Yep, inspect is normally £20-£40, they give you the cost of repair and it stays at that cost. If they discover yet another problem, they don’t force you to undergo the repair.
It is permitted for non-certified (MOT) cars to go to and from a mechanic so you can space out repairs over a month or more if needed.
Source: my friend bought a decades old Volvo so he tends to have LOTS of trouble keeping it in a reasonable state on his general wages.
It’s also not uncommon for them to tell you that your car needs all this work because mechanics generally get paid on flatrate, so they’re always trying to get more work. A lot of mechanics double dip on labor hours. Replace a brake caliper and get a brake flush. Well, they already had to bleed the brakes when they did the caliper and they’re not going to bother bleeding all four, they’ll just put clean fluid in the reservoir and you’ll never know.
To an extent. If its not able to be safely driven, they are supposed to require you to have it properly transported (towed or on a flatbed depending on condition).
Actually got to see the cops called over that once.
That’s not how that works. The shop has to provide you with an estimated bill that you have to approve before they’ll even start working on it.
Yep, inspect is normally £20-£40, they give you the cost of repair and it stays at that cost. If they discover yet another problem, they don’t force you to undergo the repair.
It is permitted for non-certified (MOT) cars to go to and from a mechanic so you can space out repairs over a month or more if needed.
Source: my friend bought a decades old Volvo so he tends to have LOTS of trouble keeping it in a reasonable state on his general wages.
Depends on the laws in your state
It’s also not uncommon for them to tell you that your car needs all this work because mechanics generally get paid on flatrate, so they’re always trying to get more work. A lot of mechanics double dip on labor hours. Replace a brake caliper and get a brake flush. Well, they already had to bleed the brakes when they did the caliper and they’re not going to bother bleeding all four, they’ll just put clean fluid in the reservoir and you’ll never know.
If you have $4k in repairs due, this would be your response at the estimated bill given that car is gone now.
How is it gone? You can still decline repairs and have it back, whatever it’s current state may be.
To an extent. If its not able to be safely driven, they are supposed to require you to have it properly transported (towed or on a flatbed depending on condition).
Actually got to see the cops called over that once.
Location-dependent. Not all localities allow shops to hold a vehicle hostage.
Thats fair, its definitely a YMMV.
“Estimate”