Skip to content 
Finding an honest mechanic is a great way to ensure your repairs are done correctly, timely, and at the right price. Unless you have a lie detector in your trunk, how are you supposed to know if your mechanic is honest?
To find an honest mechanic, you need to screen them a little bit. Look for red flags during your regular interactions with them. Ideally, your mechanic will explain things to you, answer your questions, and try to save you money on repairs or replacements. If your mechanic is dishonest, then leave their shop and find an honest one.
In this guide, I put together 15 ways to know if your mechanic is honest. I also have some information about finding an honest one in the first place. Let’s get started.
Disclaimer: Most Mechanics are Honest
I want to start this out with a quick disclaimer. First off, I strongly believe that most mechanics are honest. I grew up working on cars, so I know how the process goes. So far, every mechanic shop I’ve worked with has been filled with genuine and honest guys.
I’m yet to find a shop or hear a firsthand account of a shop that scams people and lies. I’m not saying that doesn’t happen, just that in my experience it hasn’t happened.
To open an auto repair business takes a lot of effort and money. It doesn’t make sense that someone will open it strictly to scam people — there are better ways to do that.
I also want to mention that all of the following thoughts are my personal thoughts. I know that some people will disagree with different points I make, and that’s perfectly okay. When it comes to honesty in an auto shop, people tend to get fired up and I have no problem with that. I’m just looking to help people who might be a little lost when it comes to this topic.
With that out of the way, let’s talk about the good stuff.
Why You Need an Honest Mechanic
If you think of a mechanic as a “car doctor”, everything starts to make more sense. You need an honest mechanic for the same reasons that you need an honest doctor.
They’ll be doing the work behind closed doors. Plus, this industry can get pretty pricy pretty fast. You want an honest person working on your car that will correctly diagnose your issue, tell you what’s actually going on, and charge you accordingly.
A dishonest mechanic will upcharge you, do repairs you never agreed to, and scare you into fixes that you didn’t want. At the end of the day, this could be thousands of dollars essentially stolen from your pocket.
Times to Go to a Mechanic
I went into more detail in my guide all about when to go to a mechanic, but here’s a general idea: you want to go to a mechanic any time the repair is outside of your comfort zone.
For some people, this means going to a mechanic for everything including oil changes and tire rotations. If you’re not mechanically savvy, don’t have lots of free time, or want to leave it to the pros, then there’s nothing wrong with taking your car to a mechanic for every repair.
Other people will comfortably rebuild an engine on their own and “mechanic” is a four-letter word.
So, when should you go to the mechanic? Whenever you want to or whenever the repair is too big for your hands.
How to Find an Honest Mechanic
Doing a little homework ahead of time will help you find an honest mechanic before something goes wrong. Here are the tips I typically suggest.
Check Online
Online reviews are a powerful tool when it comes to finding an honest mechanic. Sure, competitors can pay people to leave fake reviews, but they’re typically easy to spot.
The secret is to look at what the reviews say. If all the 1-star reviews have the same complaint, then there might be some truth behind it. For example, if everyone complains about the mechanic lying and charging for services they didn’t perform, you should run away from that shop.
If a shop has a lot of reviews and a rating over 4 stars, then it’s probably a good bet.
Certain shops have no online presence, but they do a great job. In this case, you’ll have to stick with my other suggestions on this list.
Ask Around
When I move to a new area, one of the first things I’ll do is ask around for a good auto shop. People like your family, friends, and coworkers can share their insights if they tried different mechanics.
You’re just looking to see who other people are using. Your coworkers might have horror stories about different mechanics which is just as useful — now you know where to avoid.
Check Out the Shop
If you have a shortlist of a few shops to consider, give them an in-person visit. You can tell a lot by a shop if you just take a look around.
A high-quality and honest shop will be pretty busy. Employees should welcome you to the shop and seem genuine.
See if the shop has a waiting area. This is a really good sign, though it’s not always possible for smaller shops.
Talk to the Person in Charge
An honest shop will always have a foreman or manager on-site when they’re open. They need to have a decision-maker to keep things running smoothly and ensure nothing shady is going on behind their back.
Take an opportunity to talk to the person in charge. You might have to wait a little bit for them to become available.
You just want to introduce yourself and ask them if they’re available to work on your car. The person in charge will shape the people on the floor. If they’re in a hurry to end the conversation and don’t have any answers for you, then they might not be representing an honest shop.
Find One Before You Need One
Desperation can do some crazy things to the psyche. You might lose your ability to rationally think through a problem since your car is in shambles and you need an immediate fix.
The pressure of the situation might lead you to not ask the right questions or do the correct screening before signing over your car. The result could be giving your car to a dishonest mechanic.
If you’re moving to a new area or buying a used car, I highly suggest searching for a mechanic today. There’s no downside to looking around ahead of time, even before your car needs any maintenance or repairs.
Plus, looking ahead of time means that you have the time to shop around and see which shop resonates with your needs.
15 Ways to Know if Your Mechanic is Honest
After picking out a mechanic, you can still figure out if they’re honest; it’s not too late. Here are 15 different ways that I personally use to find out if my mechanic is honest with me.
1. They Don’t Sugarcoat Things
If there’s a lot of hemming and hawing when you’re talking about problems with your car, you should be skeptical. A mechanic doesn’t need to sugarcoat what’s going on with your car.
If they downplay the severity of issues or problems they found, it could be a bad sign. Alternatively, if they hype up how bad the problems are, you could also be dealing with a dishonest mechanic.
An honest mechanic will give you a straightforward diagnosis of your car.
2. They Let You See Your Car During Repairs
This is why I mentioned looking for a waiting area earlier — an honest shop will let you see your car while they’re performing repairs.
Sure, they might get annoyed that you’re taking up their shop space, but they will still let you the vehicle. Try your best not to crowd them, waste time, or talk about how they do the job. After all, this is what they do for a living.
Still, a shady shop will refuse to let you see your car. This is because they’re probably lying about the repairs and can’t risk you catching them in a lie. Secrecy is never a good sign in this industry.
3. Their Online Reputation Is Good
As I mentioned earlier, a good online reputation is a huge green light. If a number of other people used their services and they were happy with them, then there’s a good chance you’ll get honest service from them as well.
Make sure you’re not just looking at the star rating, you’re also reading what the reviewers have to say.
Some people will give a 1-star review because they didn’t know what to expect going into a mechanic shop. Screen out those reviews.
4. They Try to Save You Money
A good shop will actively look for ways to save you money. Not in a corner-cutting way, but by finding alternatives.
Maybe they’ll suggest using an aftermarket part instead of an OEM part for minor repairs. Other times, they might offer discounted rates if you bundle repairs or offer you a loyalty discount.
Their prices will still be higher than if you do the job yourself, but that’s the whole point of a mechanic — they make money by doing repairs and charging extra.
5. A Close Friend Recommends Them
Unless your friend is also a scam artist, a raving review should mean a lot to you. Ask around and see what your buddies have to say about the different shops they visited.
First-hand experience is a very powerful tool. Use this to make your final decision.
6. They Take Time to Explain What They Did
Even a super busy mechanic can take time to explain what repairs they performed on your car. It’s the bare minimum someone can do after you pay them hundreds of dollars.
It’s like a surgeon keeping your surgery a secret from you after they perform it.
Someone in the shop should give you a full rundown of what they did, why they did it, and what to expect moving forward.
7. You Have a Rapport/ History Together
Nothing is better than a history with your mechanic. You get a great feeling about a shop after spending enough time working with them.
Some people hear a headline about a dishonest auto shop and then suddenly suspect their own mechanic is dishonest. If you have years’ worth of rapport with them and no red flags during that time, you probably have nothing to worry about.
An honest mechanic doesn’t suddenly become dishonest. You’re probably safe to keep trusting them. Of course, this is completely different if you have reason to believe they’re lying to you or any evidence.
8. They Don’t Bully You into a Decision
If a mechanic makes you feel like there’s no other option, then you should consider getting a second diagnosis of your vehicle elsewhere. A good mechanic will explain the methodology behind their approach and why you should get certain repairs done. Even better if they show you so you can see for yourself.
There’s nothing wrong with a shop highly insisting that you get the repair, especially when it comes to safety. However, sometimes it can come off as stand-offish or feel like bullying especially if a mechanic isn’t communicating and relaying the “why,” and simply insisting it gets done. It doesn’t hurt to go a few rounds of “are you sure?” from the workers in the shop.
If they start saying that you need the repairs and your family isn’t safe without the repairs, I would strongly suggest getting those repairs done because operating an unsafe vehicle can become hazardous for yourself and others on the road. If you feel like you can trust this mechanic, and they instill confidence, do it. Otherwise, it’s ok to walk away and ask for a second opinion.
9. They Don’t Treat the Damage Like the End of the World
One of the worst traits that a mechanic can show is acting like every repair equates to the end of the world. It’s definitely bad to go too long without changing your oil, but the Earth won’t explode if you push off that maintenance (though you should seriously change it as often as the manufacturer suggests).
If a mechanic starts planning a funeral simply because you say no to the repairs, that’s a clear sign of a dishonest mechanic.
They can suggest against driving your car until the fix is made, but they can’t prevent you from driving your car. In other words, they legally need to give you your keys if you refuse service from their shop.
10. They Don’t Do Anything Without Permission
That point leads to another honesty check: your mechanic should never do anything until they have your direct permission.
If you drop your car off for a diagnosis and they pull out the transmission and charge you for it, you should refuse to pay and demand your car back. If they don’t have direct permission from you to do anything, they should not do anything.
Remember, you pay them for services that you request. Do you ever go to the dentist and say “surprise me”? Well, there’s nothing more surprising than a random auto charge for something you didn’t sign off on.
This idea goes beyond the blatantly manipulative example I just gave. There should never be a surprise when you get the bill from the shop. There’s no “well, while we were there, we also did this that and the other thing”.
What an honest shop will do is give you a call and ask if you want additional fixes done while they have your car on the jack stand.
If the bill shows fixes that you didn’t approve, then fight the charges. Depending on your situation, you can go to small claims court and get your money back, but you should always fight it.
If the shop just wants to scam you, they’re hoping you don’t notice the additional charge. They might fold if you start getting upset about the charge.
11. They Answer Your Questions
The biggest red flag is a mechanic that doesn’t answer your questions. Nothing is “too complicated” or “doesn’t matter” if you ask about it.
If a shop continually answers your questions (to varying levels of annoyance), then they’re probably honest. After all, if they really did the repairs that they’re charging you for, then they’ll know exactly what they did.
There will be times when the mechanic who did your repairs isn’t in the shop. That’s perfectly okay, just ask to speak to them whenever they’re available.
They should also answer your questions before starting any repairs. You might want to know what they expect to do, how much it might cost, or what the process looks like for the repairs.
It’s understandable that the shop might be busy, but your questions should be a priority to them. Especially if it means losing a potential customer.
12. They Show You the Part They Replaced
If the shop genuinely did the replacement they were supposed to, there should be no problem showing you the old part that they took out.
A lot of times, it’s interesting to see the old part anyway. It’s cool to see what a little wear and tear can do to a part of your car, especially if it’s a mechanical piece that you don’t typically see.
You might have to tell the shop ahead of time that you want to see the old part after they replace it. Otherwise, it might wind up in a trash can somewhere.
If they seem really shady after you ask them to see it, then that’s a big red flag.
13. Their Prices Are Higher Than Average (But Not Too High)
In general, a dishonest shop will drastically undercharge its customers in an effort to lure people in. On the other hand, sometimes they charge way too much and that’s the game they play.
The best-case scenario is a shop that charges a little more than average without spewing insanely high quotes. This leaves you with the best chance of connecting with an honest mechanic.
It’s also worth mentioning that you should prepare to pay a little bit extra to ensure your mechanic is good and honest.
14. Repairs Aren’t Constantly Delayed or More Expensive
It is normal for repairs to get delayed or become more expensive as troubleshooting continues. However, it isn’t normal for this to be the case every time you deal with a mechanic.
If your mechanic always has a new excuse for why your car isn’t ready or why the bill is so much higher, then it’s time for a new one.
If there is a delay or increase in pricing, they should be the ones reaching out to you. It should never be a surprise.
15. They Don’t Care About Brands
One way to keep repair costs low is to go with parts that don’t have a name-brand sticker on them. Sure, some brands are known for being really high-quality, but they aren’t the only options on the market.
Some shops will give you two quotes for a replacement: One for OEM or high-quality aftermarket parts, and another for off-brand parts.
A shop that doesn’t mind using different brands is always going to be more honest.
How to Thank an Honest Mechanic
Once you realize your mechanic is honest, you should spread the word. Let your friends and family know that you found a great shop. In addition, make sure you leave a nice 5-star review for them online with a blurb explaining your experience with them.
These steps will help an honest mechanic get more customers and stay in business. After all, we need more honest mechanics out there helping car owners.
Conclusion
I strongly believe that most mechanics are honest. After reviewing these 15 ways to know if your mechanic is honest, how do you stand? Leave a comment and let me know if your mechanic is honest or not. Don’t forget to explore the rest of my site for more car guides, tips, and tricks. Check out my list of recommended car tools and accessories for the best experience.
I found it helpful when you said that to find an honest mechanic, you need to screen them a little bit. My husband is planning to find an auto repair shop that is reputable because he needs help restoring the appearance of his damaged car. Our son used it last week when he met an accident on his way home. I will share your tips with him so he can be guided.
Thanks for checking out the article! Finding a good mechanic is like finding a good doctor, developing a good-standing relationship with a trusted mechanic can potentially save you money down the road if they recommend preventative maintenance that ensures your vehicle is in good operating order.
It is always important to look for honest professionals. It is probably true that if a car service downplays the seriousness of an issue or if they make a minor problem seem bad, you could be dealing with a dishonest mechanic. I also believe that the best mechanics will show you the car while doing repairs.
Thanks for checking out the article. A good honest mechanic will have return clients and a solid reputation especially if they can do a good job on repairs and communicate with the customer on what the car actually needs to keep it driving safely on the road.
Its great when you said to avoid mechanics that bully you into making a decision as they are using manipulations to squeeze money out of you. I want to bring my car to a mechanic as I suspect that there is something wrong with my car. Thanks for the article and I hope that I can find a good mechanic for my car soon!
Thanks for checking out the article! Hopefully, you find a good honest mechanic in your area.
Nice post, thank you for sharing this one. Really helpful pos.
Thanks for reading the article!
Awesome post, thank you for sharing this information. Really helpful post.
No problem at all!
Nice post, thank you for sharing. Really helpful information. Keep posting!
Thanks for checking out the post!
It was very helpful for me when you said that a good mechanic will find any alternative fixes so that the client can save money. My wife bought me a Toyota last year and right now, I’m having problems with the transmission. I don’t know much about car repairing so I think it’s best to leave it to excellent professionals who can offer me Toyota car parts.
Toyotas are usually very reliable. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious with your transmission. If it’s a newer vehicle, it could just be needing a firmware update on the ECU/TCM.
I agree when you said that a good shop will actively look for ways to save you money. My car broke down yesterday and I want to repair it. I would need to speak to a professional who can help me find a good service for my car. Thanks for the article!
I’m glad you found it helpful!
best article on auto repairs
Alliance Motors & Body Repairs Wokingham
I appreciate the feedback.
Its great when you said that online reviews are a powerful tool when it comes to finding an honest mechanic. My car broke down yesterday and I want to repair it. I would need to speak to a professional who can help me find a good service for my car. Thanks for the article!
I hope you find a good honest mechanic in your area that can help you keep your vehicle on the road for as long as possible. Thanks for checking out the article!
Hi there! It’s been a very long time since I last got my car checked and I feel like doing so next week. Thank you for reminding us to be cautious with mechanics who aggressively insist us to opt for what they suggest. I’ll make sure I keep this tip in mind when I send it for a maintenance later.
I’m glad I could help!
No problem at all!
Online reviews are everything nowadays. I hope you find a good mechanic and I’m glad you found the article helpful!
Very informative content you got. The last part about spreading the word is very vital to the mechanic. Aside from paying them, you do an honest mechanic a great deal of favour if you refer them to your friends, family or community. With the world going more digital, you could also give a google review or any other if there is an avenue for it.
Awesome post, really helpful information. Thank you for sharing this information.
Glad I could help!
It’s fantastic that you mentioned that online reviews are a useful tool for choosing a trustworthy repair. My automobile broke down the day before yesterday, and I’d like to get it fixed. I’d want to speak with a specialist that can assist me in finding a suitable service for my vehicle. Thank you for writing this article!
Glad to hear you found the tips helpful!
My husband and I want to get our engine repaired because the check engine light has been on for a few weeks. I’m hoping that we can find a local mechanic who can help us get the part replaced. It’s good to know that you should look online to see if the shop has positive reviews.
I’d recommend using an OBDII scanner to see what those codes are first. On my recommended page you can find the BlueDriver which I personally use.
Like you explained, full transparency and total freedom for us to make the final call are some of the great qualities a car mechanic must have to gain our trust. My son’s car has to be fixed because its brake system doesn’t seem to be working as it should since last week. He should certainly remember this tip when booking a maintenance session later on.
I hope the issues with the brakes are resolved in your son’s car soon. It’s always a sound idea to check up on the brake pads and not wait until the vehicle starts to shake severely when applying brakes. Also, brake fluid should be flushed every couple of years or so. Thanks for checking out the article!
I’m glad you elaborated on visiting a mechanic’s shop before hiring one. This morning, my mom called me and said her car won’t start, and it looks like something’s wrong with her engine. My mom needs to find an auto repair shop this week, and I think your guide will help her out for sure. I appreciate your advice on checking how you get greeted when visiting an auto repair shop.
Using an OBDII scan tool should help in troubleshooting why it’s not starting. If it still doesn’t crank, it’d have to get towed to the shop.
Yup, as you said earlier, a trustworthy mechanic would most certainly be okay if we want to have a look around their workshop and judge the place ourselves. I’m gonna ask my daughter to use this tip so she can make a deal with the right expert soon. Her car cooling system needs to be revamped after it failed to work for a few weeks now.
Car engine cooling is definitely something that should be addressed immediately. I’m glad you found the tips useful.
Nice post, really helpful information. Thank you for sharing this post.
I appreciate the feedback and I’m glad you found it helpful!
Very Useful Information
I appreciate the feedback! Be sure to check out other mechanic-related articles under the ‘car maintenance & care’ category.
This post contains a lot of information and I really want to thank You for sharing it as it has been very helpful.
I’m glad you found it helpful!
I love how you point out traits that usually make a good and honest repairman. My sister just bought a new diesel and wants to keep it in good shape. She’s been looking onto finding a repair shop near her that she can trust.
No problem, I hope your sister finds the right person to maintain her diesel vehicle.
“They won’t bully you into a repair”
This one is tough. Full disclosure: My SO and I run an auto repair business. I hate to think of it as “bullying” a customer into a repair but I never want to lie in bed at night knowing someone was hurt, killed, or even just endangered because a car left our care in an unsafe condition. I would rather lose a “sale” than do any work on a vehicle that isn’t going to be safe when we are done. For ex: Customer just wants tires rotated but when we go to do that we see that the brake pads and rotors are in such bad condition that the car isn’t safe to drive (in our opinion). We stop all work on the vehicle, speak to the customer about what we found, give them an estimate to bring the vehicle into a safe condition, and let them know it is their choice but if they choose not to have us replace the pads and rotors we are not rotating their tires or doing any other work. We are putting it back exactly as we found it, not charging them anything, and giving them their vehicle back exactly as it was when it came in with a very strong recommendation to please take it somewhere and have their brakes done. This isn’t to bully anyone into repairs or spending money with us. It is so I can sleep at night because the safety of my customers, their families, and my community is more important to me than a sale.
Excellent points and thank you for bringing safety to the spotlight as I consider that the most important factor when servicing a vehicle. I know someone that recently started to have car troubles. They thought it could wait and allowed it to get worse until the vehicle suddenly stalled in the middle of the road with cars going fast nearby. Someone didn’t see them stranded in the middle of the road and rear-ended them going full-speed. Thankfully no one was seriously injured, but it goes to show that delaying necessary repairs for whatever personal reasons can quickly become a hazard for everyone.
I revised section eight of the article. In my opinion, the mechanic can only do so much to convince and explain why certain repairs need to be done and that without it, there’s no point in doing the other repairs. Communication is key. I too would sleep better at night knowing that it was done right and the customer is driving a vehicle that is safe to operate, rather than obliging a customer’s demand to skip on a critical repair and do the rest. Scenarios like this can arise often. I appreciate the feedback and I hope you stay to read some other ones as well. Criticism is always welcome!
Nice post, thank you for sharing this information.
Nice post, thank you for sharing this information. Really helpful post!
No problem at all, thanks for checking out the article!
I like how you pointed out that it is a good idea to find an auto mechanic that will perform honest work and will charge you accordingly. With that in mind, it seems like it would be a good idea to find a mechanic that will give you an estimate before they even start working on your vehicle. If you know what the estimate is, you will probably be able to be more comfortable with a mechanic.
For sure, most shops will charge a diagnostic fee. I’m sure before any parts are ordered for the car, the customer will typically be informed of the issues as well as the cost for parts and labor. There can be surprises in the estimated repair cost, which is why it’s a good idea to get a few estimates from different reputable mechanics if possible.
I like that you said it is the bare minimum that anybody can do when you pay someone hundreds of dollars to explain the repairs they made to your automobile, even if they are extremely busy. I will share this information with my friend who needs a foreign car repair service near her area. His girlfriend gave him this car from Sweden and repairing it has been a hassle since there aren’t tons of auto shop who has parts for it.
Importing a car from Sweden can be costly. Your friend must love that car to get it imported. Hopefully, he finds the right mechanic that will be able to do maintenance and repairs on his car.
here is very interesting and informative content , thanks for sharing
No problem at all, I’m glad you found it helpful!
It’s great to know that you should find a mechanic when you move to a new area. My husband and I are planning to move for his new job in about a month. We’re trying to get everything in line for when we get there, so we’ll have to find a good mechanic.
Yup, you did the right thing by stressing that honesty is one of the many good qualities a mechanic should possess to provide good service. Speaking of, my boss wonders if he should send his new Mercedes Benz for a quick check. I suppose he simply needs to visit an auto repair shop sooner or later.
I appreciate how you said a person would get a great feeling about an auto shop once they’ve had enough time working with them. This is the main reason why I’m looking at customer reviews and feedback to find a good mechanic. If a lot of people have good things to say about a shop, then I’ll be confident taking my car there for repairs too.