Top five rip-off tactics used by dodgy mechanics and how you can avoid them

THERE are a number dodgy tactics car repairers use to rip-off unsuspecting drivers, here’s the top five and how to avoid them.

CAR MECHANICS are ranked among the least trustworthy professions, according to a recent study.

And the investigation revealed the dodgy tactics car repairers use to rip-off unsuspecting drivers, reports The Sun.

Conducted by Confused.com, the study found as many as 85 per cent of drivers don’t trust their mechanic.

One in three motorists felt they’d been ripped off and overcharged by an average $A368, while a further 13 per cent also said their repairer encouraged them to buy additional parts that they didn’t actually need.

In a short video, the driver savings website teamed up with a reputable mechanic to help motorists avoid some of the dodgy tactics mechanics use to rip people off.

The main piece of advice for drivers was not to believe everything your mechanic tells you without asking questions first.

Around one in seven people find they are left confused by their mechanic using technical car jargon — but just 10 per cent are willing to challenge a mechanic if they don’t understand.

If you aren’t sure, you should ask for them to explain it without the motoring lingo so you know exactly what you are paying for.

The tips advised drivers to have their mechanic let them know before they went ahead with any repairs that were additional to the work the car originally went in for.

The study also found female drivers were more affected by dodgy mechanics than their male counterparts.

Two in five women worry about being ripped off, compared to just a quarter of men.

Amanda Stretton, motoring editor at Confused.com, says: “Drivers have felt exploited by mechanics for long enough. It is a huge concern people are scared to take their car in for service for fear of being ripped off.

“While there are many reputable garages out there, our data shows people are sceptical because they simply don’t know how much they should be paying for repairs.

“We urge drivers to do some research online to investigate the kind of prices they can expect to pay for specific types of repair work.

“An easy way to do this is using a garage comparison service to see if they can find a cheaper price elsewhere in their local area.”

HOW TO AVOID BEING RIPPED OFF BY YOUR MECHANIC

Next time you take your car in for a service, remember these tips:

CAR JARGON: Mechanics might try to confuse a customer with technical language to try to get them to pay for things they don’t need. TIP: Be sure to ask them to explain it to you. If they won’t, you should be suspicious.

OVERCHARGING: If you don’t know how much parts are you’re giving the garage a blank cheque to charge what they like. TIP: Make sure you research before so you have a rough idea of what you should be paying.

REPLACEMENT PARTS: Some garages might play on the fact that drivers don’t know much about their car’s parts, and sell you a used part or not replace it at all. TIP: Ask to see your old part to make sure they have actually replaced it. Also make sure the part says “new” on the invoice if you bought a new part.

UNNECESSARY REPAIRS: Some mechanics might go ahead and perform additional repairs on top of what the car originally went in for, even if they aren’t really needed. TIP: Ask the garage to call you before they do anything on top of the initial work.

AUTOMATICALLY CHANGING FLAT TYRES: Often a flat tyre does need replacing — but not always. If the tyre is in good condition and the puncture is just in a tyre’s tread then it can sometimes be repaired. TIP: Ask to see the location of the puncture and assess the damage. If it does need replacing make sure you don’t overpay for new rubber, too, by researching prices online.

This story first appeared on The Sun.