Scam artists are everywhere, keeping an eye out for new victims that can fall into their trap. If you’re a new car owner, it is easy to be taken advantage of, especially if you don’t have much knowledge when it comes to cars. Some auto repair scams will rip you off with their high labor costs and other questionable tactics. What can you do to safeguard yourself against such scams? There are five good ways so that you won’t fall victim to auto repair scams:
Find yourself a local and reliable auto repair shop
Don’t just drive your car to the first auto mechanic shop you can find. They will know if you’re an easy target. What you can do is to do a little bit of research and find yourself a reliable company that can offer vehicle maintenance in Salt Lake City, Utah. You can use the Internet and check the website and reviews of local shops. You can also ask your family and friends for their favorite mechanic. This way, you’ll know which shops you can turn to even before you need their services.
Stay on top of your car’s repair and maintenance history
If you’re the first owner of your car, make sure to take note of every maintenance repair your car has gone through. If you bought a used car, it would be best if you could obtain the previous owner’s logbook. This way, you’ll have an idea of what parts are already repaired in the past and which are replaced and when. By keeping track of your cat’s history, you’ll get an idea if the shop is just trying to make more money out of you for unnecessary maintenance or repairs. You can even use a car maintenance tracking app to organize your records better.
Don’t hesitate to ask for a second opinion
Is the auto mechanic insisting that you require changing any car parts asap? Are they in a hurry trying to make you say yes to any repairs? Then chances are that they want to start taking the car in custody so that they can start making money even if this is not necessary. Simply tell them that you’ll think about it and ask for an estimate of all needed repairs. Then, take your car to another shop and let them check the car’s problem. Also, ask for the estimate and compare.
Ask to see the old broken parts and the ones they will replace
Some auto repair shops will trick you by saying that you need to replace a car part even if reality, there is no need for this just yet. What you can do is to ask them which parts need to be replaced. Ask to see your old parts as well. If you can stay while they do the replacement, the better. Tell them that you plan on keeping the broken parts, too. This way, you’re not leaving them any room to try one of the old tricks.
Your car is an important investment that deserves your care, regular maintenance, and repairs. But there are people out there ready to take advantage of clueless car owners. Don’t be a victim and learn how to protect yourself and your car from these scams. Keep this article and trust only a reputable shop when it comes to your car care, maintenance, and repair needs.
