There’s a new tv commercial extolling the benefits of an extended car warranty. It shows one client relaxing comfortably in the waiting room of his car repair shop (he has the auto extended warranty) and another guy angry and frustated that he’ll have to pay for his auto repairs (he obviously doesn’t have an extended plan). What’s interesting is that the commercial repeatedly states that, with the warranty, the repair is FREE. This is a tad misleading… Read more…
When we get an auto repair estimate how do we know that it was done properly? Was it calculated according to manufacturer specifications and industry guidelines? The short answer is probably not. Manufacturer specifications and industry standards are not only not adhered to, but they are interpreted differently from repair shop to repair shop. This is a primary reason why auto repair estimates fluctuate so greatly. However, there is an automotive term that we can use to help us reduce any excessive car repair prices. It’s called “overlap labor.” Read more…
For over three years RepairTrust has been shedding light on the dark underworld of auto repair. With decades of study and analysis, we’ve argued that 98% of all car repair shops (including dealers, independents, and franchises) overcharge you at some point. A couple years back we were highlighting this with some car repair videos on our web site and blog. We’ve recently updated our videos page @ Car Repair. While the information and materials at RepairTrust provide the complete story, there are 5 videos that will give you a decent snapshot of what really goes on in this industry. They’re short, fun to watch, and enlightening. Read more…