In order to avoid feeling whether or not you were overcharged for your car repair starts with knowledge.
A lot of advice has been written on how to avoid getting ripped-off.
Unfortunately, there are only a few that discuss actual car repair prices for you to benefit.
The best solution is to look at the charges on a car repair estimate and see the details to determine if we're paying too much.
The only way to know they legitimate charges is to understand them in the first place.
The best place to start this is to question whether they are justified by industry guidelines.
Now car repair estimates can be confusing.
So let's break it down to get a better idea if your auto repair shop is billing you appropriately.
The glossary of terms while be listed below because it is important.
The auto industry is a technical field that is why you need to learn their language also.
Aftermarket Parts: Produced by small time shops or repair centers.
They are not made by or for the manufacturer.
MSRP: Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer.
This term is equally applicable even in the computer industry.
TSBs: Technical Service Bulletins.
You can find this information by looking at the manufacturer's manual and technical hand-outs when you first buy your car.
Flat Fees: These are certain services that are impractical to itemize on paper.
A good example would be alignments because they are inconvenient to break down into parts, tax, and labor.
Miscellaneous Charges - Small time expenses like shop supplies - rags, chemicals, hazardous waste disposal fees, waste oil...
etc.
Labor Rate - As the name implies, it is the rate by which they will charge you per hour.
Labor Time - it is the estimate of the technician on how long it will take to repair your car.
Labor Description - You can read this information to get an idea of the details of repairs and/or services performed by the repair center.