Why A Cheap Car Mechanic Isn't Always A Money Saver

The internet age has given rise to an endless stream of money-saving start ups, from coupon sites that drive down prices based on group discounts to video services that save you money by putting movies and television shows online, cutting out the cable companies and putting video rental stores out of business. In most cases, paying less money for services is a good thing, but when it comes to auto repair, the truth is more complicated. 

Mechanic Advisor deals with tens of thousands of repair shops across the country, so we have a thorough understanding of the industry. We also understand what repair customers are looking for, which can be trustworthiness, competence, speed, location, and, oftentimes; a low price. Since car repair is considered by many financial experts as an expense that many people neglect to include in their monthly budgets, it is understandable that some get hung up on price when choosing an auto repair facility, or when faced with a higher than expected bill from a mechanic. But the issue with only focusing on price when it comes to car repair is that it ignores the other aspects of fixing or maintaining a vehicle properly. 

There's an expression that I have heard mechanics say before; "Car repair can be good, fast, and cheap. But you can only pick 2 out of 3." While this certainly simplifies things a bit, it's not too far from the truth, and it paints a picture of what you may be sacrificing if you only search for a cheap car mechanic with the lowest price on car repair.

Modern day automobiles are incredibly complex, so the quality of your automotive repair service is more important than ever. There are only several reasons why some shops are able to set prices significantly lower than others. One of those reasons is quality. This refers to the quality of the mechanic, the quality of the facility, or the quality of the parts, and each one may allow a shop to undercut their competition.

For instance, a mechanic working out of his home garage can offer to perform work at 50% of what a shop would charge, but a customer would be putting their vehicle in the hands of someone without documented repair experience, without much legal recourse in the event of a major mistake, and without a warranty on the work. The same can be said of fly-by-night repair facilities without any reputation or accreditation. 

This can also apply to the quality of a repair facility. Someone who rents a bay in a warehouse to work on cars on the cheap could be a knowledgeable tech, but it's unlikely that they will be properly equipped to deal with complex issues, or ones requiring expensive machinery and computer systems.

Some mechanics may be able to offer discounted repair services by using cheap parts. There are certainly good options when it comes to choosing aftermarket parts, ones made to vehicle specifications but by a company other than the manufacturer. These tend to be cheaper than manufacturer parts, and can save you money, but in some cases can also be of very poor quality. 

It is important to use parts that are at a minimum, acceptable and safe. In some cases, using poorly made parts can set off a chain of events that will affect other aspects of the car, even causing damage. Cut-rate parts can cause vehicle sensors to go off, or potentially fail, negating any savings you may have initially experienced. 

Another consequence of choosing severely discounted auto repair is a lack of recourse in the event that work is poorly or incorrectly performed, or parts that fail. A reputable repair facility will be able to offer a warranty on parts and labor, allowing you some peace of mind after paying for repairs. But if a shop is offering work for a percentage of market rates, it's unlikely that you'll have any sort of warranty. 

Following this same logic, it's also possible that a cheap car mechanic, or a cut-rate shop won't even carry their own liability insurance, opening you up to potential damages if they damage your vehicle, or hurt themselves while working on it. This is obviously an extreme example, but still worth keeping in mind when something appear too good to be true.