auto repair cost

If you were handed an estimate to replace a water pump on your car, would you know if the price was fair? Could you trust the price? How about for a tie rod end, mass air flow sensor, or an evaporative emissions sensor?

Most of us don't know what these are, never mind the price. Yet it is components such as these that are commonly used to over charge you, the car repair customer.

We no longer live in an age of trust, so how do we ensure that our auto repair costs are legitimate.

How many times have you suspected that you paid too much, but couldn't prove it? How many times did the price seem exorbitant for even simple repairs?

To illustrate just how "At Risk" the everyday auto repair customer is to excessive car repair prices, here's a recent real life example from a "reputable...?" dealer.

A client brought her Audi to an authorized Audi dealership for a standard timing belt maintenance service.

The price for this service averages $1575 at the dealership level, (including pulleys, water pump...etc) and about $1275 at the independent repair shop level.

Yet the woman left the dealer with a bill for $2025.68.

What happened?

According to the repair order, there were no abnormal circumstances, no problems noted by the technician such as rust or any other extenuating circumstances that would have perhaps increased the labor, or added additional parts.

In short, it was a straight forward service, but the bill was $450.68 higher than it should have been. There is simply no legitimate reason to have "that much" discrepancy.

Auto Repair: How to Replace an Alternator Belt

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How'd they get away with it?

The answer is very simple, and it's a point that I don't want anyone to miss:

They get away with it because they can!

Think about it. The average person doesn't know how much auto parts cost. And who knows how much labor time a repair should take? To what sources does one turn to find out this information? Who even has the time to investigate!

Upon examination of this woman's repair order, it was found that she was charged a full 4 hours "more" than the standard labor time. At $100 per hour, this added an additional $400. The remaining $50.68 came from the parts, which were billed higher than MSRP.

She was quoted $2,025 for a repair that tops out at $1575. The woman didn't know. She just paid the bill and left.

How many times do folks just pay the bill and leave? Pretty much that's all one can do given that there is no accessible information for the car repair customer to adequately question a repair bill. Furthermore, very few even know what questions to ask!

The auto repair industry has been over-charging for decades-sometimes subtly, sometimes boldly, definitely frequently. The evidence for this is overwhelming; yet, there are no easy solutions available for the car repair customer.

Government agencies can't help. The Better Business Bureau can't do anything. Even supposed "car repair experts or advocates" lack the understanding of the breadth and insidiousness of the car repair business at all its levels.

A dealership operates differently than an independent repair shop, and a franchise, like Midas, is totally unique. Who really knows what goes on in the underground of such a diverse and complex industry?

The Solution?

First and foremost, car repair customers need access to information on car repair prices. Without this, they've got nothing tangible in which to determine fair charges. They also need to be able to navigate the maze of parts and labor charges for car repairs and maintenance.

Like everything else, information is the key to ensure fair treatment. Without it, the car repair customer will continue to "swim with the sharks" without any protection.

Theodore Olson

Getting your vehicle repaired is a great choice in our uncertain economy. It can actually save you time and money. However, knowing where to take your vehicle for repairs is a hard choice. You want to be sure that you are getting quality repair at a fair price. There are many things to look for when choosing an auto body repair shop. If your vehicle is in need of repair find out how to choose an auto body repair shop for your vehicle.

There are many different services that can be performed on your vehicle as far as auto body repairs are concerned. Many auto body shops offer a variety of services that include paint touch up, paintless dent removal, bumper repair, wheel rim repair, windshield repair and much more.

You should start looking by asking around or dropping into local auto body repair shops in your area. Ask to see what kind of work they perform, how long it will take to complete the repairs, how much it will cost you to get the work completed, and the kind of process they use to repair vehicles, and anything else you feel is important to your specific needs.

Here are a few more things to look for:

If and when you are looking to get your vehicles auto body repaired you should take the time to select a great auto body shop for repair. You will want to choose a shop that offers a wide variety of services. That way all of your auto body needs can be met at the same place and handled by the same qualified professional. It will save you time and money getting it all done in one spot.

One thing to check is how long the shop has been in business for. This is not a sole indicator, but if the shop has been in business for some time chances are they are reliable and should do a good job on your vehicle. Don't choose a shop that has secured a bad name for their shop. Also, if you were to have any problems down the road you want to be sure that they will be around to uphold any warrantee or guarantee that they will most likely give you.

Also, make sure that you approve of the quality of work that the auto body shop produces. You want to get the repair done the right way the first time. It is perfectly acceptable to ask the shop to see examples of the work they have previously done. This will give you the best idea of what to expect.

Even though quality is one of the biggest things you are looking for, you will want to get a good deal. Don't just choose the first shop that you like. Look around at others and compare all aspects of them and then choose the one you feel is right for you and your vehicle.

Take the time and find the right auto body shop for your vehicle!
Auto body repair and painting at Precision Collision

Samantha McCartney