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Guide to Car Repair and Maintenance |
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Page 7 of 8
Mr. Thrifty Principle # 6: If you do have to make a car repair, ask questions and get multiple quotes
Different mechanics can have different opinions on how best to repair your car, and thus have different prices. If you are unsure, call around or visit another mechanic to get a second, or even third opinion.
A few years back, when Mr. Thrifty was still in high school, Mr. Thrifty’s dad sent him out on an errand: figure out what was wrong with the family truckster. Mr. Thrifty’s dad asked him to get quotes from three different mechanics report back. The quotes were $259, $510, and $350 from three different mechanics for the same car repair! After a few calls on the prices of the parts from the local auto parts store, Mr. Thrifty took the car to the shop that quoted $259, but was able to get the car repair done for $210 by knowing the price of the part and asking to get the lower price. Mr. Thrifty’s dad saved $300 over the most expensive shop. Unfortunately, Mr. Thrifty’s dad didn’t let him keep the car repair savings – he’s thrifty too!
Don’t be afraid to call another car repair mechanic, especially once you know what is wrong with your car. It’s easy to make a call from your cell phone and ask for an over-the-phone quote, and it almost always results in money saved.
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Car Repair