Wrenching decisions
How to avoid scams and find a reputable auto mechanic.

by Doug McPherson You probably spend more time driving each day than anything else. Showing homes, going to listing presentations, attending closings, picking up signs—many agents say their true office is their car.

So taking care of your “office” is a must if you’re going to offer reliable service to your customers. But keeping your car in shape isn’t always easy. Scams lurk everywhere and finding a good mechanic can be tough. In fact, the Texas attorney general’s office reports that it
had 1,665 complaints about auto repair shops since January 2002.

Know the law
The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices/Consumer Protection Act (§17.46) includes some sections
that deal with auto repairs. Under this law, it’s illegal
to knowingly make a false or misleading statement about the need for parts, replacement, or repair service; say that work has been done or parts replaced when that statement is false; and represent that goods are original or new when they’re secondhand or refurbished.

Those prohibitions are exactly the kinds of scams unethical mechanics will try to pull on unsuspecting consumers. Here are some tips to protect yourself:

• Keep all maintenance records. You’ll know what’s been done and what hasn’t been done. This can help you spot someone attempting to convince you to pay for a part or service that you don’t need. Also, become familiar with the schedule of maintenance in your owner’s manual. It shows you when certain parts need to be inspected or replaced.

• Ask to see the parts. Tell the mechanic that you’d like to see which parts he intends to replace—the old ones on the car and the new ones he’ll install—and ask him to show you the new ones once they’re in place.

• Get a written estimate. When you take your automobile in, get a written—not verbal—estimate that identifies the parts needed and the anticipated labor charges. The estimate should also state that your approval is needed for any work exceeding what’s on the estimate.

Read the signs
Austin Davis, Houston-based author of What Your
Mechanic Doesn’t Want You to Know, looks for what types of vehicles are around the shop. If a garage has a lot of
older service trucks or government vehicles sitting around, he says, “The shop might not be up-to-date on the training and tools needed to repair most newer cars on the road.”

On the other hand, if the shop looks busy with new cars in the service bays, Davis says that could indicate that the shop is good at what it does and qualified to repair some of the newer, more-complex vehicles.

Look to see if a garage displays membership in the local Better Business Bureau. This may not mean the shop has never had a problem, but members can’t let problems with customers linger. Carrie Hurt, president of the Better Business Bureau in Austin, says, “We can revoke their membership if they don’t resolve issues.”

Notice if a shop possesses certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). While a mechanic without such certification may run a fine business, the ASE certification shows that a reputable agency has certified the garage’s practices, according to Davis.

You can also call the Texas attorney general’s office at
800/621-0508 to learn if anyone has filed complaints against a garage.

And like real estate agents, garages get a lot of business from referrals, so ask around.

If you don’t frequent a trusted mechanic, find one today. Don’t wait until you need a garage. “That way you can avoid being rushed into a last-minute decision,” Davis advises.

Doug McPherson is a freelance writer based in Centennial, Colorado, and the former editor of Colorado REALTOR® News. You can reach him at wordpub@aol.com.

Photo © Corbis Images.

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