ALT-8 What Women can do about getting Overcharged for Car Repairs
It is true that many mechanics see a woman and think "oh boy, easy money", yet I do not believe that a woman needs to bring a man with her.One of the first things a woman can do is the same thing I did as a teen with his first car. A mechanic will take just as much advantage of a teen as a woman. You may ask why this is. The answer is, because they think they can easily take advantage of a teens, or a woman's, lack of knowledge.The very first step is to increase your knowledge. Find someone you know that understands how cars work. Get that person to explain it to you. Pay attention, ask questions, take notes. You don't need to learn how to pull an engine out, but you can easily learn the basics. What is an alternator, and how does it work? Where is the AC compressor?How about the steering pump? Questions like this are important.The next step is to learn a few basic operations, such as checking your oil, how to add oil, and changing the air filter, Reading up on the subject helps immensely. The Internet is a great place to start, but since you are reading this, you know that already, don't you? There are many resources on the net to help the do it yourself-er, and those who aren't sure of how to figure out what is wrong with their car.Yet another great resource is an auto parts store. Most of the larger companies will find out why your check engine light is on, and possibly what needs to be done to fix it, for free!Now that you have armed yourself with a little knowledge, it is time to go to the shop. On of the problems with shopping around is that many places charge you just to find out what is wrong, but offering to deduct that charge if you get your car repaired there. Start somewhere that does not do this, get an idea of what is wrong, and what they charge. Then call around for an estimate of how much other places charge for the same job. You will need to know the year, make and model of your car, as well as engine size, whether it has power steering, AC, and whether it is automatic or manual transmission.You may be ripped off a couple of times, but you should soon be able to find an honest shop that will not rip you off. After doing that, TELL YOUR FRIENDS! The greatest reward an honest mechanic has to look forward to is a referral!Above all, make sure to avoid certain types of shops at all costs. Service stations next to the highway, with one bay, has its main business of preying upon those who have no other alternative because they are broken down, and need to get it fixed now. They tend to double or even triple standard charges. Also, sometimes too low of a price may be a sign a shop is desperate for business, possibly because of ineptitude. Check out their reputation well before trusting your vehicle to them. Unless your car is under warranty, the dealer should be avoided as well, as they usually charge way too much, but they tend not to do unnecessary work, so can be a good last option.Now that you have the start of the knowledge that you need, good luck, and happy hunting!
