Getting the news that your car needs an expensive repair is never fun, but it’s even worse if you’re not sure your mechanic is being honest with you. The risk of overpaying — or, worse, paying for a service your car doesn’t even need — can cause instant anxiety, especially if you don’t know much about cars. All the while, your technician is waiting for you to let them know if they can go ahead with the repairs. These are common feelings experienced by auto owners every day.
Is it wrong to be skeptical of your mechanic? How many people feel the same way? And what can you do to find a trustworthy shop?
A research company, ConsumerAffairs, surveyed 1,000 drivers 18 and over around the country to find out how much they trust mechanics and what they do when they get a diagnosis they’re not sure about. The survey was conducted in August 2023 through Pollfish and has a margin of error of about 4 percentage points.
Key insights
Over 3 in 4 (78%) drivers surveyed said they don’t always trust their mechanics, but most respondents stated that it depended on the technician.
Only 17% of respondents felt like they’re always charged fairly for car repairs.
About 5 in 6 (83%) people said they sometimes or always consult someone they know to double-check mechanics’ recommendations.
If you want a mechanic you can trust, start looking before you need a big repair.
Here are a few suggestions that flowed from the survey on how to stay ahead of the situation and be ready when the need occurs for auto repair.
How to find a trustworthy mechanic:
Ask for recommendations from friends or family or ask someone with a similar vehicle as yours.
Read online reviews. Look for a shop with a strong history of positive reviews going back several years.
Check the shop out. Make sure the mechanics are certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
Try a test run. If you can, let the shop do something small, like an oil change, before you need a major repair. See if it tries to overcharge you or up-sell you with services you don’t need.
Get a second opinion. This won’t necessarily identify who’s trustworthy, but it at least lets you know who’s an outlier. 83% of drivers have asked someone else to double-check a mechanic’s recommendation.
