Tag Archive for ‘auto estimates’

How to sell your clunker

So you've decided to sell your clunker.

But since it’s a clunker, you’re not expecting to get much for it. There are auto services that will come tow your clunker and pay you around $200. In this economy, $200 matters, yet does not go far in the ‘big picture’. Plus, who wants to let go of all those memories for what amounts to a cell phone payment, and a month of internet service?

Understanding Auto Repair Estimates

There is a common perception that auto repair shops rip off customers and that it all begins by tricking the car owner into accepting an inflated car repair quote. This is not completely true and there are many honest and sincere auto repair shops. But the reputation exists for a reason. Unless you are an automobile engineer, it’s easy for a motor mechanic to give a lot of impressive sounding technical gobbledygook that can convince car owners that they need to spend more than they really have to for car repairs. The trick to not getting ripped off is not in knowing all about the car’s workings but in knowing how to read an estimate and what to look out for.
First of all get to know some of the key terms used:

Auto Repair Estimates – Negotiation Tips

The biggest problem with auto repair estimates is that there is no guarantee that what is on the estimate is what you will end up paying for your car repair. Once in a while you will find a motor mechanic telling you a part thought to be defective is not and does not need replacement. But far more often you will find that once you approve the auto repair estimate and work on your car starts, much more than was initially thought has to be repaired or replaced and all your repair budgets go out the window. In some cases this because you are being ripped off and in others the reasons maybe genuine. Even the best car mechanic can’t be sure of the full extent of engine damage till they open it up.
But before you even come to the stage of additional costs, you need to be sure that the auto repair estimate you get is as accurate as possible. Many auto repair shops start by giving you vague ideas of the amount of work and parts that are needed and then quote you the minimum figure, knowing full well that they will end up charging you more than that. The reasons for this, even with the best and otherwise most honest of car repair shops, is basic selling techniques. Car owners tend to get put off when the see large figures for auto repair given to them up front. Car repair services often tend to quote the lowest possible prices just to get the business and once they do, and the work has begun, reveal the true picture knowing that in most cases the customer won’t tell them not to do the work and will agree to the revised car repair quote.
Luckily, there are resources available today that can help you to negotiate not just the estimate cost but also the actual final repair cost. Nothing is set in stone, especially auto repair estimates. Before going further, please keep in mind that if you are able to negotiate lower prices, it does not necessarily mean that the auto repair shop was trying the cheat you with their first figures. They are a business and even the best car repair shops will try to maximize their profit without really cheating you, but by charging what they think the market (meaning you) will bear for the required auto repairs.
The firs thing you need to do is differentiate between necessary car repairs and cosmetic ones or those that can be put off for some time. Look at your car as functioning on three levels. First of all there is the essential level that comprises of engine, suspension, brake and transmission repairs. These are essential auto repairs, not just to keep your car running, but also for your safety. These are repairs that you should not put off. Additionally, if you do, driving your car with say, a damaged suspension can result in other parts of the car also getting affected and inflate your final repair bill.
Next is the driving enjoyment level – repairs to the music system, the heater and air conditioner. These are things that you may like, but if your budget does not permit these car repairs to be done immediately, they can be postponed. Your car will run safely without them. After all, why get an estimate on a heater repair in summer?
The third level is minor body car repair – dents, scratches and chips in the paint work. These are only cosmetic and if you want to, you can put them off for a while. However, please remember that these need to be done as soon as your budget allows because damaged paint work can result in rusting of the body work. And once rust forms on one part of the body, it spreads to other body parts, even under undamaged paintwork.
Ask your auto repair shop to categorize the repairs you need on this basis. That will give you an estimate that will tell you what car repairs you need to do now and what you can put off for a while.
Go on the internet and start searching the numerous sites offering auto repair estimate databases. These databases have collected information on labor and parts costs from a variety of sources and will be able to provide if not the exact figures of what the repair should cost you, at least a figure that you can use for budgeting your car repairs.
Secondly, try contacting your local auto clubs or finding them online. There are clubs for both the general car owner and for specific car and truck makes and models. Members of these clubs are usually people who are interested in the cars and take trouble over the maintenance and car repairs. They will be able to provide you first hand experience of what auto repair costs should be and the best places to go for car repair services.
Once you have this kind of information at your disposal, you can talk hard numbers with the auto repair shop. Remember that the car repair shop is a business and you are a customer who has a right to getting a fair deal. Getting this deal is easier if you have the numbers with you and know what to ask for. Car repairs shops who find that potential customers have done their research and know what they are talking about will refrain from trying to take the customer for a ride because they are likely to lose the business. Any businessman worth his salt will accept a reasonable profit if he finds he can’t get a very high one.
Most auto repair estimates also contain a lot of technical jargon designed to confuse customers. Ask for explanations of any terms you don’t understand and go back to your data base or other sources of information and see how good the cost estimates for the work is. If it’s high, go back and tell the motor mechanic that it’s high and not acceptable. Most car repair shops, once they find a customer is willing to take the trouble to verify the prices given in an estimate, will fall into line soon enough.
It’s important that you don’t let even the small things go. Get details on even the minor components of auto repair costs like the miscellaneous charges which are usually for things like rags, cleaning fluids and other consumables. You may feel hesitant to ask about the quantity of rags used for cleaning, but the fact that you do emphasizes that you have an eye for detail and will ensure the mechanics think twice before trying to pull a fast one on the bigger car repair costs.