RepairTrust Blog

There are more and more advertisements these days telling us to extend our car warranty. The marketing pitches make it sound like we’ll never have to pay for car repair again. While extending a car warranty may make one feel better, it is, in many cases, a waste of money. Here are a few things to consider. Read more…

Auto maintenance can be a confusing endeavor. The most common questions are what needs to be done, and when – followed by how much? Most remember that oil changes are important, but auto maintenance service intervals differ greatly depending on model and year. Repair shops have an opportunity to help by guiding the car repair customer to follow a service schedule. Few shops actually do this. What they are doing is aiming for quick profit. They do this three ways. Read more…

Car repair shops, service centers, and auto dealerships work very hard to make a profit from us. These days, especially in regards to car maintenance, they have to work harder and smarter. Today’s cars simply do not need what the cars of old did. Think about it. Do we need to repack and adjust wheel bearings, replace distributor caps, rotors, ignition wires, pcv valves, or breather elements? Do we have to grease front ends, adjust brakes, and replace coolant and transmission fluid at frequent intervals? For most cars, the answer is no. So what are car repair shops charging us for? Read more…

The auto repair industry does a fantastic job at scaring car repair customers. Playing on fear is a common marketing tactic in many industries, but it’s very effective in the car business. The scare tactics are used all the time, but they’re especially noticeable during the winter season. Following are a few to watch out for, and will help us avoid spending money unnecessarily. Read more…

I was chatting with a friend about her car repair recently. She was excited that her service center thinks they finally found the problem with her car. When she told me the details, I realized that her auto repair shop was bending the truth, significantly, and charging her for repairs that didn’t actually address her original complaint. Here’s what happened. Read more…

One of the most common terms that both car repair customers and service representatives use when discussing auto repair costs is “ball park” estimates. In other words, rather than actually pin down a number, repair shops will often say “oh around $200-$300 bucks. Even customers as for “just a ball park,” as if they don’t want to trouble their mechanic for a firm price. Read more…

While there are hundreds of strategies to save money on car repair, one is just so easy. Ask for it! That’s right. Just simply ask your auto repair shop to cut you a deal, give you a break, knock off a few bucks. Here are a few ways to do this successfully. Read more…

Auto repair often costs us more than it has to thanks to very minor oversights. A common example occurs during the process of diagnosing a vehicle’s particular concern. There are standard procedures to follow during auto repair diagnostics that repair shops may neglect due to ignorance, laziness, or from the day-to-day rush. How can you help? Read more…

Quality car repair is extremely hard to find. More often than not, amateur technicians will be working on your car. These mechanics may be well meaning, but they simply aren’t up to the task. RepairTrust studies reveal that only 30% of the time will a qualified auto repair technician be fixing your car. Training mechanics has historically been an afterthought in the car industry. While there is much more emphasis on training today, it’s too little too late. Read more…

I received a phone call from an upset friend who had a horrible experience at a local auto repair shop. He explained that he dropped off his SUV for three simple services: an oil change, some new wiper blades, and his rear wiper motor was not working. Upon arrival he was greeted warmly and told that they were expecting him. However, his repair shop did not set any price expectations, nor did he sign an auto repair estimate authorizing any work – everything went bad from this point. Read more…