“They don’t trust their own work.”
A Tampa, Florida, mechanic with 20 years of experience shares 10 major red flags to watch for when getting car maintenance.
To the everyday driver, getting service done on your vehicle can be intimidating and stressful if you have limited knowledge. Unfortunately, some auto repair businesses know this and take advantage to earn an extra few bucks. It’s even been speculated that women get charged more because of this.
However, mechanic Fadi Atiq (@kevinkyle123s) advises on what to look out for when navigating auto service to save you from being ripped off. “If you spot one of these, be careful. If you spot two, walk out,” Atiq advises.
His TikTok has generated over 2,200 views as of this writing.
“If you’ve ever wondered, ‘Is my mechanic ripping me off?’ Chances are, you’re not crazy for thinking it,” the mechanic begins.
According to him, here are the 10 red flags to look out for when getting your vehicle serviced:
Additionally, the mechanic shares that multiple reviews saying the same thing tell a story. “If you see review after review saying the same thing, ‘rude advisors,’ ‘overpriced,’ ‘unnecessary repair,’ that’s not a coincidence. Patterns tell the truth,” Atiq shares.
Atiq’s fourth tip states that the warranty length determines the service’s trustworthiness. Let’s revisit that point.
“The shop I work at, the warranty is three years, 36,000 miles. No warranty equals major red flag,” Atiq says.
Atiq’s point is that if the shop does great work, they are willing to address any issues that arise. Now, if there is no warranty, he is implying the shop may be sketchy with service.
Having a warranty for a repair can give new customers confidence. This warranty offer can be a key selling point to secure the job.
For example, GreatWater 360 Auto Care offers a three-year/36,000-mile nationwide warranty. The shop promotes guaranteed repairs and no-pressure service.
“It’s our commitment to maintenance and repair excellence, using quality parts, and making things right in the rare case something isn’t,” per the website.
When a customer sees this type of commitment, it can provide a significant boost in confidence and trust. It gives walking-the-walk type energy. One independent shop even offers a five-year/40,000-mile warranty.
When you see a repair shop that doesn’t offer a warranty, it’s worth paying attention to and treating as a red flag. Some mechanics get upset over warranty work and may opt out entirely.
As Atiq mentions, you can always shop and receive quotes from different auto repair shops. With any repair, costs can quickly add up, so it’s best to find a shop with strong reviews and a warranty to back up their work.
Viewers chimed in with appreciation for Atiq’s tips when dealing with auto service.
“Thank you as a woman I have been ripped off. I don’t know how many times,” one TikTok commenter said.
“I was just ripped off….I asked them to do a diagnostic…they would not do it….they still haven’t fixed my car! am going elsewhere,” another shared.
“I appreciate this information but it’s sad you have to make it. Why does car buying and car repair always seem to be shady?” a third added.
Motor1 has contacted Atiq via TikTok direct message and commented on the post. We’ll update this if he responds.
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