Tips for Women on How to Get Your Car
Repaired Without Being Taken
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – (August 24,
2010) As most women have experienced at some point in their driving lives, it is
a pretty vulnerable feeling when you have to take your car in for repairs and
don’t have a man by your side. Not knowing if the vehicle really needs what the
mechanic is recommending, it leads one to wonder if she is seen as an easy
target, going to be over charged, or if the repair is even necessary at all.
“For the most part, it can be a daunting
task for a women to go by herself to take a car in for repairs,” explains
Barbara Terry (www.barbaraterry.com),
author of the new book “How Athletes Roll” (Comfort Publishing, 2010), which
showcases athletes and the cars they drive. “It is probably one of the least
appealing things for women to do because they fear they are going to be taken
advantage of.”
There are some things that you can do in
order to help minimize being ripped off at the repair shop, including:
Educate yourself. The more you know
about your car and the repairs, the better off you will be. Knowledge is power.
Get to know your vehicle, so that you are familiar with it and the owner’s
manual, which will come in handy in understanding basic maintenance needs. You
can also Google questions about car repairs and maintenance, so you are
well-prepared before walking into the shop.
Follow reputations. Ask around, so you
can find a mechanic that has a good reputation. Getting recommendations may help
you keep from setting foot in a shady establishment to begin with.
Ask around. If you are told you need
costly repairs, seek a second opinion. Ask for a written estimate and use the
information to get several other repair estimates either by phone or in person.
If possible, have a male friend call around and ask what each place would charge
for such a repair.
Keep maintained. Keep current on your
vehicle maintenance, as per your owner’s manual; this will help to minimize the
repairs that may be necessary.
Verify service. Ask the mechanic to show
you the part that needs replacing. Also, ask to see it, and the new part, once
the work has been completed.
Speak up. If you feel you have been
mistreated, overcharged, or otherwise not treated fairly, put in a complaint.
You can ask to speak to the manager, write the company headquarters in many
cases, and file a complaint with the local Better Business Bureau.
“There are many mechanics out there that
give women a fair deal and wouldn’t dream of doing otherwise,” adds Terry. “But
it is your mission to find and stick with them to avoid being taken. The more
you know, the better off you can be. And if you can have a male friend or family
member go along, you may even want to do that as well.”
About Barbara Terry
Barbara Terry is a highly
sought-after automotive expert, speaking to media outlets across the country on
a wide variety of auto-related issues and topics. She is also an off-road
racecar driver. She has been featured in over 80 publications and has made over
350 television and radio appearances since 2006. To learn more about Barbara
Terry, visit the Web site at
www.barbaraterry.com. To learn more about “How Athletes Roll,” visit
www.howathletesroll.com.
Disclaimer: The Google Translation that has been added to
pages within the Pendleton-Gazette was done solely as a tool to help those who
speak other languages. It is not guaranteed to be 100% full prove (accurate)
when a translation is performed because of sentence structures in languages
other than English do vary.
