It’s finally time to pick your car up from the repair shop. The final bill slides across the counter and your $100 brake job is now $300. You will pay the bill but vow never to return.

Paying more than you expected for a repair bill is not uncommon. Knowing how to deal with it can save you lots of money.

One of the best ways to avoid getting a surprise when the bill comes is to use a
trustworthy mechanic in the first place. This can be harder than it sounds.

Here are a few tips for finding a quality shop and what to ask for when there:

• Ask friends and family for recommendations on where to service your car. 
• Read reviews of auto repair shops at MechanicAdvisor.com.
• Get a written estimate of all work to be done.
• Request a phone call if the repair goes 10 percent above the estimate.

If you forgot to do your homework before dropping your car off and find yourself staring a much larger bill than you expected, its time to ask some probing questions. Here are a few things to discuss with your service writer when going over the final bill at any auto service shop:

Can you explain this charge? – Take the time to go over the bill in detail. If you see a charge you don’t understand or disagree with, ask for it to be explained in plain English. If any “service charges” make their way on to your bill be sure to ask why you are being charged a service charge and what it covers. These charges usually consist of shop supplies, tire disposal, and environmental fees. If any explanation doesn’t sound right, ask that the charges be lowered or dropped. Just asking can often deliver the desired result. 

Is this work warrantied? – Ask about the warranty on all of the parts installed as well as the work. AAA approved shops will guarantee the work and parts for 12-months. If your shop doesn’t offer that type of warranty, find a new mechanic.

Was any of this under warranty? – You should not be charged for warranty work so be sure that none of the work being done was under warranty. Check the paperwork on your vehicle to see if the part was under warranty.

Can I have the replaced parts?– If you are concerned about the honesty of the
shop or plan on making a complaint to your local Better Business Bureau, ask for the old parts as evidence. It they refuse or cannot produce the parts, something is wrong.

Share Your Experience – Regardless of whether you have a good experience, or a bad one it is a good idea to share it on review sites. While most people will share their horror stories, be sure to share quality ones as well. Mentioning the fact that you both read and write reviews may give your mechanic an extra incentive to be honest.

Hopefully these tips will help you get a fair deal the next time you have to get your car fixed.

By Jason Green, Editor of WhereToServiceYourCar.com