As a motorist, you need to be constantly aware. This time, we aren’t talking about avoiding accidents on the road, we’re talking about auto repair scams that could happen to anyone. If you don’t currently have an honest auto repair shop that you can trust, there are a few things we want you to know before your next major repair service. When you’re educated and aware of your vehicle’s needs, you’ll be less of a target to those places that may try to scam you. While we certainly hope that they are few and far between, we are saddened to admit that there are still repair shops out there looking to take advantage of your trust and your wallet.

Some of the things that may happen when it comes to auto repair scams include, but are not limited to:

1. Padding charges and inflating prices. While repairs are often expensive, some shops will present the final bill above and beyond what the estimate was. Or, when you sign the estimate, the mechanic may not even put a total on that blank. Pay careful attention to this and avoid paying an inflated amount that you weren’t told about.

2. Repairs you don’t need. This one happens too often. You go in for one auto repair service and learn that your vehicle needs other repairs, too. Sometimes these mechanical issues exist, and sometimes they don’t. Knowing a little bit about vehicles and repairs can help you avoid this.

3. Watch for counterfeit or used parts. Some dishonest shops will charge for new parts but give you used. This is more than an ethical issue – this is also a safety issue!

4. Poor work, or no work at all. Be sure the work was done and done well. You can, and should always ask to see it what was done.

5. Watch out for specials and hooks for maintenance. Dishonest repair shops advertise super-low prices on specific repairs or check-ups and then use these specials to bait their customers. A simple oil change and lube job can turn into expensive and unneeded repairs.

If you’d like to learn more about how to avoid being the victim of an auto repair scam, you’ll want to click here. This is a great article to help give any driver a little bit of knowledge that could go a long way. It is our goal to help you stay safe on the road and to focus on customer service, so that you trust us and we can do our job on your vehicle. Stay safe out there and avoid auto repair scams!