Is Your Mechanic Trying to Sell You Something You Don’t Need?

Here is how to know…

Have you ever been taken for a ride at the mechanic? You know how it goes, you’re there for an oil change and suddenly they’re attempting to sell you new shocks. Or you want your tires rotated, but they say you need new rotors. Sound familiar? If this has ever happened to you – you’re not alone. That’s why a lot of consumers dread walking into the mechanic, unless you know a lot about cars, you’re at an immediate disadvantage.

That’s the difference between an honest and dishonest mechanic. If you take your car to someone you know and trust, you should feel comfortable with their diagnosis. But if it’s someone you don’t know and have never used before, you have every right to be skeptical. In fact, experts say you should be skeptical.

Here are a few things to look out for.

Vague Explanations

If your vehicle is suddenly making a strange sound or there is an obvious leak of an odd colored fluid on your driveway – you’ll need to get the car looked at. After an initial assessment, the mechanic should be able to explain to you – in simple terms – what the problem is. Be leery if he or she starts using complicated car jargon. It’s probably an attempt to intimidate you and ultimately, take advantage.

Won’t Show You Old Parts

A good, honest mechanic will hand over your old, dirty filters when performing a simple oil change. They should be giving you all your old parts when doing a repair. If the mechanic refuses to hand them over, you could be getting charged for parts they didn’t replace. Ask to see them.

The Flush and Top Off Trick

Sometimes your car does need some coolant or a power steering flush but it’s often unnecessary. This is just an easy way for the mechanic to make some extra money off you. Be skeptical if he or she tries to upsell you on flushes and top offs every time you’re there. Don’t be afraid to look under your hood and check your own levels. It’s not that hard and your owner’s manual can walk you through the process.

The Scare Tactic

If your mechanic uses language like, “I wouldn’t drive another mile in this car,” or “I wouldn’t feel comfortable letting my own mom get behind the wheel of this vehicle,” be wary. Don’t be afraid to tell them you want to get a second opinion. You should never feel pressured into making a costly repair you aren’t comfortable with, especially when the mechanic is trying to scare you.

The bottom line is this: it’s your car, your decision. If your gut is telling you something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t. Even though you may not know a lot about cars or car repairs, you should still trust your intuition. It’s always a good idea to get a second, or even third opinion. And once you find a mechanic you can trust – stick with them.

A vehicle service contract from Protect My Car can help cover the cost of your repairs. In fact, you could pay as little as $100 dollars for that $5,000 engine replacement.

For less than the cost of a cup of coffee each day, you can get coverage for your:

• Steering
• Suspension
• Engine
• Transmission
• A/C and Heating
• Navigation and Electronics
• …and so much more.

When you walk into the repair shop with a coverage plan from PMC, you can rest assured that you will never pay for the repairs listed here. You pay a deductible in accordance with your plan, just like insurance, and we pay the rest.

Visit our website or give us a call at (800) 253-2850 for a free quote on the plan that works best for you and your car.