incident, especially if there’s harassment or outright hostility involved. It’s no wonder many people view the auto repair industry with disfavor—because of these incidents. Some people even reach the point of dreading instances of going to auto repair shops, fearing that they’ll encounter an experience similar to a past one.

So you see, the effects of auto repair rip offs reach far and wide—these effects go beyond the money involved. And sad to say, the positive elements of the industry and the picture of honest mechanics are losing the limelight, replaced by those of the unscrupulous individuals who take advantage of unsuspecting car owners.

A Tale of Auto Repair Scam

I came across this story online just recently, that of a man who has been sentenced to prison after being found to have scammed insurance companies. The style was typical, only he was not directly ripping off the customers and car owners who came to his shop—he was ripping off their insurance companies.

Robert Buckingham of the Robert Christopher Collision practiced the fraud from 2005-2006. Some of the things he did are as follow:

1. He exaggerated the damage of cars brought to his shop in order to get more money on insurance claims.

2. He claimed for payment on new parts despite the fact that he used old parts on the cars brought in for repair.

3. In a similar manner, he claimed for payment on replacement parts when in fact he just fixed the damaged parts on the cars of his customers.

4. He filed insurance claims for repairs that were not actually finished.

It was found that Buckingham committed the fraudulent act together with other employees working in the facility. Some of these employees have already admitted to the act and were given their respective sentence some years ago. The case includes five vehicles, and the insurance companies involved are New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance, Travelers Auto Insurance, Selective Insurance, and Mercury Insurance. The defendant pleaded guilty to the fraudulent act.

As a result, he has been sentenced to three years in prison, and possible fine for civil insurance fraud. As of now, a complaint is also filed to ask for the forfeiture of the property utilized by the facility.

You see, auto repair rip offs and fraud can take on many forms, but they’re all the same any way you look at them. And, it’s a good thing that people are starting to take action about this situation.

Friday’s Advice: Finding Areas to Reduce Expenses on Car Repair (A Review)

Who wants to reduce their expenses on car repairs? For sure, everybody does. But, who’s making a way to get that reduction? Chances are, not all do. Or, not all are aware that they can.

I’ve already talked a lot about auto repairs, rip-offs, avoidance, and ways to save on repairs. In this post, I just want to sum up all that I’ve mentioned before to give concrete examples of ways to save on auto repairs.

1. Recall and TSB

These I have mentioned in my last few posts. By being aware of recalls issued on your car, you can save on repair costs. On the other hand, being aware of issued TSBs can save you on unnecessary expenses due to wrong diagnosis and incorrect repairs.

2. Replacement parts

By being resourceful, you can find ways to save on the part that you mount as a replacement. Although some shops will not allow you to buy your replacement on other sources, there are shops that allow this set up, and this is a great way to save on repair costs.

3. Labor

When it comes to labor cost, there is a so-called flat rate or a book rate, which means the shop bills according to the manufacturer-indicated amount of time for the specific repair, regardless how long the actual repair takes. Meanwhile, a straight hour rate is a rate based on the actual amount of time consumed to do the repair.

4. Work done

To reiterate, you can save a lot on auto repairs by being a DIYer. By familiarizing yourself with the automotive basics, you will not be totally dependent on auto repair shops when it comes to problems, so you won’t have to shell out cash every once in a while.

With all these means, it would be easy to save more on auto repairs.

Differentiating Between a Recall and a Technical Service Bulletin

During the last two days this week, we’ve been talking about recalls and technical bulletins as things that all drivers need to know when bringing their car to a shop, and a means to reduce repair expenses. Recalls and TSBs, however, are two different things.

RECALL:

This is issued by a manufacturer either voluntarily or due to a demand from the NHTSA. The latter is usually issued when the problem is deemed to affect the safety of the car occupants while the former is issued as determined by the manufacturer. When a recall is made, you would have to bring your car to the dealer to have it repaired.

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN:

TSBs are similar to recalls for the reason that they are also issued by manufacturers and they also concern problems reported by consumers. Only, this bulletin is drawn primarily as a guide to dealerships and auto mechanics in performing common repairs—contrary to recalls, whose main aim is to ask owners to bring their car to the dealership for a fix to the problem. TSBs only serve as guides to make diagnosis of problems easy, especially problems that are a headache to diagnose.

COST DIFFERENCE:

The biggest difference (and the most relevant) between the two is in terms of cost. Whereas a recall automatically means the repair to be done is free of charge (or reimbursable), this is not always the case with a TSB. If your car is still under warranty, then the repair cost is free. But, in case it’s already out of warranty, then you’d have to pay for the repair. The only benefit you’ll get here (aside from avoiding more serious problems and accidents because you’re informed), is that you won’t have to deal with too long a diagnosis because you and the mechanic will know what to do at once.

A Look at Recalls, and How They Can Benefit You during Auto Repairs

Auto repairs are becoming more and more expensive at present. And when you add in the cost of replacement parts, it’s no wonder many car owners dread going to auto repair shops these days. You should know, however, that there are certain areas in auto repairs in which you could save. All you really have to do is to be resourceful.

One way to save on car repair is to check out for TSBs or recalls made on your car make and model—some of these might be related to the problem you’re having, the reason you’re bringing your car to an auto repair shop. And if this is the case, then you won’t have to spend on the repair.

The repair related to the recall is done for free. Notices of recalls are actually sent to car owners. But, in case you haven’t received any, it pays to still check.

Auto repair shops are tasked to check whether the problem you’re having in your car is related to a recall or TSB. It should be listed in the repair order as a recommended repair. However, not all mechanics may do this. Some will charge you for a repair even though it’s part of a recall.

Because of this, it’s a good idea to do the checking yourself. This way, you avoid chances of being charged by a shop on a repair that you could have availed for free. You can check online for notices of recalls and TSBs. You can visit the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a list.

In the next posts, we’ll try to take a closer look at recalls and technical service bulletins and differentiate the two. We’ll also find some answers to possible problems that might arise in relation to this issue.

Some Small Things to Remember When Visiting an Auto Repair Shop

Since the beginning of this blog, we’ve been talking about auto repair rip-offs and unscrupulous practices by some automotive mechanics. Other than avoiding rip-offs, however, I figured it’s also a good idea to talk about improving our overall auto repair shop experience, not only in terms of the financial side of the matter but as well as the overall ordeal.

The overall shop experience of car owners is defined not only by the major and obvious things, but as well as by the small stuff during your shop visit. And to ensure that you’ll have a good auto repair shop experience, there are some things that you need to keep in mind. Three of these are as follow:

1. Set an appointment before you go to the shop. Similar to many other types of appointment, visiting a shop entails that you call first and check availability of mechanics during the schedule that you prefer. After all, there’s nothing more annoying than driving to the shop and wasting your fuel only to find out that no one in the shop is available to work on your car.

2. Shops can’t solve all your automotive dilemmas. Sure, most shops can handle general repairs and simple automotive and installation jobs, but there are jobs that require specialization and may need shops specializing in the said task. There are only a few shops that can handle everything, so it pays to shop around before bringing your car to a particular repair facility.

3. Don’t expect the worst. You may encounter shop mechanics who will make the real problem seem a little bit more serious, for the sake of urgency and upselling. But don’t give in to these. Investigate and inquire until you see the real scenario.

By keeping all these things in mind, you can expect comfort and peace of mind during your shop visits.

Some Hard Facts You Need to Swallow When You Bring Your Car to a Shop

Auto repair rip-offs are becoming more common these days in the auto repair industry. Other than this, repair rates are also getting higher. There are things, however, which you may find hard to accept but are actually acceptable trends that have developed in the said industry over the years. There are also certain truths about rip-offs that may sting, but are worth considering. Take a look at these:

1. When you bring your car to a shop for repair, you don’t actually pay just for the repair. In reality, the total amount that you pay does not cover the labor and parts alone. For one, there’s tax. Added to this, the fact is that a portion of your payment is also for shop tools, another portion is for the operating maintenance of the shop, and so on and so forth.

2. When you pay for a certain task, you don’t pay for the actual number of hours consumed to do the work; you pay for the projected number of hours for that work. This is the case with many shops. For every kind of task, the car manufacturer estimates the number of hours needed to accomplish the said task. And, it is in that on which many mechanics rely. For instance, if the manufacturer of your car says that replacing its alternator can be done for a couple of hours, the mechanic will charge labor for two hours, even if he was able to finish the task in less than that amount of time.

3. If you’ve been ripped off, you’re part of the blame. This may sound cruel, but in most cases this is true—you have a teeny tiny bit of percentage of blame for what happened. In the first place, you should know enough to watch out for things like rip-offs. You should familiarize yourself with your vehicle. And you must shop for a trusted shop. But whatever your mistake here, you can rectify by complaining about the shop who did the rip off. That’s the first step.

The Right to Complain

Sure, many mechanics are dishonest. Many shops are out to rip you off. And many car owners have been victims of these mechanics and shops. There’s just one question that you have to ask, though: what is being done about this? Well, there are institutions that help victims deal with problems with auto repair shops.

You have to understand, though, that everything should come from the end of the car owner. The mentioned institutions won’t be able to do anything if the car owners will not cooperate and take the lead. The first thing to do about this is to merely learn to complain and to fight for one’s rights. Complaining is actually the key.

This is where the difference lies. In actuality, there are a lot of auto repair rip offs happening today. But, not all of these rip-offs are known to us. Why? Because not all of these are reported. Because not all individuals complain. Because not all car owners resolve to fight for their rights even if they find out they’ve been ripped off. And as long as the situation remains like this, nothing will happen; the practice will continue.

So, as a car owner and as a customer, you must recognize your right to complain whenever you become unsatisfied with the service that you have received. I have already talked about the proper way to complain in one of my previous posts, and that can serve as your guide so that you’ll get desirable results. Remember that by complaining, you do not only get justice; you also bring to light circumstances like this and you help other victims get justice for themselves.

So speak up and assert your right. This is not only a benefit that you can enjoy but also a responsibility on your part.

Putting a Shop to the Test

Not sure whether the auto repair shop that you’re eyeing is a good pick? Are you worried that the said shop might be similar to many others out there when it comes to their unscrupulous practices? Your feeling is but normal, due mainly to the great number of mechanics out there who are dishonest. So, it pays to be cautious when you’re dealing with a mechanic, especially one that you’re not sure of or one that you have not tried before.

Not many people may think of doing this, but you can actually test the shop that you’re considering to determine whether it’s a good choice or not. As I’ve mentioned in one of my previous posts, it’s not a good idea to entrust a major job to a shop you have not tried before. So, start with a small task.

I’ve heard of someone who marked the filter of his car and brought the car to a new shop for a filter servicing. After the job, the person received a bill which includes a charge for the new filter. However, upon checking of the filter, he was able to determine that it was the old one, because the mark that he made was still there.

Well, average drivers will not have any idea that their car’s filter was never replaced, since many also rely on the words of their mechanic alone. Can you imagine just how many customers the said shop might have deceived? If the person never did anything, he might have entrusted his car to the said shop, even when it comes to major repairs, and suffer more rip-offs and problems in the long run.

Therefore, it really pays to be always on guard when dealing with a shop, first time or not. By thinking ahead and being ready, you can avoid dilemmas and headaches.

Mechanic Rudeness and Inefficiency

Many of us have had our share of nightmares when dealing with auto repair shops and shop mechanics—from mechanics that will perform unneeded repairs just to charge a higher fee, to those that will tell you they’ve replaced a part even if they actually didn’t, and those that will perform a repair that you did not permit and then charge you for it later on. Other than these, however, there are also mechanics who are outright rude to their customers.

I have a buddy who once encountered a mechanic that performed a wrong job, and then threatened him when he complained about the job. Some mechanics use physical intimidation to get away from their deeds, and many poor customers give in to this tactic, suffering from unsatisfactory service and sometimes, even more damage and expenses than what was originally present.

Some mechanics are merely irresponsible, leaving their customers hanging when they leave an automotive job while it’s not yet done. And the result? Well, the poor customers are left without a car for several days. Others are merely inefficient, repairing a car, only to cause more damage and then make excuses, telling the customer that the new problem is totally unrelated to the first one.

Most unscrupulous mechanics choose their victims carefully. They get easily rude to people they think will not stand up to them. Others may simply be enjoying the feeling of being in control, especially if they encounter a customer who knows nothing about his vehicle and who solely relies on the mechanic’s words.

And sometimes, mechanics get away with these because customers don’t complain. As a good advice, customers should always be assertive and should know their rights. And when a problem happens, there are always institutions to which one can file a complaint against the erring shop or mechanic. 

Friday’s Advice: Additional Tips When Doing an Auto Repair Shop Shopping

I’ve mentioned this several times—the first step to avoiding an auto repair rip off is to find a reliable and trusted auto repair shop. And in the first posts in this blog, we’ve discussed some ways to find a good shop, one that will not rip you off and one that you can trust when it comes to all your auto repairs.

In this post, we’ll talk about some more additional tips for you when shopping for an auto repair shop to help you find a good one. Here are a few:

1. ON SHOP REPUTATION: Other than getting references from family and friends, you can refer on the local consumer protection agency in your area for information on the repair shops that you are considering. The agency can provide you information whether the shop has a clean record or whether it has complaints from previous customers.

2. ON SHOP NEGOTIATION: If you are asking around for rates, it might be a better idea to contact shops by phone instead of doing an actual visit. Why? Well, if you are easily swayed by sales talk, you will be at a disadvantage once you visit shops because it’s harder to escape. When you call, on the other hand, it’s easy to just say no politely and then hang up on the phone when the shop personnel start persuading you.

3. ON SHOP COMPETENCE: If you are looking for a shop that can take care of your car not only for the specific repair that you need but for all other repairs that your vehicle may need in the future, it is a better idea to find a shop that specifically works on your vehicle make and model. This way, you have a better chance of avoiding troubles in connection with make- or model-specific problems.

With all the tips mentioned above, you’ll have no problem finding the right auto repair shop that can keep your vehicle in top shape.

Examining Diagnostic Fees

So you bring your vehicle to an auto repair shop to determine the cause of a particular problem that your car is experiencing. The mechanic takes a look at your car, hooks your vehicle to a computer for a scan, and then tells you the cause of the problem—giving you repair options and their corresponding amount. You think you’ll be able to fix the problem yourself, so you decline. Then the mechanic gives you the bill: a whopping $100 for the diagnosis! Should you or should you not pay?

Almost all auto repair shops today charge a diagnostic fee on top of the fee for the actual repair. And in reality, this is valid. You need to pay for the service (the expertise and training) of the mechanic who did the diagnosis. Mechanics compare this to paying for a doctor when you go in for a consultation. In some instances when you let the shop do the repair, it can just include the diagnostic fee on the entire fee for the repair done. In cases when the diagnostic done was just a simple one, the shop owner can also decide not to charge for the diagnosis—but that’s up to the shop owner.

In the end, it still pays to shoulder a diagnosis fee if only to be sure that the person handling your vehicle is someone who is an expert at what he does and someone who is capable of determining the real problem of your ride. If you want to avoid an exorbitant diagnostic amount, you can do your shopping in advance to find the usual diagnostic rate. You can also ask the shop in advance before the mechanic tinkers and does anything with your vehicle. This way, you won’t have to deal with surprises when you finally get the bill and you see a three-figure amount for a simple diagnosis.

Getting a Second Opinion on Repairs

One sure way to protect yourself from possible car repair rip-offs is to shop around for auto repair prices and for car shop mechanics. If you’re bringing your car to a shop for a repair and the mechanic gives you a quote, you can ask around from other shops until you find the cheapest price. The same goes true for vehicle diagnosis and repair. A second opinion is important.

I can never stress this enough. Sometimes, it’s the best door that you have towards finding that the mechanic that you have chosen was only trying to rip you off all along. So, don’t hesitate to get a second opinion from another mechanic when needed.

According to professionals, a second opinion is needed if you are spending more than $200 on car repair. That is a big amount, so you need to be sure that you’re spending it on something worthwhile, something useful. Another time to get a second opinion is when you bring your car to a shop for a particular repair, and the mechanic gives you a litany of other repairs that your car needs. That, and similar incidents that may indicate that you are being ripped off—all these warrant a second opinion from another professional.

Remember, though, that you also need to protect yourself from rip-off when dealing with the second mechanic from which you’re trying to get another opinion. Never ever tell the second mechanic about the diagnosis of the first mechanic and the price that the mechanic has given you. In fact, you don’t even need to tell him that you’re there to get a second opinion. You don’t want to be giving him ideas, do you?

A second opinion is a powerful tool when it comes to auto repairs. In fact, it’s one of the most common suggestions of automotive experts to those who bring their car to auto repair shops. By asking and shopping around, you get away from big chances of being ripped off. 

What to Do if a Mechanic Lien is Placed on Your Car

So you have brought your car to a shop. And for some reasons, the repair price climbed higher and you ended with a huge debt that you are unable to pay. The next time you know it, the shop has already placed a mechanic lien on your car. What should you do now?

1. The most obvious thing to do is, of course, to pay the amount that you owe the auto repair shop. If you think there is some form of fraud or rip-off behind the very huge amount being asked from you, you can file a complaint afterwards. As I have mentioned in my last post, leaving your car in the property of the shop could have more expensive consequences—storage fee.

2. If you cannot pay the entire amount just yet, you can negotiate with the shop and ask for a feasible payment plan (i.e. installment) until you are able to pay off the entire amount. Most shops will agree on a settlement in order to avoid more complications. Some of them, however, may charge you for such things as the legal fees incurred in the processing of the lien.

3. Find a counsel who can help you do the best move to handle the situation. If you are not very familiar with how the system works, it would be to your best interest to have a specialist handle the situation. A lawyer can tell you the best thing to do, and he can even find a loophole in the lien placed on your car, which may result in the lifting of the lien.

A lien placed on your car could be a source of serious headache, but know that there are certain things that you can do to get out of the situation. Just follow the tips given here to make everything easier.

Mechanic Lien Part II: Storage Fee

As mentioned in the last article that I posted, a mechanic lien is mainly a shop’s tool in holding a customer’s vehicle in case the customer fails to render payment for a performed repair. But, while holding your vehicle until you give payment may be bad enough in itself, there’s actually something worse: storage fee.

There are shops that charge vehicle owners with a fee for the storage of a vehicle that is kept in the shop because of a lien. So, while you may be trying hard to earn the money to pay for the repair done to your car and finally drive your vehicle home, the amount that you need to pay is continuously accumulating because you are sort of renting the shop for keeping your car.

And, this is not good news. Some shops charge a very high storage fee—one hundred dollars per day. In fact, there are instances when the storage fee equals, or even exceeds, the actual amount that you will need to pay for the repair of your vehicle. This is the reason why it’s never a good idea to have a mechanic lien placed on your car. If you can avoid this at all, do so.

Or, you may want to just pay the shop upfront and take your car home with you, then just contest the repair amount charged to you afterwards. This way, no matter where the case takes you, you don’t have a storage fee to worry about. Other than this course of action, there are other steps that you can take to deal with a mechanic lien when one is placed in your car. The next article will discuss the options that you have and the different actions that you can take if you happen to be in this situation.

A Look at a Mechanic Lien

You’ve heard of a written estimate and an order repair, but are you familiar with a mechanic lien? This is often a part of the repair order, but not many car owners and drivers pay attention to this when they sign any document upon bringing their car to an auto repair shop.

But what is it, really? And what is its purpose? Well, a mechanic lien is a form of a legal document that gives mechanics and auto repair shops the guarantee that their customers will pay the due repair amount. The lien states that the mechanic or shop has the right to keep the car in case the customer fails to render the proper payment. This means the customer cannot bring the car home until the time he pays his debts to the shop. In other instances, he may be forced to sell the car just to pay the amount he owes to the shop or mechanic.

Filing of a mechanic lien is done in court, and this will entail money as the customer may also be asked to pay for the legal fees incurred in the process. Other than this additional payment, the customer may also have to pay for the car’s storage fee (to be discussed in the next article), so he’d have a lot more amount to think about at the end of it all.

Today, the term “mechanic lien” is also used in many other properties other than vehicles. It works the same, and its purpose is similar. If you happen to have brought your car to a shop and the shop places a mechanic lien on it after the repair because of certain reasons, there are some things that you can do to remove the lien—watch out for the next two articles for more discussion on this.

Written Estimate and Repair Order

When you bring your vehicle to a shop for a repair, there are certain procedures that you have to follow and observe, and some of these are so important and you should not neglect, or they may cost you a lot. One that you should pay attention to is a written estimate and a repair order.

I’ve mentioned these in some of my posts before, but what are they really? And how important are they when it comes to auto repairs? Well, written estimates and repair orders are sometimes used interchangeably, but they actually have some shade of difference.

A written estimate is one that you ask from a shop mechanic before he makes any attempt at doing your car a repair. After a car inspection and diagnosis, the mechanic will tell you what the problem is and how much it would probably cost. But, don’t take your mechanic’s word for it—ask for a written repair estimate. Although a written estimate is not fixed and will not indicate the final amount that you will have to pay, the final price should not be too far off from this estimate. Should the amount go much higher than this and you feel like there’s a rip-off that happened, you can use that estimate to contest.

Meanwhile, a repair order is like the official receipt that states everything—from the work that was done to your car, to the parts that were replaced, as well as the cost of the repair. Everything should be tallied down. In many instances, the repair order will also contain your car’s odometer reading before and after the repair.

It is important that these documents be signed by both parties, as these could be useful should you have problems with the shop or mechanic after the repair.