Providing Automotive Repair Service and Maintenance Monday-Friday 7AM-5PM

How to Tell if Your Mechanic is Being Honest

Unfortunately, mechanics have gained a reputation for being dishonest and doing unnecessary repairs. However, there are honest mechanics who will provide you only with the services you need and provide honest pricing. Here is how you can be certain that you’re dealing with an honest mechanic.


They Get Your Permission Before Proceeding

It’s common for people to bring their car into an auto repair shop for a certain problem, have a diagnostics test, and discover additional, unrelated problems. A dishonest mechanic will perform the extra repair work without your permission and add it to your bill. An honest mechanic, however, will never do any repairs without your permission first. Instead, they will alert you to the problem, explain its seriousness, alert you about the cost to repair, and ask if it’s okay to proceed. 

They Show You the Old Part They Replaced

The average person doesn’t know much about car parts. An honest mechanic knows this and will take the time to show you the difference between your old, worn-out car part and the new part they’ve installed. Dishonest mechanics will just tell you they’ve replaced a part and charge you for it, even if they didn’t do the work. If a mechanic doesn’t show you your old part or refuses to when you ask, take it as a red flag that you’re dealing with a dishonest mechanic. 

They Look For Ways to Save You Money

When you work with an honest mechanic, positive customer service is at the center of everything they do. Part of providing positive customer services includes finding ways to save you money. Most of the time, your car can run as well, or even better with generic parts. So instead of focusing on installing name-brand parts, an honest mechanic will install the most effective and affordable parts in your car, all while saving you money. 

They Have Plenty of Positive Recommendations

The Internet makes it easy to discover how other people’s experiences were working with a mechanic. Check online review sites like Google and Yelp to see what other customers are saying about their experience with a mechanic. One or two bad reviews shouldn’t deter you from working with a mechanic, but if a mechanic has multiple negative reviews, it should serve as a red flag. You can also talk to friends and family about their experience working with a mechanic. 

An Honest Mechanic in Phoenix, AZ

When you want a mechanic who is honest, experienced, and provides exceptional customer service, you need to head to Thunderbird Auto. We’ve been providing Phoenix AZ auto repair services since 1976 and can help get you back on the road quickly. 

Contact us now to schedule an appointment. 

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WE ARE CLOSED FOR THE DAY

Thunderbird Automotive Specialists will be closed on Friday, October 20th.

During this time, our team will be attending the memorial service for our late General Manager, Brock Lohman.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we gather as a Thunderbird Automotive Specialist family to honor Brock’s life and legacy.

We will be back open to serve you on Monday, October 23rd. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.