Most Estimates Are Broken Down Into Five Parts

When your mechanic hands you your bill, it'd be nice to understand exactly what you're looking at. Usually estimates are broken down into five separate parts: customer and vehicle information; labor; miscellaneous charges and flat fees; parts and summary of charges. Within each of these sections, you should be able to see exactly what your hard-earned money is going towards.

Cheaper Parts Don't Always Mean a Better Deal

You may think that a part from Company X for $30 is a better deal than a part from Company Y for $50. Many times, cheaper parts have shorter warranty periods, while more expensive parts have longer warranty periods. In many cases, it makes more sense to go with the parts that has a better warranty.

Labor Costs Are Based on Several Factors

If you go to one shop, you'll find out that labor costs are lower than if you go to another shop. This doesn't necessarily mean that one shop is necessarily cheating you. Labor charges are based on a shop specialization, the region of the country that you live in, and the type of work that's being done. Average labor costs range between $50 and $200 per hour.

Try and Use OEM Parts Whenever You Can

In order to bring the bill down, some mechanics offer aftermarket parts that are made by companies other than the manufacturer of your car. While these may be cheaper, they are often less reliable. Go with the OEM (original equipment manufacturers) parts made by the manufacturer. They're more expensive, but they're a lot more reliable.

Use Specialists Who Have Knowledge About Your Unique Car

If you've got a foreign car, an exotic car or in any way special type of car, only choose a mechanic who has experience working with that type of car. A specialist knows exactly what to look for and will save you lots of money in the long run. If you take the car to an everyday mechanic, they may miss some of the nuances and quirks of the brand that someone who knows that make and model would understand.