From the outside, many auto shops look the same, leaving you wondering if it matters which one you go to. Unfortunately, like most things in life, it’s what’s inside that counts — and some shops have bad mechanics running the works. But how can you tell?
Would you believe that #savagescotty is here to tell you how to spot a scam mechanic?
It’s true. He’s going to explain all the signs of a bad mechanic, such as:
- Family takeovers
- Lots of broken cars in the lot
- Extra high price quotes
With Scotty Kilmer’s insights on your side, you can skip the bad mechanics in favor of the good ones.
As a long-time auto technician, he’s seen an awful lot and can help you know just what to avoid.
Signs You are Dealing with a Bad Mechanic
Unless you know what to look out for, bad mechanics can fly under your radar, lulling you into a false sense of security. Then, bam, once something goes wrong, it all becomes quite clear what you’re dealing with. Thankfully, you can avoid that distressing scenario by paying close attention to these warning signs.
Young Apprentices
As the first order of business, Kilmer says to watch out for shops with only the youngest of the team running the show. If you look in the bays and there are a bunch of apprentices with no oversight, run fast and run far. It’s not going to work out for you.
On the other hand, if they are getting trained by the top talent in the shop, then stick around for a while. They may just be getting new blood into the shop, which will benefit everyone in the long run.
Family Takeovers
In a similar vein, look out for long-time shops that have recently been turned over to the owners’ kids, cousins, and the like. Just because they had a good reputation in the past doesn’t mean the new owners will run it the same way.
Although it’s not a reason to jump ship quite yet, take a long hard look at their procedures to see if you need to find another repair team. If anything feels amiss, then take your car and try somewhere else to avoid all the drama.
Lots of Broken Cars
Despite what you might want to think, a lot full of cars doesn’t necessarily mean the shop is popular. If the vehicles are in various states of disrepair, it could mean they are downright dreadful at their jobs.
They might have those cars on hand to make it look like they are constantly busy, or they could just have a graveyard of broken cars they couldn’t figure out how to fix. You’ll need to be the judge. Unless you don’t like taking chances, then just run in the other direction instead.
Extra High Price Quotes
Kilmer wants us to know that it always pays to shop around. Not only because it’ll help you get a reasonable price, but also to check that your mechanic of choice is trustworthy. If the auto repair quote is far above and beyond the rest, then they might be trying to pull a fast one on you.
It’s also a red flag, however, if their price is way below the rest. You want to go with a shop who knows their value and wants to get you the best price possible.
Suspect Online Reviews
Online reviews can let you know about shops with a less than stellar reputation. But watch out for reviews that are 100% positive without a complaint in sight. It’s possible that they are submitted by employees or other individuals to build up the rating of the repair shop.
Thankfully, you can always trust word of mouth referrals from people you know. So, if you don’t know where to go, ask your friends, family, and coworkers for a few recommendations to try out.
Even prior to his YouTube success, Kilmer has never had to spend anything advertising his garage — and that’s all thanks to word of mouth advertising.
Ready to Find a Good Mechanic to Take Great Care of Your Car?
Now that you know how to avoid scam mechanics, you can use Scotty’s insights to zero in on the best auto shop in your area. Don’t forget to bring along your complete Vehicle History whenever you need service.
With that move, you can ensure your car will enjoy the highest level of service from your mechanic of choice.
