Get the best price for car repairs

Specialists and generalists
Some car owners become comfortable with a mechanic and only ever go to the one guy, whether it's for regular maintenance or special jobs such as mufflers or brakes. But there are many specialty shops out there that only do one kind of job, such as fixing and replacing mufflers or brakes. These guys are specialists, so you know they do these specific jobs right. Your corner mechanic is more like a GP. I know, I know: again with the medical references. But the principle really is the same. There are also transmission and differential specialists, engine rebuilding specialists, and body shops.

Your corner mechanic can probably get all of these things done for you if you ask him to, or if you just don't have the time or the inclination to shop around for a specialist. He doesn't want to lose you as a customer, so he'll take your job. But since he's a generalist, he might not have the specific tools or know-how for certain jobs. He might not even want to occupy one of his bays with a big-ticket job, so he may outsource the job to someone else. But that won't save you any money, if that's your goal. But you might save money if you do the footwork. First, just get out there and find a specialist. Then get estimates, haggle, shop around, and you might be able to save yourself some dough.

Checklist: Bargain shopping
If you're looking to get the best price possible for your repair, consider the following:

• Shop around (don't take the word of one garage as gospel).
• Get estimates (they make great ammunition when it comes to the next step).
• Haggle (you'd be surprised at how much is negotiable).
• Hire a specialist (he may know the car better and take less time to do the repair).
• Leave your vehicle at the shop (you might be able to work out a deal if you can leave your car longer and your mechanic can work on your job around others).