How likely is it to get ripped off by an auto mechanic?

I've heard of this before. I live in a small town and there is only one car shop nearby. I took my car in the other day for a routine oil change and when I came to pick it up they told me that I needed new radiator hoses, two new tires, and some part of my axle (heads, hammers, something like that) that totaled around 1000 bucks. My car has been driving fine and continues to do so, but I know nothing about cars, so I'm curious as to whether or not I could be getting lied to.
How likely is it to get ripped off by an auto mechanic?
I used to work as a mechanic, and while there are dishonest mechanics out there, the fact that you're asking this question indicates that you're fairly ignorant about automobile maintenance. I don't mean that in a bad way, but not everybody knows how to check radiator hoses, brakes, etc. As a mechanic, you see people all the time who don't know or care about automotive maintenance. Their cars are barely roadworthy. So you take your car to the mechanic for an oil change, and while he's under there, he's looking for worn items. This doesn't necessarily mean he's trying to rip you off, he is doing his job.



Let's put it another way - You take your car in for an oil change, and three days later, you blow a radiator hose, and are stuck on the side of the road in the middle of the night, or in the middle of a desert or on a busy freeway. You'll go back to this shop and ream the mechanic for not bringing this worn out hose to your attention. Do you feel ripped off now?



Now, how to keep from getting ripped off? Any reputable, honest mechanic will take the time to show you what work he thinks needs to be done, and explain why it needs to be done and what could happen if it isn't replaced/repaired.



My advice is, talk to the mechanic, don't assume he's trying to rip you off, but educate yourself a little so you'll know whether he is legitimately concerned about your safety or if he's trying to make a fast buck off you. If he is being honest, them figure out which repair is the most urgent, and get that done, then the next urgent, etc.



Or, buy yourself a new car and then you won't have to worry about this for a few years.
How likely is it to get ripped off by an auto mechanic?
you probably could but if the car runs fine and the are no warning lights or it doesn't ride rough then chances are that there arent any problems
Who can say? How old is the car, what kind of condition is it in? How many miles are on the car?



If you don't want the work done, then take the information under advisement and only get the oil change. A new filter and oil should only run about 20-30 bucks.



Get a second opinion on the other work. Ask someone at work, or a family friend to take a look at your car and get you their suggestions. good luck.
Very likely that you are being lied to.However, if you do have them work on it, make sure that when you have parts replaced that they show you the old parts and show to you what they have done.
Take it slow and only have one more lower cost repair done by them that really needs doing. Then compare what they do to your car dealer's quoted cost for the same repair.
My best bet , dont take the car for long drive., if the guy sound serious to you). . and if in the morning start the car and there white or black smoke coming from tail pipe, then you do have something wrong in inside the engine.... but take my word... for an old car like your, alway change the timing bet first... alway. because if that breaks.. your go-kart is done... bye -changes it now-
If you have doubts, take it to another shop for a second opinion. Once you find a mechanic you trust, give him/her all of your business.

There are dishonest people in all lines of work, usually the little guy down the street will tend to be more honest.

The only time I can remember being ripped off on repairs was by a local Cadillac / Buick dealer.
If you don't trust the person's recommendations, then take it to a different place for your next oil change. If they tell you the same thing I would lean toward the first person being honest. Some things (such as tires) it should be quite evident if the tires are worn to a point that they are unsafe. New radiator hoses are recommended after various lengths of time. It is a judgment call in most cases. Education %26amp; asking questions will help you make a good decision.
The chances are good that you're being lied to, and you're most certainly being taken for a ride. There's no real reason radiator hoses, two tires and common failure parts on an axle, front or rear wheel drive, should total up towards $1,000.



Pop the hood and identify the radiator hoses. They'll be the big, usually black, rubber hoses leading from the very front of your car, where the radiator is, to the engine. Are they ALOT bigger towards where they connect, compared to the rest of the hose? If yes, then your hoses are older and will need to be replaced at some point, but it's not immediate.



Look at your tires. There are wear indicators that go across the tire, opposite of the tread pattern. Are you very close to these wear indicators? If not, you don't need new tires.



When it comes to the axle, without knowing whether it's front wheel drive or rear wheel drive, it's hard to guess what you might be talking about with %26quot;heads%26quot; or %26quot;hammers%26quot;.
I have a big distrust for mechanics in general. I work with them on a daily basis. Some of them are the kind of people to order parts for a machine, then never installing them. Some don't know how to troubleshoot, so what they do is replace parts with the intention of hopefully eliminating the problem. Usually if you live in a small town word gets around on the mechanic faster than a big town. It also depends on you, are you the natural cheapskate? If a person has a legitamate reason to need to replace something like your brakes, then you don't want to replace them; don't become upset. The best thing to do is learn some basic car care skills to save yourself some money. If you have a friend or a family member who can identify what is worn out. Get a second opinion from them. Your car may run fine now, but there is the potential of problems to arise.
Being the only repairer in the town, I think he would be taking a big risk ripping off a customer, word travels fast, and could quickly see him closing down.

Ask around, people in your street or at work must have used him, see if they think they got a good deal?

Hoses are cheap and quick to fit, see how much he charges for that, get him to quote on each item separately.