Tips on How to Avoid Unnecessary Car Repairs
ROSWELL, Ga. - Having work done on your vehicle can be stressful if you don't know much about cars. Sometimes you can leave a repair shop only to feel like you're the one that's been taken for a ride.
Car repairs are never fun and for Elizabeth Yrizary having a mechanic that she can trust means the world. "Being an older, senior citizen now, I really need to have my car working well," says Roswell driver Elizabeth Yrizary.
Dennis Eidson owns Honest-1 Auto Care and he says he's familiar with mechanics who add on unnecessary and costly repairs.
"Being in the industry, I hear a lot of stories about places that seem to be trying to hit that home run," Dennis adds. "If a shop is recommending multiple repairs, push on them a little bit, say is that really necessary?"
Dennis says if a mechanic isn't willing to show you the problem, that could also be a red flag. "If a shop doesn't want to show you, If they just want to tell you over the phone or have you sit in the lobby, I'd be suspicious," Dennis explains. "I'd ask for more detail. I'd like to see pictures. Show me the busted part."
He says simple transparency can go a long way with customers. "I'm a big believer in show and tell. I like to show a customer when I tell them they need new brakes, I like to show them the brakes explain why they need new brakes. If they have an oil leak we want to show them the oil leak and the cause of the oil leak," says Dennis.
Technology for auto repair businesses from Virtual Vehicle M.D. even allows mechanics to email animations to you if you're not at the repair shop. "There's a lot of mystery out here and that's another thing we try to do is take the mystery out of car repair," Dennis adds.
And so far, that honest approach is working for Elizabeth. "I've taken my car to many, many places but I feel like these are the people that I can trust," she says.
Many auto repair shops are also catering more to women and mothers by offering playrooms or games and toys in the lobby. They're looking more at the overall experience these days.