Car Repair Shop Scams You Need to Know About

Here’s a recent update on car repair shop scams that cost car owners thousands of dollars according to this mechanic who shares what he has seen and continues to see today going on in the car repair industry.

Car Repair Scams Warning

In earlier articles we’ve learned about how that car owners have to constantly be on the lookout for scams perpetuated by service centers and dishonest mechanics involving engine oil changes, transmission fluid servicing, and brake repairs.

Reputedly, the oldest auto repair scams in existence were those perpetuated by “Highway bandits” ---mechanics who owned or worked for service stations and preyed on unsuspecting motorists who often had to stop for gas, air, or water while traveling.

Typical scams involved simple, but effective cons such as squirting oil on the engine allowing it to drip under a vehicle claiming that a serious oil leak problem had developed. Punctured tires, damaged water hoses, and fan belts were also tactics used to force a car owner to buy parts and repairs on the spot---often at inflated prices.

Today, however, modern day highway bandits have gotten lazier (and perhaps a little cleverer) by charging car owners for repairs that are not actually done. We’ve learned this from multiple instances from earlier articles about scams and bad repairs Torque News has covered over the past few years where some mechanics have deliberately tried to fool his or her customers into believing a repair was done and done correctly…when it was not.

5 Secrets Only Car Mechanics Know

And that was the focus of a recent Scotty Kilmer YouTube channel episode where Scotty alerts car owners to related scams involving repairs that did not need fixing.

Follow along with the host as he shares secrets about repair scams he claims only car mechanics know about. The value of the video is that Scotty shows not only what scams are being done, but how to determine if your repair is really needed…or if it is a scam.

Related article: Repair Scams Only Another Mechanic Could Catch

5 Secrets Only Car Mechanics Know (This Will Save You Thousands)

And finally…

For more scam-related articles, be sure to check out the following links:

• Common Brake Repair Scam in Major Name Tire Centers

• Fast Lube Type Service Center Warning for New and Used Cars

• Two Service Center Mechanic Scams That Are Easy to Spot If You Know Where to Look Under the Hood

Timothy Boyer is Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily automotive-related news.

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