If Your Mechanic Tells You Any of These Things, It’s Time to Shop Around for a New Mechanic
Car maintenance costs are high enough without adding unnecessary charges from shady mechanics looking to make a quick buck
Nearly everyone has gone to the local shop for routine auto maintenance only to drive away after paying a lot more in unexpected charges. Most mechanics are honest, hardworking people who only want to help you by pointing out problems you may not know about. But some mechanics want to take you and your wallet for a ride. If any of these things sound like your mechanic, start looking for a new one.
- “You can use any kind of motor oil.”
- “I wouldn’t drive that very far.”
- “We actually recommend doing this maintenance sooner.”
- “We should replace the entire thing.”
- “You need to fix this now before it becomes a problem.”
- “Look at this.”
- “That didn’t happen here.”
- “It’s complicated.”
- “This part/repair cost more than we thought it would.”
- “We had to use a different brand, but it’s just as good.”
- “You have to bring the car back here for service.”
- “It will take us at least a week.”
- “The cheap tires will be fine.”
- “To fix this, we have to replace that.”
- “It’s common for this part to fail often.”
- “We can’t let you in the back to show you the problem.”
- “We should flush your fluid (or it will fail).”
- “We thought this would fix it, but turns out you need that.”
- “It couldn’t hurt to do this or that” or “it’s only a matter of time.”
Some mechanics will tell you that your car can use any kind of oil, especially if it will save you money. There is only a little bit of truth to this. Let’s take a very common oil, 5W-30—as an example. The first number is the viscosity, or the ability of the oil to flow, at 0 °F. The second number is the viscosity at 212 °F, which is the normal operating temperature of most vehicles.
Some vehicles in extremely cold climates use a thinner oil, such as 0W-30, in order to start easier in the extreme cold. Notice the second number, the viscosity at normal operating temperature, is the same as our previous example. Many vehicles can run on this thinner oil in order to get better efficiency in the minutes after starting. But that second number, the “hot” number—isn’t one to mess with. Using a thicker or thinner oil than recommended for normal operating temperatures can result in damage to your vehicle. So in this case, all oil isn’t the same.
The same goes for conventional versus synthetic oil, each of which has different properties and a number of pros and cons. Synthetic oil is more expensive, but can also be better for your vehicle. Some turbocharged and high-performance vehicles even require synthetic oil in order to perform properly.
This is a scare tactic designed to get you to authorize a repair. Mechanics know that most people don’t know anything about their cars, so they prey on your fears that you’ll break down on the side of the road. If a mechanic is trying to coerce you in this way, get a second opinion immediately.
Before you agree to any maintenance, check the maintenance schedule in your car’s manual. This schedule is the only one you should be following unless some kind of contamination has occurred to necessitate sooner maintenance.
Shady shops try to convince you that the vehicle’s manufacturer really doesn’t know about real-world conditions. They may even tell you that they have seen vehicles just like yours that did not have the service performed early and broke down. But this is all a ploy to get you to spend more money more frequently.
Sometimes you need to replace the entire exhaust system when something is wrong. But other times, a simple repair will cover it. If you fail an emissions test because of a hole in your exhaust, you should be running the other direction if you hear words like “entire,” “whole,” or “system.” In some cases, a simple problem like this can be fixed with a much cheaper weld or even a quick dab of a sealant.
Some greedy mechanics will exaggerate how serious a problem is in order to get you to make a repair, even if it doesn’t really have to be fixed right away. When in doubt, get a second opinion.
If a mechanic is pushing you to replace fluids or filters prematurely, often by showing you dirty samples, pause and compare their recommendation with your manufacturer’s maintenance schedule.
Honest mechanics inspect the vehicle with you before and after a repair and tell you immediately if accidental damage happens. If the shop denies obvious damage or refuses inspection, take your business elsewhere.
No reputable mechanic will dismiss your questions by saying you wouldn’t understand. A good shop can explain repairs in plain language.
If the invoice suddenly balloons without prior approval, something is wrong. Get a detailed explanation and, if necessary, contact the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office.
Switching to a cheaper part after quoting a premium brand, without your consent, is unethical. Ask to see the box and the old part, and verify part numbers.
Warranty law does not require you to use one particular shop for routine maintenance. If a mechanic claims otherwise, head for the door.
Most jobs, from brakes to engine replacements, take hours, not days, once parts arrive. Excessive labor estimates can signal padding.
Safety-critical parts like tires should meet or exceed your manufacturer’s specs. If a shop pushes bargain brands that don’t, find another shop.
Bundling unrelated parts or unnecessary add-ons is a classic upsell. Ask why each part is needed and verify with a second opinion if it sounds fishy.
Repeat failures can indicate poor workmanship or inferior parts. Chronic do-overs are your cue to switch shops.
Shops have safety rules, but most will still bring you into the bay or show photos. Flat refusal to show evidence is a red flag.
Fluid flushes are rarely part of factory maintenance schedules. Unless there’s contamination or a specific manufacturer bulletin, you probably don’t need one.
Mistakes happen, but you shouldn’t pay for misdiagnosis. A pattern of guess-and-replace indicates the shop lacks proper diagnostic skill.
Preemptively replacing perfectly functional parts is usually unnecessary. Stick to factory intervals and proven failures, anything else is wallet drain.
Your best defense is an informed second opinion, a written estimate, and a clear understanding of your vehicle’s factory maintenance schedule. A trustworthy mechanic will welcome your questions and provide straightforward answers without pressure.