Seven Red Flags Your Mechanic Is Ripping You Off and What You Can Do About It
A UK drivers survey reveals that 23% feel taken advantage of during car servicing, and 25% feel anxious about entering a garage. To help consumers avoid being ripped off, Ovoko compiled seven red flags indicating a dodgy mechanic.
Flag 1 is a failure to explain the problem simply; customers should avoid garages that use excessive jargon or provide evasive replies. Flag 2 is refusing to provide a written estimate, which is recommended for any work beyond a basic service.
Flag 3 warns of wildly varying estimates between visits; large swings in labour or repair costs suggest inconsistent pricing. Customers are advised to keep records of previous quotes and repairs. Flag 4 involves pushing for immediate repairs; beware of high-pressure tactics and claims that it is dangerous to shop around.
Flag 5 concerns not showing you the parts; refusing to show or disposing of parts can indicate nothing was replaced. Flag 6 relates to finding 'urgent' problems during a routine service; customers should request to see each issue, take photos, and seek a second opinion if costs exceed their car’s value.
Flag 7 is about expensive parts; customers are advised to request itemised estimates separating parts and labour and compare with baseline online prices to detect inflated pricing.
For disputes, Citizens Advice provides a complaint template. Paying under protest can preserve the dispute. Customers may consider resolution through the garage’s trade association or an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme. In England and Wales, court claims are limited to £10,000 with a six-year time limit.
