A car repair estimate is necessary before you get any work done on your car. There are laws in the state of California regarding estimates. These laws were put into place to protect the auto owner and the auto shop from misunderstandings on the cost and details of the repair. Here are some things you should know when your car needs work.

Car Repair Estimate

The car repair estimate might be something the mechanic will charge to do, most will do an estimate for free, thought. Once that estimate is signed by you then the mechanic is held to what he quoted by California state law. If he gets into the job and sees that there is more going on with the problem that originally thought and it will cost more, the mechanic needs your signature to authorize the increased cost.

The auto estimate needs to include:

  • Itemized parts
  • Method of repair
  • Cost of labor
  • Cost of parts
  • Total estimated cost

Of course, with any car repair it might be difficult to guess what the true issue is before tearing the car apart to fix the problem. If a more expensive repair is going to need to be made, you must give your approval for the additional costs either by phone or in writing before the work is done. If you give a phone approval, this must be noted on the estimate.

Getting Your Car Fixed

Most of the time these days everything will go smoothly with your car repair estimate and the problem is quickly fixed at a reasonable cost. If you picked an unethical auto shop and think you’ve been ripped off, contact the California Bureau of Auto Repair at 1-800-952-5210 and they will investigate the matter. California has many laws in place to protect the consumer.

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