1) ‘You might be charged for work that hasn’t been done’

It happens on purpose or it could happen by mistake. Either way, it happens — you are charged for work that was never done on your vehicle.

Typically, a vehicle is dropped off at the garage but there is no way to guarantee that the work required was actually done.

However, a good way to reveal if work that was supposed to be done was not is to ask to see the old parts. Mechanics can give or show you the parts they’ve removed from your car — old filters, spark plugs and any other part that should have been replaced. In addition, if there are concerns that a part was replaced when it shouldn’t have been, insist on seeing the original.

2) ‘You might be in the wrong garage’

When a vehicle needs maintenance or repair there is a choice of going to the dealer or an independent mechanic shop. The decision ultimately rests in the degree of the problem, however a mechanic is unlikely to ever tell you he can’t do the job. Experts, however, caution that any work on a vehicle under warranty should go to the dealer. Even if it is more expensive, the dealership is where mechanics, trained to deal with the problems of the different models, are best found.

Using a nondescript mechanic could turn out more expensive in the long run. Where used vehicles are concerned, it depends on the type of repair and the vehicle’s age and condition. But in most cases, mechanics at repair shops will try to convince you that they’re the best ones for the job. It is advised that before engaging an independent mechanic to work on your vehicle make an effort to get referrals, there are very good mechanics outside of dealerships.

An oil and spark plug change is elementary, but for almost anything in the engine else find out if the mechanic has experience with your model vehicle.

3) ‘Go get a second opinion’

Getting a second opinion is a must for major repairs; it’s a competitive business and prices can vary widely. If a mechanic rolls out an extensive list of additional repairs and parts, it is advised to get a second opinion on the problem and an estimate of the cost of fixing it. Beware of a mechanic who tries to stop you by saying that he’s already pulled down the engine or the transmission. If you were able to drive the car into the shop, you should be able to drive it back out for a second opinion, according to one auto expert.

4) ‘I make unnecessary repairs’

Your vehicle is dropped off at a mechanic’s shop for routine maintenance or a repair, only for you to find out that the mechanic made additional repairs that you didn’t request but he deemed necessary.

According to one source, most unnecessary repairs are due to the fact that modern cars are incredibly complex and often a shop ends up trying ‘a few things’ in order to solve the problem. At the end of the mechanic’s diagnostic exercise motorists are charged for all the work that was done. “Many of the parts replaced may have nothing to do with the problem, but you’ll probably end up paying for them anyway,” says the source.

5) ‘Your car is too high-tech for me’

Cars have become incredibly sophisticated over the past 10 years, but unfortunately some mechanics are way behind in technology. Most manufacturers require that dealerships have computer diagnostic equipment needed to identify the source of problems and mechanics appropriately trained.

However, mechanics out of that loop may not be properly trained in the computerised systems found in most modern vehicles. Nonetheless, a mechanic may be hard-pressed to admit that he does not know much about the vehicle. It is therefore advised to seek dealers, if there are any doubts about the capacity of your repair shop.