How to Compare Car Servicing Prices

If you ever had to decide between two auto repair shops, you know the choice isn’t as easy as simply comparing their service rates. To make the right decision, you need to know what questions to ask and how to sort through various car servicing quotes. Here’s a quick check:

Mechanics at a car repair shop

1. Determine the Service Your Car Needs
Before calling car repair shops to compare their prices, take some time to determine exactly what kind of services your car needs. Take a look at your service history document and car manual. Does your car need an interim, a full, or a specific type of service? Although an interim costs less than getting a full service, keep in mind that carrying out the correct service that your car needs will prevent breakdowns and expensive issues in the future. If you’re not sure about the type of service your ride needs, simply talk to a mechanic and ask about his recommendations for your car.

2. Compare Prices of Two or More Auto Repair Shops
After deciding on the type of service your car needs, call two or three repair shops in your local area in Singapore and ask them for price quotations. Just remember to tell the same information for each shop. (Of course, you can contact more auto repair shops if you want.)

3. Check on Reputable Sites That Specialize in Car Repair
With the availability of helpful information on various websites, estimating the actual fair cost of the repairs your vehicle might need is now easier. Two of the best websites that offer such service are RepairPal and AutoMD. Just make sure that you enter the right information about your car, such as its model and year and the repairs you’re planning to have.

4. Use Your Connections
Apart from checking the Internet, this is also a good way to get repair estimates from a few car servicing workshop in Singapore for comparison. Although the process is a bit slower and the results are more difficult to interpret, you will still end up with a first-hand experience on how much a car maintenance and repair should cost.

Use social media to get quick responses and opinions from your friends without spending a lot of time. This strategy is great especially if you know someone who works in the automotive industry, since they will have some practical knowledge to help you estimate and compare repair costs.

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5. Get Details on the Services to Be Done
The best way to compare costs is to ensure that you get a list of all the checks involved with the service your car needs. Some car servicing shops carry out few standard checks with their basic service, instead of simply checking as per the service schedule of the manufacturer. Clearly, you will be paying more for a full range checks with your vehicle, but doing this will prevent breakdowns and other issues from occurring later on.

6. Ask if the Shop Uses OE Quality Parts
Some car repair shops are able to offer lower prices on their service since they use parts that don’t meet the standards of the car manufacturer. On the contrary, shops that use OE quality parts charge a little more since they use high quality parts that last longer and function a lot better than most non-OE quality parts. If your car is under warranty, experts recommend going with a shop that uses OE quality parts since opting for lower quality car parts might void your warranty.

7. Inquire About the Type of Oil the Shop Uses
Another factor that affects a shop’s servicing price is the type of oil they use on vehicles. Some shops are able to get by with cheap service charges because they use low quality oil, which may cause some problems to your vehicle over time. So as you visit your prospective car repair shops, make sure to inquire about the type of oil they are using, as well as whether or not that particular oil could be used for your car engine.

Close up of male auto mechanic working on engine in auto repair shop

Extra Tips for Asking Car Servicing Estimates

• When you’re asking for servicing estimates, make sure that you’re doing it politely. There’s no reason for you to be rude when you’re checking for estimates, and being polite will surely make your conversations with your prospective mechanics more satisfying.

• If you have little to no knowledge about cars, have a more experienced relative or friend call the repair shops for you. Just ensure that the person takes time in explaining the difference between each estimate so you can choose which car service suits your needs.

• If you bought a second-hand unit and don’t have a record of its history, ask a mechanic on your prospective repair shops about the costs of getting a review of the car, as well as catching up on any missed maintenance.

• Check repair shops that relatives, friends, and colleagues frequently visit, since these shops are more trustworthy the newer repair shops or those that can’t hold customers for long periods of time.

• Although it’s good to have lesser expenses in terms of car repairs, remember that cheaper isn’t always better. In fact, the key to getting the best car services is getting more value for your money, and not necessarily paying less.

Comparing the prices of various repair shops may seem like a daunting task, but doing so is what will help determine the right shop for you. So put the aforementioned tips to work now, and start calling your prospective auto repair shops in your area.

Blunders to Evade when Buying a Car

How wonderful it would be purchasing our first car. We are settled and convinced ourselves that we need a car. Now is the time that we purchase it. We are ready to take the plunge but we have to be wise about this.

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There are different blunders first-time car owners commit when buying a car. We have to know these blunders so we can evade it. Here are some blunders:

  • Pay entirely in cash: We do not want to be indebted so we try to pay entirely in cash. We do not even want to pay monthly for the mortgage. Experts say there is nothing wrong if we pay it entirely in cash but it is not recommendable. If we are buying an expensive car, it might alert authorities as we are a potential mark for money laundering activities. We can use our other money for investment purposes.

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  • Neglecting test drive: We are so excited to buy a car that we forgot to test drive it. We should insist on taking it for a spin before finally making the purchase. The test drive can give us many things about the car like the brakes, steering, handling and engine.
  • Being nice: This does not mean that we should shout at the car salesman to give the best deals but sometimes being too nice can give the salesman an opportunity to prey on us. We have better chances of negotiation if we are firm on our decision. The trick here is to weaken the bargaining of the salesman. We should not feel embarrassed.

Hopefully the things mentioned above can lead us to a wiser choice.

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